New Life!

New Life!

Colossians 3:1 AMPC

[1] IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Paul was writing this letter to the church in Colosse, and it is instructive that this letter was co-written by Timothy, someone who had been mentored in the faith by Paul. Timothy was not one you would have reckoned with by Jewish standards, because his father was Greek, but we now know that the past does not always determine the present or the future. That Timothy became the vessel he became is a testament to the power of God to save and to use. There is no one who is so far gone that s/he is beyond the grace of God. He is the One who takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary. It really matters in whose hands that life is. 

It is also instructive to note the audience to which this letter is addressed: the saints (the consecrated people of God) and believing and faithful brethren in Christ. This also matters. As we have always maintained, the audience defines the demand. You do not place a demand for commitment from a majority which has no idea of what is required by God. How can you commit to a God who you do not know or whose authority you do not submit to? The other danger is that this majority is of course in large numbers, and can be quite loud and visible. The crowd can make noise, but it does not always mean that God is backing up that noise. 

For those who have made that commitment, the message in the verse above is clear: we have been raised with Christ into a new life. When Christ died on the cross, He took away the power of sin and death, giving us access into the new life that only Christ can give. We now share the same life; we share the power of resurrection, because this new life does not end. This is both humbling and instructive; it is a life that is only available in Christ, and it places a demand for new pursuits and priorities from all who seek it. What worked in the old life no longer applies in this new life. What was permitted under the old order no longer works in this new order. 

For people who share this new life, the verse above lays out this requirement: aim at and seek the rich, eternal treasures that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. It does not mean that I forget how to be a blessing down here on earth, but the values of the earth must not hold my heart. I cannot afford to focus only on what I can get here, but the desire for eternal life with God must be of utmost priority.  The treasures in Christ beat whatever the earth can give you; the earth can even give you, but it cannot guarantee that you will enjoy it. Focus on God, even as you make impact for Him down here. Eternity will be glad you did. God's time of favour is here. 

Be Wise!

Be Wise!

Daniel 12:3 AMPC

[3] And the teachers and those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness (to uprightness and right standing with God) [shall give forth light] like the stars forever and ever.

Let us put the verse above in the right context. These were the final words of the book of Daniel, and as we know, this latter part of the book was about prophecies of the end. Daniel himself was a Jew who found himself in captivity along with other Jews, but what distinguished him was his commitment to purity, both internal and external. Even though he was in a foreign land where he could have blended in without feeling guilty, he knew what God's standards were, and he would not compromise. For all of us who seek impact, relevance and eternal reward, we cannot afford to do what others do, live as others live, and even eat as others eat, as Daniel found out to his advantage. 

Daniel was also a man given to prayer. As we read from the book of Daniel, there were deep mysteries revealed to him simply because he was a man given to prayer. It was so special that even a dream and its interpretation were both revealed to him, which shows the heart of God in dealing with people who make time for Him, as well as God's readiness to share deep things with those who can handle them. Can God say the same about me? Can I find time in the midst of the most pressing schedule, to commune with God and seek His face for all that is both present and ahead? As we have said several times, God will not force Himself on anyone. 

He will also not go against the exercise of my freewill but be sure that He will show Himself strong and mighty in the lives of all who seek Him sincerely and with their whole hearts. This is the foundation of the verse above. God has needs too, and He seeks men who will listen to His heart and seek to do His will. He does not promise a life free of tribulations or tough times, but He sure promises us His ever-abiding Presence and Power. As the first verse of the chapter from where the verse above is taken makes clear, there will be a time of trouble and distress for the world, but God promises deliverance for all whose names are written in the Book. 

That has to be the right motivation for all that I am asked to do: whatever it is I want to do: teach the undiluted word of God and turn many to righteousness. It is by personal example that the life of Christ can be made attractive to the world around me. The verse above refers to teachers and those who are wise. To be able to teach the right way is to be humble and open about your struggles, and totally depending on the One who cab help you stand. To be wise is to also lead others to the saving knowledge of Jesus, saving them from eternal damnation. This is the best use of the life that God has given me. That is true wisdom. Do I truly have Him? God's time of favour is here. 

Refuge!

Refuge!

Psalm 46:1 AMPC

[1] GOD IS our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to temptation], a very present and well-proved help in trouble.

This is a psalm written by the sons of Korah. We do not know the context, but there is no doubt about the depth of the message. You do not speak like this without some deeply personal experience of the God referred to in the verse above. Mature men are confident to speak about someone or something they know quite well, and this also applies here. Can I say with utmost confidence that I know this God that the sons of Korah spoke of in the verse above? I also note that it went far beyond just hearsay; as much as it is nice to hear others speak about God, it is even more important to know Him for yourself. 

When trials and tough times come, you really cannot depend on just what someone else has said. It has to be something you have personally found to be true, proven by personal experience. Another thing that is clear from the verse above is that you do not come to such a conclusion without some rough and tough times. How do you call God a refuge if you have never had to run to Him for safety from danger or trouble? How do you find God to be a place of strength if there had not been times of weakness, discomfort, pain or failure? Again, this is the power of personal experience. Men can speal of what they know, but they cannot experience God on your behalf. 

He has walked in my own shoes, so His experiences have become sources of help and inspiration for me. He was tempted by the devil, and whatever it is that we go through today has already been answered and provided for by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Just like a definition of 'refuge' lays out, it means protection, shelter, or a safe place that keeps you away from danger, trouble, or hardship. Of course, there must be danger for a refuge to make sense. The human experience is unpredictable; God does nor promise a life free of trouble, but that in spite of what comes, there is a presence that stays true. 

The verse above also refers to the same God as a very present and well-proved help in trouble. Again, how do you prove this to be true if life was all a bed of roses? How do you test the veracity of this claim if you never had pressure? I must value the blessings of this life which enable me learn the value of God’s presence and power.  It does not matter how bad things get or how deep problems go; God is ever-present. He stays in when everyone else steps out. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He has not changed or moved; if He seems far, I must check where I am and where I have been. He is that faithful. God’s time of favour is here.