Living in light of eternity

  The Apostle John, who is sometimes called "the disciple that Jesus loved", had a front row seat in the earthly ministry of Christ.   He was the youngest of the disciples and brother to James.   James and John, along with Peter, were the "inner circle". They were with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mt 17:1-2) and with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mt 26:36-37).    John leaned on Jesus' breast in the Upper Room (Jn 21:20) and took responsibility of Mary at the cross (Jn 19:26). C onsidering this very special and close relationship John had with Jesus during His earthly ministry, it is surprising to see what he wrote in 3 John 3-4:    I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. I'm sure there are many things John could point to for joy.  Certainly, his relationship with the risen Lord would be at top of this list.  But alongside the many things he could rejoice over, he specifically mentions ...

  The doctrine of "rewards" is easily misunderstood.  Suffice it to say that we serve a fair and just Savior  " who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS" (Romans 2:6) For those who trust Christ as their Savior, our sins are forgiven and we anticipate an eternity with God in heaven.  But at the "Judgement Seat of Christ" our lives will be evaluated and appropriate rewards given to the deserving. (2 Cor 5:10)   Various crowns are mentioned throughout Scripture for meritorious service, b ut another type of reward is frequently mentioned by Christ.  It is somewhat harder to understand.  When Peter asked about this issue Jesus gave a startling answer: Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thr...

The Lord Jesus introduced a topic in the Sermon on the Mount that many people misunderstand- the topic of rewards: “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great ; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Mt 5:11-12) Many have assumed that we earn our way to heaven by our good works- that heaven is a sort of reward for our righteous life.  Of course, nothing could be further from the truth, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Ro 3:23) On the other hand, once we trust Christ as Savior and become a child of God it is expected that we would do good works as a result. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared befor...

Consider the work of God: For who can make straight what he has bent? In times of prosperity be joyful, but in times of adversity consider this: God has made one as well as the other, so that no one can discover what the future holds.  (Ec 7:13-14) Prosperity Theology  teaches that financial blessing and physical wellbeing are always the will of God for His children.  Obviously, Solomon would disagree.  And he would be in good company.  Job held the same view: "Should we receive what is good from God, and not also receive what is evil?”  (Job 2:10) It would be nice to imagine that only good things would come to the person trusting God.  But this is far from what the Bible teaches.  In the New Testament we see trials and tribulation can be a big part of God's plan.  He specifically uses adversity in our lives to build our faith and develop our character. My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy  when you fall into all sorts of...

  The Ten Commandments starts with a strong warning… Then God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before Me. “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God , visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. (Exodus 20:1-6) Technically speaking, idolatry refers to the worship or excessive admiration of an idol or an object as if it were a god or possessed divine powers. It involves attributing supernatural or divine qualities to something or someone that is not inherently divine. In biblical times, people believed that idols repr...

  So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. (Php 2:12-16)   When we think of grumbling and complaining, Joseph comes to mind.   He had several serious trials in him life, but there is no evidence of him complaining to God.   We remember that he was his father's favorite son and Jacob made a beautiful multi-colored coat especially for Joseph.   In many ways the many facets of Joseph's life...