This week, Michael writes: As people of God, we need to keep our eyes on eternity. Even though we live in the here and now, our eyes are on the hereafter. That is the eternal perspective that the child of God, an Ambassador for Christ, and citizen of Heaven carries in faith, hope and love.
In the Bible books of Timothy, men and women of this God-rejecting world are opposed to the things of righteousness (being in a right relationship with God). Many harmful desires plunge men and women into destruction and depravity. The battle between light and darkness, good and evil, rages on. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness from on high. Charles Spurgeon said that we are the result of a siege that God waged against the fortress of our worldly hearts. He has broken down the walls and led captivity captive in Christ Jesus.
Jesus Christ is the "hound of heaven", who continuously pursues us. In 2 Timothy, Paul knew that he was approaching the end of his ministry and this life. He reminded Timothy of the sins of our fallen nature that we inherited from Adam. To turn from sin, Paul exhorts his men to turn instead to righteousness. Because we have been created a new man or woman in Christ Jesus, Paul said to flee from sin and to pursue righteousness.
According to 2 Timothy 3: 1-5, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
Paul didn't say to convert these evil men. Rather he said turn away from them. To flee from them, instead pursue six things: In 2 Timothy 3:11, as a "man or woman of God," he says to pursue godliness: “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” Godliness is living life according to righteousness in the presence of Omnipresent God. The love of God keeps no record of wrongs done. God doesn't build up a resentment bank. To approach our loving Heavenly Father, we must approach Him with a heart of love and grace.
In the old game show, "To Tell the Truth," the question was, "Will the real you please stand up." When God sees us, He sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ himself. Who is the real you? The real you is the man or woman who God created us in Christ Jesus when we were born again of God's spirit. According to Colossians 1:26-27, the riches of the glory of the mystery is Christ in you, the hope of glory. God has called us to be godly so that we don't need to be afraid of judgement. We are sons and daughters of God by birth. He has created in us a new life in the spirit of Christ in us. We have been saved by grace through faith. As Galatians 3:11says, the just shall live by faith. Faith produces knowledge of the cause and purpose of our lives. Faith produces fidelity (faith) ... to stand strong to the end.
As a man or woman of God, we do things because of who we are. We were made the righteousness of God because of Jesus' payment for sin on our behalf. For he who was without sin became the perfect sin sacrifice for us that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him.The real you is “Christ in you”. It's His feet behind my feet, His hands behind my hands, His eyes behind my eyes, and His heart behind my heart. Faithfulness is not because of what we do but because of who we are and whose we are. Devoted means that we have dedicated ourselves to His purpose and cause, because of our righteousness in Him. Each moment in time can be "our finest hour." Each moment is an opportunity to fulfill our "divine appointment" to walk in fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Our acceptance by our Heavenly Father is through His son, for there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. The sin nature will pursue the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. However, ye are slaves to whom you obey. We have the power of the Holy Spirit to flee from these things and instead to pursue the righteousness of God in Christ in us.
“For there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ has made me free from the law of sin and death. Therefore, we can approach our father as sons of God. We can live for our Father's glory, for it is God who works in you to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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