What you seek...or don't...
It will always give a Christian the greatest calm, quiet, ease, and peace to think of the perfect righteousness of Christ. How often are the saints of God sad and downcast! I do not think they ought to be. And I do not think they would be if they could always see their perfection in Christ. There are some who are always talking about corruption and the depravity of the heart and the innate evil of the soul. This is all quite true—but why not go a little further, and remember that we are “perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:28 NKJV)? It is no wonder that those who dwell on their own corruption should wear such unhappy looks, but surely—if we call to mind that “Christ has made us right with God” (1 Corinthians 1:30 NLT)—we will be of good cheer. Though I suffer distress, though Satan assaults me, though there may be many difficult things to be experienced before I get to heaven, they are done for me in the covenant of divine grace. There is nothing lacking in my Lord—Christ has done everything I need! On the cross He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30); and if it is finished, I am complete in Him. I can rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, “not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith” (Philippians 3:9). On this side heaven, you will not find holier people than those who receive into their hearts the doctrine of Christ’s righteousness. When the believer says, “I live on Christ alone; I rest only on Him for salvation; and I believe that, however unworthy, I am still saved in Jesus,” this thought rises up as a motive of gratitude: “Shall I not live to Christ? Shall I not love Him and serve Him, seeing that I am saved by His merits?” “The love of Christ controls us . . . that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:14–15 ESV), If we are saved by imputed righteousness, we will greatly value imparted righteousness. C.H. Spurgeon Morning and Evening
If, my Dear Reader, you are indeed claiming the name of Jesus as your Savior and Lord, how do you proclaim it?
Walking around in silence? Holding onto past failures? Living the day in the strength given to you? Are you silent when the situation demands you speak up about Jesus? Are your fears of what man can do to you stronger than your faith that is to be in God?
Are your idle thoughts spent wasting away the time given to you? Do you spend the time at all investing in the life to come?
Where your treasure is there your heart will be found. Is it at all in Heaven?
I ponder these thoughts at times and more. My brain multitasks more than most. There are times when I have no reason to be awake other than a brain that won't calm down because of thinking going on in the background.
I read what we read today. So many preachers speak on the depravity of the human condition to believers who are made perfect in Christ Jesus. Yes we have depravity but we also can claim victory. What we have IN Christ far exceeds what sin does to this mortal body.
Paul didn't dwell on his every failure. He knew Satan would be there to remind him. I don't need reminding of my failures either. Between the consequences and Satan's minions reminding me that's been covered.
People sometimes wonder about what's next after this life. They struggle to come to grips with the simple truth of the Gospel. Not having Christ means your next breath after death will be in Hell. Having Christ means your next breath will be in the presence of Jesus. Prominence and celebrity status mean nothing at the point of death. Consider some of the most brilliant minds that have lived were atheists...spent their whole life denying God. Their next moment after death was to find themselves in Hell crying out to God for a second chance. Intelligence has nothing to do with understanding the Gospel. Faith as a mustard seed. Faith as that of a child. The message is simple. The pride of man is what is complicated.
It's not easy to find the positive in things or people. Often we see the mistakes of others before we see our own.
Looking ahead to what is coming is more exciting than the view in this world.
As I was reading today...a man in a Doctor's office visit is told some grim news. His life would not be as long as he had expected. He asks his Doctor "What lies ahead after death?" The Doctor replied "I don't know." "You're a Christian man and you don't know?" The man responded.
Just then a dog could be heard scratching at the door. The Doctor opened the door and his dog came in, excited to see him
"Did you see his reaction? He has never been in here before. He had no knowledge of what to expect other than to know his Master was on the other side. I don't know what to expect on the other side for me other than to know my Master is there."
What do you seek in today?
Self satisfaction? Relief from fears?
Are you seeking distraction from what's going on in the world? Are you comfortable with your future?
If you should die today and you go through that inevitable door between life and death, do you know for sure that it's Heaven that you will see? Forget your status in this life for a moment. In God's eyes we are all equal. All sinners in need of a Savior. Those who have Christ Jesus as their Savior can read in the Bible what to expect next. Interesting it is that from the words of Jesus Christ Himself you can know what to expect if you refuse the offer of Salvation. You will indeed find yourself in Hell in anguish and torment.
Your choice to make. Come to Christ AND listen to Him or refuse and don't.
But regardless of what you think or want to see...your choice makes a Heaven or Hell difference.
It doesn't matter what you have achieved in this life. How many beautiful children you may have had. What birth defect you were born with. What illnesses you have lived with. You still choose and your choice determines your destination.
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