”For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.“
I Timothy 4:8 NKJV
In the early 1960s they came out with a fruitflavored taffy kind of candy called, “Now and Later.” The name seemed to imply that whereas you could eat some of it now, you would also be able to have some to eat later. As well, you’re chewing the candy now, and it’s still going to still be in your mouth later. Either way, the point was that this isn’t something you just scarf down and it’s all gone.
Yesterday, as we discussed the need to focus on Jesus, we made this statement:
“But, if we look at Jesus, if we look at what He did to extend salvation to us, while also considering what that salvation brings for now and eternity, we will finish well.”
You see, some people discount our hope in Christ as looking for “pie in the sky when you die,” a statement that is actually quite disgusting.
I will point out that eternity is a long time; so even if all of our reward, all of the things for which to hope are found in eternity, it would definitely be worth enduring what we must in this life, to spend the rest of eternity ruling and reigning with the Lord. However, the word of God is all about informing us of the fact that there is a now and a later for our hope.
Now certainly, for many people, the first thought in terms of the need to get their heart right, is about where they will spend eternity. As a matter of fact, the Bible does assure that no matter how it looks in terms of who’s getting all the good things now, the righteous will inherit the earth, whereas the unrighteous will be destroyed.
”For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth.“
Psalms 37:9 NKJV
But make no mistake, it is ignorance in terms of Who God is and what has been done in Jesus Christ, that leads people to call our hope nothing more than “pie in the sky.”
Paul, hearing of the faithfulness of the people in the church at Ephesus, explains to them that he is praying that they will come to understand what their faithfulness will bring now and later.
”that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.“
Ephesians 1:17-21 NKJV
Yes, these people were already faithful, but Paul prays that their understanding will be enlightened—or their spiritual eyes opened—to see the benefit of what Christ has done both in this present life, and in eternity.
Here, John the beloved helps us understand the now and later in terms of our hope in Christ:
”Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.“
I John 3:1-3 NKJV
You see, we are God’s children NOW. With that, we haven’t even begun to understand what glory awaits us LATER.
Friend, we have good reason to maintain our resolve to follow Christ. As the sons of God now, we have access to His Holy Spirit Who leads us in the paths of righteousness. As well, the Holy Spirit brings the dynamo of God into our present lives.
Yes, goodness and mercy are following us NOW.
The Peace that passes understanding is ours NOW.
But, what will it be like when we are gathered to our Lord? Oh, what glory awaits us! And, as our opening scripture informs us, godliness has profit now AND later. So, let’s stay the course!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
”looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.“
Hebrews 12:2-3 NKJV
You’ve probably heard about Stephen, the first Christian martyr. He preached a sermon to the religious leaders that still packs a sting! He had done nothing wrong, but because he dared confront them concerning their ways of being and doing, they stoned him to death.
”When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.“
Acts 7:54-60 NKJV
Amazingly, in the midst of their violence toward him, Steven speaks of seeing Jesus, and then demonstrates the ultimate in forgiveness concerning those who were killing him.
You see, Steven was following Jesus to the end; and a true follower of Jesus will be found demonstrating His way of being and doing, no matter what.
Yes, Steven’s eyes were on Jesus. Indeed, his focusing on Jesus provided the strength he needed to be a good witness—even praying for those who were attacking him—even until he “fell asleep.”
You see, where you are looking, will not only determine where you are going, but will also determine whether you are encouraged to carry on, or tempted to fall away into despair.
Indeed, as we see in our opening scripture, Jesus’ resolve was strengthened by His focusing on His mission: obedience to the Father, even being obedient to the shame and suffering of the cross.
Friend, if we look at our circumstances, or what other people are doing or saying or “might be thinking,” we will not be able to finish our course well. But, if we look at Jesus, if we look at what He did to extend salvation to us, while also considering what that salvation brings for now and eternity, we will finish well.
Remember, Peter was able to walk on water until the storm distracted him from looking at Jesus (Matthew 14).
So, no matter what, look at Him! Keep looking at Him! Don’t ever look away!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
”Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,“
Hebrews 12:1 NKJV
In terms of maintaining our resolve to fully follow Jesus no matter what, we are often our own worst enemies. You see, in clinging to those things that prove to be self-defeating in terms of our Christian walk, we are providing the means of our own failure.
For example, a person could resolve that they wanted to be a great runner—or at least to be able to run a race without quitting or otherwise being disqualified. But, if that person will not divest of those things that are contrary to the goal, the resolve to obtain the goal will not survive the contrary forces from which they have refused to disengage.
Now, still using the example of a racer, if they want to be able to run a race and finish, and they are extremely overweight, or insist on running with their phone in their hand, or are wearing very heavy shoes, etc., their own self-imposed hindrances will most likely cause their resolve to crash and burn.
In our opening scripture we see that the writer of Hebrews, after having detailed the great Hall of Fame of Faith (Hebrews 11), instructs that if we are to do what they did (yes, all of that is in the word, “therefore”), we must lay aside self-imposed hindrances.
Please understand, we most certainly will encounter hindrances over which we had no control (in terms of their coming our way), but we are in a better position to deal with those hindrances when we have divested from that which is self-defeating (in terms of our victory).
I’ve seen—in more than one movie—boxers training in very contrary and harsh conditions. Why would someone do this? Well, if you can carry out what you need to do even when faced with adversity, you gain a new level of strength and don’t have to worry about “surprises” keeping you from being at the top of your game.
The apostle Paul, having exhorted the people to seek those things which are above, then turns to explain that in order to seek the things which are above with Christ, we must reject and divest of the “old man,” along with those ways of being and doing.
”Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.“
Colossians 3:5-11 NKJV
Friend, we want to be prepared for whatever may come to try to steal our resolve in terms of our faith walk. That being the case, our first step toward being able to put on those things which help us to succeed, has to be putting off that which is not expedient, even if it is not a “sin” per se.
We talked yesterday about being able to have the atmosphere of Heaven with us even in the midst of the doings of the hordes of Hell. Yes, the atmosphere of Heaven brings rest and peace, even in the midst of the storm. But, if we refuse to divest of that which is contrary to our peace and His plan, then we will never find that Place where the works of the enemy are stripped of power against us.
Remember: Your resolve will dissolve if you lose your rest because you won’t divest!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!