The Sequel

"Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison" (2 Corinthians 4:16-17)

All of us have an outer shell that is decaying. In other words, it is dying. And as we grow older our "outer man" will suffer all kinds of aches and pain. But it will only seem a "light affliction" when we receive what has been promised in the next.  The promise of this "sequel" enables us not to lose heart as we see loved ones suffer, or experience affliction ourselves.

"No trial has taken you except what is human. Now, faithful is God, Who will not be leaving you to be tried above what you are able, but, together with the trial, will be making the sequel also, to enable you to undergo it." (1 Corinthians 10:13 CLNT)

So we just have to suck it up and trust that it is necessary to suffer now in order to appreciate our future Glory in God's grand Sequel!

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18)

Resurrection To Glory

“...set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things....When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4).

Glory is mankind's final destiny. And we do not have it now except in the form of the promise of God.  It is our hope...

“…We... rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2).

And Glory comes with our resurrection...

“…Sown in dishonor… raised in glory…” (I Corinthians 15:42-43a).

In this life we experience suffering from time to time but we can cope with the suffering when we "set our minds on the things above, not on earthly things" - "in hope of the glory of God" to follow...

“…The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be…” (Romans 8:18).

As we celebrate Jesus we should not focus simply on a baby in a manger but set our minds on things above, where our risen Lord sits at the right hand of God waiting to return and complete our resurrection to Glory.

Don't Be Judged By Religious Ritual

“For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect…” (Hebrews 10:1)

This was directed at the Messianic Jews who had believed and followed Jesus as their Messiah.  They were considering returning to the Law and its rituals as the way to righteousness.  The writer was reminding them that the Law nor the rituals surrounding the obedience to it could make them perfect. 

Gentiles who had believed in Jesus were being encouraged by some of the Messianic Jews to observe the rituals of the Law. So Paul tells them that they should not allow these Jews to judge them by religious rituals...

“Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” (Colossians 2:16-17)

Sometimes we Christians need to remind ourselves that we will not be judged, nor rewarded, concerning our attendance at Church, envolvement in its ministries, nor its associated rituals.  We will be judged by whether we believe "the word" of  Christ Jesus that he is the SAVIOR of the world.  Jesus said…

“If anyone hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects me and does not receive my sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.…” (John 12:47-48)

And what is the “word” which Jesus spoke which will “judge him” who rejects it?

His word that he has come “to save the world”.  And he will SAVE it and all those who have been part of it because that is what he came to do.  He says he did not come to judge and condemn the world.

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  (John 3:17)

Those who do not believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world will be “judged” WRONG and be ashamed when in fact Jesus returns and saves the world of sinners by resurrecting them from the dead. At that time all will give account "before the judgment seat of God" as to why they did not believe that Jesus is the Savior (among other things) and then ALL WILL CONFESS AND BELIEVE which brings "glory o God"…

“God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father… For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God” (Philippians 2:9-11; Romans 14:8-12)

Life is Glorious

“For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!” (2 Corinthians 4:10-11)

This life we have is “glorious” even with all its “troubles”, but this glorious life fades away and death will come to all of us. When I was younger I did not think about this much. I knew it to be true but it seemed so far away that it was easy to ignore. But as I approach 65 and retirement I have become more thankful for a knowledge of Scripture. This life is glorious, but the next “far outweighs” the glory we have in this life.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

“Outwardly” I am wasting away, looking older each time I look in the mirror. But at the same time “inwardly” I am refreshed day by day with the knowledge of the “eternal glory” which has been promised me by God. And so, as I grow older, I focus my eyes “NOT on what is seen, but on what is unseen”. This life is temporary, the next is “eternal” and I am content and at peace with that promise from God.

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13)

From Bondage to Freedom

“It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance…Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…God our Savior wills ALL men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth… there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for ALL, the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth...it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of ALL mankind, especially of believers. Prescribe and TEACH THESE THINGS.” (1 Timothy 1:15, 2:3-7; 4:9-11)

 When people pray the “sinner’s prayer” or "accept Christ as their personal savior", or “invite Jesus into their heart” or “repent of their sins” as a prerequisite to being saved they are attempting to do something to please God and satisfy what they feel and have been told is His just demands. But they do so because they do not “accept” the fact that Christ is the "Savior of ALL" mankind. I believe that Christ is the Savior of ALL just like the Word of God clearly says. Coming to that knowledge was the life changing event that turned by sorrow into joy and transported me from the bondage of religion to the “freedom of the glory of the children of God”.

“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved…” (Romans 8:16-24)