Let Us Look at the Things Above and Go Forth
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December 25, 2011 |
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 "Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:1-2)
Vehicles and even locomotives can easily stop, go forward, and move in reverse by using the engine. However, airplanes have no 'reverse gear' so they are incapable of reversing direction. They also take significantly longer to come to a stop. For them to keep moving safety in movement they have to continue to move straight forward, ascend or descend. Once they lose momentum and driving force, they will plunge to the ground. The same principle applies to believers' lives. If they stop leading diligent Christian lives, they will fall deep into the world until the end. How, then, can we keep marching towards Heaven like airplanes flying in the sky?
First, on our march to Heaven we must continually move forward toward holiness.
In Heaven, our eternal dwelling place there is no untruth, evil, and darkness. To enter such a Heaven, it is necessary for us to accomplish the heart of the Lord in us. In other words, we have to go forth vigorously in our faith for the holiness of our hearts. To the extent that we have no evil and our hearts are clean, we can be rooted deeply in holiness.
You attend all kinds of services and meetings when you are filled with the grace of God. However, unless you cast away evil in hearts, when you run out of grace and meet with trials, you will just befriend the world again. How, then, can we continually move forward toward holiness?
First, you have to reflect upon yourself with the word of God. You should not just think, "I am happy attending this worship service and enjoy going to that meeting." But you have to keep in mind what kinds of messages you heard and you have to apply them to yourself. For example, you listened to the message about King Saul trying to kill David out of his jealousy and envy of David. Then, you have to check if you have such jealousy or hatred against your brothers or co-workers and get rid of them. It is how to apply the message to oneself.
The second thing you need to do is casting off sins through prayers. When you realize your evil through the Word, it is best if you can realize yourself and change it right away. But sinful natures that are deeply rooted in your hearts can be gotten rid of only with fervent prayer. You make up your mind to cut off the worldly things when you listen to the message. But after some time, you want to take it up again. Your determination weakens and you might take those things again. That is the moment you should receive strength through fervent prayer to overcome such things with an unchanging heart. Then the strength will come upon you together with the help of the Holy Spirit. It will be easier to cast off your love for the world, uncomfortable feelings, hard feelings, resentment, and anger from your heart with the Holy Spirit's help. You will admit you get angry, not because of others, but for yourself. You will not have any hard feelings or anger no matter what the situation. In other words, if you pray fervently, these fleshly emotions will be removed. Those who pray ardently will also receive the strength to keep the decisions they made in any kind of temptation.
And lastly, you have to meditate on the hope of Heaven, the grace of God, and the love of the shepherd. Nothing good in the world can be compared with Heaven and the love of God the Father. He created the heavens and the earth and all things, and He gave the life of His only begotten Son for us. Although Jesus had no sin at all He was crucified on the cross to save us. We must not disappoint God who is anxiously waiting for us to become holy. We have to meditate on this hope of Heaven and the love of the Father. Remember that you can receive more strength to march towards holiness with thoughts like, "The more flesh I cast off, the better the heavenly dwelling place will be that I can enter. Then I will see the Father looking at me with warm smiles."
Secondly, on our march to Heaven we must march on to conquer and subdue the world.
To conquer and subdue the world does not mean you have to oppress somebody with physical strength. Instead it means to fulfill your duties with faithfulness and diligence.
Before Adam sinned, he had the power and authority to subdue and rule over all things. He learned all about Eden, the plants and animals on the Earth, the order in the universe. He learned all of the necessary knowledge to rule over the world that God created. Of course, it was not so difficult because he had the wisdom given by God. But he could rule over all things only after he was equipped with all the necessary knowledge.
The same applies to us. In order for you to shine in the world and expand the kingdom of God, you too must have the ability to do it. You have to keep learning and improving your abilities. Of course, you have to pray, learn the word of God, and be faithful in the church.
To conquer and subdue the world, you must have both firm determination and you have to expend effort. You should make yourself more capable than the worldly people so that you can be recognized anywhere in the world. Are there any of you who worry because you are lagging behind others? If you just have the willingness to do it, God will open the way for you. If you just keep on doing your best without giving up, God will open up the way and give you wisdom and strength to overcome and govern the world.
Thirdly, you must march forth with caring for the souls who are on the way to death.
Many worldly people are racing towards the horrors of Hell without knowing their future. If there are many family members, friends, neighbors, and relatives who do not know the Lord, you have to go to them, help them and show them how to receive salvation, too. But for you to be able to evangelize them, you first have to show them the evidence of the living God in your life. Through your life, you must be able to make people around you say, "As a believer you've become a really good man. As I see him change and as I see her receive blessings, I can see and realize that God is really alive."
Matthew 5:14-16 says, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
If you light a lamp in the house, it will brighten the whole house, and even from a distance you can see the light through the window. Likewise, when you set a good example as a Christian serving and loving your family and coworkers, you can give out the fragrance of Christ. Then, many unbelievers will give glory to God seeing your good deeds, and they will also be able to believe in God.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, how much do you think you have looked toward things above since receiving the Holy Spirit as a gift and the right to become God's children? Only when you read the Bible, attend the worship service, pray fervently, cast away sins, and have hope for Heaven can you resemble the Lord. You can overcome and subdue the world when you perform your duties well. You can lead souls to the way of salvation when you become light that shines in this world.
Therefore, I hope you will throw away all untruth and darkness that belong to the world and achieve the holy heart pleasing God. I pray in the name of the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord that you will also work faithfully in all God's household and march on towards New Jerusalem.
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