The way of those who mind earthly things, may seem pleasant, but death and hell are at the end of it. If we choose their way, we shall share their end. (PHILIPPIANS 3). HONEST FOLLOWERS aim to become more like THE LORD, and their time is spent learning how to exist accordingly, none of which can be done independent of HIM, and yet we HAVE our share of work to do...
We are to think of EXCELLENCE, as we strive to improve ourselves, body, mind, and spirit. We are to think on matters ABOVE, and NOT be wrapped up in matters of the Earth! We are to hold onto whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you (PHILIPPIANS 3 & 4).
Joy in God is of great consequence in the Christian life; and Christians need to be again and again called to it. It more than outweighs all causes for sorrow. Let their enemies perceive how moderate they were as to outward things, and how composedly they suffered loss and hardships.
There is a care of diligence which is our duty, and agrees with a wise forecast and due concern; but there is a care of fear and distrust, which is sin and folly, and only perplexes and distracts the mind. As a remedy against perplexing care, constant prayer is recommended. Not only stated times for prayer, but in every thing by prayer. We must join thanksgivings with prayers and supplications; not only seek supplies of good, but own the mercies we have received. God needs not to be told our wants or desires; he knows them better than we do; but he will have us show that we value the mercy, and feel our dependence on him.
The peace of God, the comfortable sense of being reconciled to God, and having a part in his favour, and the hope of the heavenly blessedness, are a greater good than can be fully expressed. This peace will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus; it will keep us from sinning under troubles, and from sinking under them; keep us calm and with inward satisfaction.
Believers are to get and to keep a good name; a name for good things with God and good men. We should walk in all the ways of virtue, and abide therein; then, whether our praise is of men or not, it will be of God. The apostle is for an example. His doctrine and life agreed together. The way to have the God of peace with us, is to keep close to our duty. All our privileges and salvation arise in the free mercy of God; yet the enjoyment of them depends on our sincere and holy conduct. These are works of God, pertaining to God, and to him only are they to be ascribed, and to no other, neither men, words, nor deeds.
Christ's kingdom is spiritual, and not of this world. Christianity does not meddle with politics; it obliges all to do justly, but wordly dominion is not founded in grace. It does not encourage expectations of worldly advantages by religion.
The rewards of Christ's disciples are of another nature. Covetousness is a sin we need constantly to be warned against; for happiness and comfort do not depend on the wealth of this world. The things of the world will not satisfy the desires of a soul.
Here is a parable, which shows the folly of carnal worldling while they live, and their misery when they die. The character drawn is exactly that of a prudent, worldly man, who has no grateful regard to the providence of God, nor any right thought of the uncertainty of human affairs, the worth of his soul, or the importance of eternity. How many, even among professed Christians, point out similar characters as models for imitation, and proper persons to form connections with! We mistake if we think that thoughts are hid, and thoughts are free. When he saw a great crop upon his ground, instead of thanking God for it, or rejoicing to be able to do more good, he afflicts himself. What shall I do now? The poorest beggar in the country could not have said a more anxious word. The more men have, the more perplexity they have with it. It was folly for him to think of making no other use of his plenty, than to indulge the flesh and gratify the sensual appetites, without any thought of doing good to others. Carnal worldlings are fools; and the day is coming when God will call them by their own name, and they will call themselves so. The death of such persons is miserable in itself, and terrible to them. Thy soul shall be required. He is loath to part with it; but God shall require it, shall require an account of it, require it as a guilty soul to be punished without delay. It is the folly of most men, to mind and pursue that which is for the body and for time only, more than that for the soul and eternity.
We MUST ever concentrate our energies on the TRUE being; the ETERNAL being; our soul! We KNOW, we ALL KNOW that the body will return to the Earth, but the soul IS FOREVER, AND we HAVE a CHOICE where it will spend time without end! We KNOW we have but THIS time to make that choice clear, yet, so many defy THE TRUTH, and time by reasoning of the carnal, perishable kind! BIG MISTAKE! *GOD* whom CREATED our souls, and therefore IS MASTER OVER them, WILL demand them, and we know NOT when! THEREFORE, we get SERIOUS about MAKING SURE they WILL share IN everlasting PEACE, JOY, and THE LIGHT because the alternative IS eternal suffering! As long as this Earth is here, the ways of the world will be, and our body might be gone, while the soul remains, so, it IS futile to be overly wrapped up in what is common to this realm, and to forsake the destiny of the soul!!!
THINK ALWAYS ON HOLY matters; this WILL aid in keeping us from being sucked in by worldly ones! KNOW THE LORD *GOD*, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, HIS WORD, AS WELL AS our role IN HIS PLAN! UNDERSTAND WHY being enmeshed in the world IS dangerous FOR the soul, and HOW the enemy USES EVERY angle, and deceptive maneuver TO trip us enough to trap us! ALL *GOD* wants IS for us to SEE, and TO THINK as we move forward IN HIM, which then opens UP to HIS WORKS in us, through us, and around us!!!
CONSIDER the TRUTH which is that IF *GOD* demands your soul this hour, your choices this far WILL determine it's final placing! IF that doesn't arouse you to making things right, then I suppose nothing will! WHEN we come INTO THE LORD SINCERELY, we CHANGE FOR HIS GLORY, FOR the sake of our soul, and THAT others will also, be able to! We CAN enjoy the world WITHOUT being one with it, BUT we NEED KNOWLEDGE in order to, THAT we REMAIN IN HIM, and FREE from the unseen shackles of the enemy, whom IS obsessed with taking as many souls into the pit of constant anguish as is feasible!!!
TRULY whatever is OF *GOD* IS where our hearts, minds, emotions, actions, and reactions ought to be anchored, and embraced; all else will only lead us farther from HIM, LOVE, TRUTH, and VICTORY!!!
LWINSOR © 2017
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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