(1Corinthians
13:10) “But when the
perfect comes, the partial will pass away.”
How often have you noticed when
speaking to other Christians that our emphasis is often misplaced when we talk
about getting to heaven? If the truth be told I know we do not understand what
that really means, as our understanding has been veiled by this corruptible
body of decay, our flesh!
The Apostle Paul teaches us that our
sight is obscured; we only get glimpses of heaven through the eyes of faith and
yet I wonder after so many years why so many still apply their faith in a
childish manner. Why is it that we haven’t given up our childish ways? Oh how I
thank God for our helper, God the Holy Spirit! The One that leads us into all
truth! “For
now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I
shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”
(1Corinthians 13:12)
What
inspired Paul or any of the other Apostles to lay down their lives even unto
death? They understood that they were fully known there could not have been any
obvious hidden agendas in their lives; they were sold out for Christ. We all
have many struggles, and that is undoubtedly by design; it is what we need in
our lives to keep us crying out unto our God. Without these challenges in life
we would not yell out for help. But I must confess that at times the pressures
of life seem unbearable, but when I correct my focus I am wiser than that, as life’s
tests are working together for my good. It is amazing how often I look for sin
in my life to explain the reason why certain things are happening. It’s as if,
I constantly believe myself to be under God’s discipline! “For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds,
and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What
father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a
serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him
a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how
to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father
give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:10-13)
We
must reason with soberness but it sure gets muddled at times; but only when I
think like a child! Sin or unbelief is a wicked trap in our lives! That is why
we must always look to our heavenly Father in hope of the resurrection; the day
when this mortal body will take on immortality.
In
order to fuel our hope we must reason correctly, we must not place our ultimate
anticipation in heaven and the streets of gold, or the many mansions, but
rather that we will forever be with our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;
believe also in me. In my Father's house are
many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a
place for you? And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come
again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
(John 14:1-3) – The main emphasis is not on
heaven itself, but rather that we will be with Him. We will forever be able to
have fellowship with Him; we will be in the best of company for all eternity.
This then is what must fuel our faith! No wonder the Apostles were so willing
to die for their faith, and more than that they did die!
May
God help us all to put off our childish outlook on life. It will be better to
be in hell with the Lord Jesus than to be in a place like heaven without Him
and without our heavenly Father. This is the gift God has offered to every
child of God who remains faithful unto the end! The prize is not merely heaven,
but our Saviour will take us unto Himself! How I long for that day, even so
come quickly Lord Jesus!
For
this truth to remain constant in a believer’s life, with all the cares of this
life pressing hard upon us, it is imperative to wrestle to find God’s grace in
time of need. It is not a given per say, we must seek it out in earnest. Remember
Jacob’s tenacity! He wrestled with an angel for hours before receiving a
blessing, how feeble I am at times! I know it cost Jacob a limp for the rest of
his life, but that is a very small price to pay when we consider where he is.
He is in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ having fellowship with Him. Hope
no longer needed in his life. We still live and breathe, our hope still remains
but there will come a day when we too will be in the presence of our great
Saviour, to ever be with Him! “Therefore lift your drooping
hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so
that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.” (Hebrews 12:12-13)
May God help us not to be overtaken by
the cares of this life, because before we know it, it will all be over. I
recall as a young boy looking at older men and thinking they are old! Time
stands still for no man, I am almost fifty! How time flies. Hang in there child
of God, our God will see us home! Believe it we must! Before we know it we will
be with our Saviour and in His presence for all perpetuity!
Signing off
Tyrone
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