Fruit in works

How the pilgrim preforms with this leg, the time we are given on earth, will determine our eternal destinies. We have all been given an allotted stint to work it out and then it will end. Death will swallow us up, but for the Christian, death is not something we fear, but rather it will be the putting off of our corruptible bodies. It will be a time of absolute bliss where mortality will take on immortality. Has this thought resonated deep enough to change the way we live? Our journeys here on earth, the trickery of what we believe to be important, education, monies, status and the like are nothing but decoys to shift our attention off what really matters, finding the will of God for our lives and then approaching the storerooms of grace to help us overcome; “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) - In other words, latching onto that which is available to the Christian to help us through the trial of life. Victory in this area of our lives will help us store treasures in heaven, which is the timeless leg of our journey. The place we will live out eternity, and make no mistake, there will most certainly be positions for the faithful that will carry greater authority; “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Matthew 19:29-30)  - You see, rewards in heaven have nothing to do with our worldly achievements, those recompenses play out in this life and then God's judgment which will determine our standings into eternity. And so the Lord makes it very clear “many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Regardless of our age and where we stand up until now with our efforts. It is never too late to cry out to Jesus, repent and realign our rudders. It takes a resolves to be about the will of God. We must action it with intent and then only are we to look for grace to overcome. Many make the mistake of waiting for God’s intervention in their lives without any wilful intent from their side. Because God is sovereign we are tricked and believe that we must leave it all up to him.  We will never have anything to boast about, "boasting has been excluded". Without God’s involvement in our lives we would never change, but because of it we must change. Study the scriptures and it will soon be clear to all that we must play our parts in this beautiful relationship. Moses is a great example; “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;” (Hebrews 11:24-25) - God tells us to lay up treasures in heaven and not to worry about the lavish life that food and clothing offers. His will first and then the rest will fall into place. Sadly the systems of the world are set up to deceive and they all play into the hands of the enemy and billions have swallowed it up at the expense of their eternal outcome. Let us be reminded that all kinds of evil encompasses the love of money. Even Satan tried to tempt the Lord Jesus with it, or rather what it achieves, he offered our Saviour the worlds and all their authority, all he had to do was sell His soul for it and pay Satan homage. The more we have, the greater the pomp. Here is the warning; “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6: 10) – Beware of the trap of its craving, if not kept in check, it will bring nothing but misery.

Our commitment to faith relinquishes our control onto another…

“In Christ there are no dead and sapless branches, faith is not an idle grace; wherever it is, it brings forth fruit in works.” (Matthew Henry) – Abraham packed up and left everything behind. An action with intent to God’s instruction. He now wears the title “THE FATHER OF FAITH!” 

Now hear the voice of our beloved Saviour; “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  (Matthew 6: 19-21) - This is an instruction we can chose to make our own with intent or we can carry on just like we did yesterday. But of this I am certain, it will affect our eternal vocations.

“In Christ there are no dead and sapless branches, faith is not an idle grace; wherever it is, it brings forth fruit in works.” (Matthew Henry) – How many dead branches have we left unattended in our lives? All we need to do is seek out God’s face with commitment and the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth, exposing the dross of our lives and once we see those areas as they are, we can then action our wills to find grace to navigate the deceptions and the pressures of life. “If God is for us who can be against us?” That does not mean that we will not have an onslaught from the enemy, but it does mean that we are on the winning side and have nothing to fear. Our focus needs to shift onto our hope, which is eternal and not temporal, but until that penny drops nothing in our lives will truly change.

A day is coming where the Christian will receive their glorified bodies, wow! What a day that will be. However, until then, our daily walks are on show and like James says, “faith without works is dead.”

Father please help your children find the resolve to be about your will and our eternal reward, help us find the intent to want to action your production above all else and then help us find the grace to implement that which is require of us, bringing you the glory.

Revival is not a term that is used for the unsaved, but rather the saved, it is an action that God injects into a believers life to wake them from their slumber. Gideon Mpeni brings a clear understanding on the topic of revival and I recommend his insight for all as the Christian of today is in desperate need of revival.  

Signing off

Tyrone