Monday, November 14, 2016

Why My Eyes Are Focused On The Future

Hey Friend,

With all the things going on in our world, including the election, now more than ever I have my sights set on the future - my eternal future.  I'm not going so far as to be, as my mother would say, "So heavenly minded that I'm no earthly good."

As I get older, and I've witnessed the atrocities happening in our world, I feel less and less like I belong here.  I see the Word of God being shoved farther and farther into a corner and the lump in my throat grows.  

If you feel at home, content, comfortable in this world....I challenge you to ask yourself if something is wrong with this picture??  We are not meant to feel at home here because, frankly, as believers, this is not our home. We are citizens of Heaven.

We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us.  Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.  (1 Chronicles 29:15)

Not that we aren't supposed to make a difference in this world, but we are not to treat this life like this is all there is.

Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and exiles (temporary residents), to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.  (1 Peter 2:11)

Let's face it - while we are on this earth we are continually at war with our earthly flesh and the temptations that beckon to it.  

So why do Christians rarely talk about the Rewards that await us in Heaven??

Contrary to popular thought, we will not be sitting around on clouds strumming our harps...there will be jobs to be done, commands to be carried out, and joy and fun to be had. Eternity is forever and I would certainly get bored with doing nothing for infinite days on end. God has great plans for us and He has a method in mind for handing out rewards and assigning jobs and tasks.  

No, we can't earn our salvation.  We know that "By grace we are saved by faith."  By believing that Christ died for my sins, His righteousness is imputed to me.  

But, once we are saved, this is not the green light to simply switch on cruise control.  

No, nothing will ever separate us from God or our salvation, but we are commanded to "work out our salvation".  

We want to buy into the popular concept that our righteousness is like filthy rags before God, which in a manner of speaking it is - if you are talking about righteous acts in order to earn our salvation. 

But once saved the rewards we will receive in Heaven can and should be a motive for our obedience.

But wait, shouldn't we just be obedient out of love for what Christ did for us?

Yes, but Paul states it quite plainly...

"But each will receive his own reward according to his own labor."  (1 Corinthians 3:8)

Believe it or not even Moses was motivated by rewards...

"He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward." (Hebrews 11:26)

We have been convinced that our obedience after being saved really doesn't matter.  We like "Once saved always saved" and so we rest on our laurels.  One day, however, we will need to stand before the throne of God and account for all our deeds (good and bad) and we will need to give an account of how we have labored to advance the Kingdom.  

God will look upon our acts of obedience.  Yes, we'll fall woefully short of His perfect standards, but the question will be did you try?  or did you simply do nothing?

Will our obedience and labor be despised in this world...you bet!!  Will we be hated and even persecuted....the Bible pretty much guarantees it.

But the rewards....the REWARDS!!! The Bible also promises they will be great indeed.  

The obedience of the believer really does matter...and Yes, God is watching.  The more we practice obedience, the more He unleashes His Holy Spirit to work through us, and I believe He will work in us that which is pleasing in His sight.

Be encouraged if you feel like this world is not your home...it isn't.  Be encouraged if you labor heavily in ministry and toil for the glory of God and the cause of Christ.  

Let Paul's word's resound in your ears:

"Your labor is not in vain."  (1 Corinthians 15:58)

And God will say:

"Well done, good and faithful servant!!"  (Matthew 25:21)

I can't wait to put on the crown of victory and glory knowing that I ran the race before me.  I did my best to be obedient to his Word.  I worked out my salvation and sought to bring glory to Jesus Christ.  

No, it won't be perfect (it can't be), but it will be pleasing in my Father's sight and that's good enough for me.

Do you feel "at home" in the world or do you feel like a foreigner passing through?  If you are saved, how are you "working out your salvation"?  What do you think Heaven is going to look like and how do you envision your role in eternity?

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise you and thank you that you knew there was no way for me to earn my salvation (all my attempts are filthy rags) and so you sent your Son to die for me.  Thank you for guaranteeing me a place in the great, great House of God in Heaven for eternity.  Thank you for cleansing me through the blood of your precious Son, Jesus.  Lord, help me not to switch on cruise control. Keep my eyes focused on the future glory to come.  Help me be obedient to your Word and to love you and work out my salvation through obedience to you.  Like Moses, keep my eyes focused on the rewards to come...let that be the prize for which I run the race before me.  Grant me perseverance and hope as I walk through my days on this earth. I claim your promises you have given me in your Word.  Be with me now, O Lord.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Be blessed...

ps.  Thursday, Nov. 24th is Thanksgiving.  Friday the 25th is Black Friday.  Monday the 28th is Cyber Monday and TUESDAY NOVEMBER 29th is GIVING TUESDAY!!!

Instead of putting the focus on commercially driven buying and receiving, will you help us put the emphasis on GIVING??

If you'd like to donate to Redeemer Christian Foundation, Inc. by check or credit...


20 comments:

  1. Thank you for these powerful words, Bev. You are a blessing here in this space. I am glad you asked the hard question-do you feel comfortable in this world. As I get older, I am feeling very much like you. The turmoil is too much but God is so good. My prayer is that God keeps opening doors to serve and honor Im more. I don't want time to run out! I love your heart for challenging us and speaking the truth. Hugs friend!

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    1. Mary,
      It IS a hard question...and yes, the older I get the more I long for my eternal home. Thankfully God is so good and He gives us glimpses of Heaven every day to help us carry on! You capture it so well in your photography!!
      Blessings and ((hugs)),
      Bev

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  2. No, I am not comfortable in this world! And yes, that IS a good thing. I hope and pray to grow in holiness so as to enjoy the heavenly rewards in eternity. "Eye has not seen. Ear has not heard what God has ready for those who love Him...". Each new day is a great opportunity for us to spread the Good News! Thanks, Bev, for your words of wisdom today. 😊💞

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    1. Lisa,
      I LOVE that scripture! I truly believe that God is going to blow our socks off with what He has prepared for us!! Our job is to spread the Good News so that there will be more believers in the eternal Kingdom. Joining with you in your prayer for holiness!!
      Blessings sweet friend,
      Bev

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  3. My given name, Barbara, means stranger in a foreign land. The older I get the less comfortable and at home I feel here on this earth. I know that God still has work to do both in me and through me. I do look forward to the day when I walk though the doors of heaven and hear Him say, "Well done thy good and faithful servant." Thanks for sharing at Glimpses this week.

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    1. Barbie,
      Wow...your name is a daily reminder of God's eternal plan. He has so much work to do in ALL of us and we will never be perfect this side of Heaven's gates, but Oh won't it be a joy to hear those words, "Well done good and faithful servant" spoken over us one day??
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  4. Oh yes, Bev, let's keep our eyes focused on the future and run in such a way as to win the prize. :)

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    1. Betsy,
      Yes, eyes focused and running along with you arm in arm :)
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  5. Great thoughts! The idea of "reward" is one I've spent a great deal of time thinking on. Here are a couple of posts I've written on the topic in case you're interested. https://journeyoftheword.com/2015/12/03/why-we-should-bless-selfishly/
    https://journeyoftheword.com/2015/03/20/the-art-of-self-seeking/
    But yes, while I very much affirm that we are saved by grace through faith and not of works, I do see many places in Scripture where rewards are used as motivation for obedience to Christ.

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    1. Thanks Lydia,
      I'll definitely have to check them out and hope that my readers will do so as well. Many of the great Biblical leaders did work as much for rewards as they worked in obedience. God knows better than we do, just how "human" we are and need motivation. Thanks for sharing!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  6. Oh, yes, Lord, help me work out my salvation, to live for the praise of your glory each day. I want to reflect YOU wherever I am, tuned in to your Spirit so that my words and actions draw attention to Jesus. Thank you, Bev, for an encouraging post that fine-tunes our perspective!

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    1. Nancy,
      I LOVE your spirit!! You always bless this space and I always look forward to your uplifting comments!! Praying that prayer alongside you!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  7. Bev, what a great post! You made me think about so many things. Your words gave me some inspiration for a conversation with my sons. They see only the "now." Thoughts of living our lives here, with the acceptance that it will be uncomfortable to them, is foreign. I'm going to pray for wisdom on how to introduce this mindset. And, I needed the reminder as well. I gained so much from your words today!

    Another thought that came to mind was this: one question our pastor used to ask was, "Is heaven your destination or your inspiration?" I'm continually challenged to think about my view of heaven and the impact it has on my living here on earth.

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    1. Jeanne,
      I think a lot of people only see the "now"...especially our children. It's hard to come to grips with the notion that life isn't just one big bowl of cherries. I love the question by your pastor. Asking myself that question right now...praying it would be my inspiration for my time spent on this earth. Thanks for sharing...
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  8. Hi Bev, I love thinking about heavenly rewards. I know it's not talked about often in churches, but the scriptures seem to be packed with reminders that our godly lives here position us for eternal rewards. I love the parable of the talents for this reason.

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    1. Sarah,
      You are right...the scriptures are packed with reminders that there are, indeed, heavenly rewards. The parable of the talents is an excellent example - thanks for bringing that to mind and for sharing here!!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  9. Yes! Forward and in peace! It's time for us to remember all that we agree upon and hold dear and to focus on that!

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    1. Michele,
      It is amazing how looking and keeping my eyes focused forward brings peace. Have a blessed thanksgiving sweet friend,
      Bev xx

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  10. Oh yeah ... fixing my eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith! Choosing to turn away from endless political coverage, embracing more time in silence and solitude, reading and puttering around my home with gratitude.

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    1. Linda,
      Yes, enough already with the political aftermath. Let's join arms and go forward in peace. I'm with you in embracing the silence and solitude...we need more of that in our "noisy" world.
      Blessings this Thanksgiving,
      Bev

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