Expanded Consideration
Promise
There may be some doubt, or even anxiety, about whether or not we have a place that is prepared for us in the Kingdom of Heaven. Well, to begin to dispel that doubt, please read these words of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1-3)This is the introduction of the possibility of residence therein. However, later on in Scripture, there is a dampener on any thought of assuming that our residence must be in the Kingdom of Heaven. The apostle Paul seems to indicate that there might be some question about its availability, as he writes the phrase, “
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect“. This is the thought of the apostle Paul that surrounds that phrase.
Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 3:4-14)Fear not, little ones; this is not a reference to the residency that is obtained by those who are so favored by God to reside with Him. This is a matter of whether we can achieve the kind of devotion to service and the mind of righteousness that will bring us to a place of rest in the LORD. The devotion to service and the mind of righteousness are needed now as we travel the journey here, so that we will have a peace that is like unto the peace that was expressed by the apostle Paul.
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This entry was posted on Monday, August 31st, 2009 at 04:32 and is filed under Kingdom Of Heaven. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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