This morning as I was praising my Lord for who He is, I thought about His Holiness, and my shortage of it. Because He is Holy, and commands me (His child) to be holy – He disciplines me as a true Father, while I live now. And, because He is Holy, He must and will judge the dead and the living at His appointed time. His holiness will judge the wicked and rebellious without any mercy; for all unbelievers had more than enough timely opportunities, while they lived, to respond openly and eagerly to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But for the believer in Jesus Christ, born of His Spirit and Word, God’s holiness disciplines us now while we live on the earth for His good purpose. Sinners saved by God’s grace, continue to live out the rest of their lives on earth by that same GRACE?
“Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: Death is swallowed up in victory.’” 1 Corinthians 15:54
It’s not easy to live for the Lord PERFECTLY. That’s why we are disciplined as children by our Father. We all have the natural tendency to serve our sin-nature, and so we must learn to die to it, and live unto Christ our Lord by His indwelling Spirit poured into us - so that we can.
“Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have NEW life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.” Romans 6:13
“For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us (now), what terrible fate awaits those (later at the judgment) who have never obeyed God’s Good News?” (1 Peter 4:17) “Anyone whose name was not found written in the Lamb’s Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15
I am so very thankful to my Father God that He ‘followed me,’ watching over me with His mercy until that day, when He knew I was ready for His love. I responded eagerly and gratefully to His Spirit’s conviction to repent, and to His gospel’s invitation to “come just as I am.” Now I ‘follow the Lord’ who gave Himself for me on that cross, and not only for me, but for all who would believe in Him.
“They will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. Those who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and His angels that they are MINE.” Revelation 3:4
Have you ever heard how when you take a black rock, cover it with red cellophane transparent paper, and then with a flashlight – shine the light on that rock – to see that the rock is now white, not black? Because of the blood of Jesus Christ over me – I appear white as snow to my Father God.
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been ‘born again,’ because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through our faith, God is protecting us by His power until we receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though we must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that our faith [in Christ Jesus] is genuine. 1 Peter 1:3-7