sometimes life in this world becomes overwhelming, whether in trials and struggles, or in success and bliss. at times we lose sight of the fact that were aliens and strangers in this world and our Home is ahead. Life here is but a Long journey Home and our exit here is but a doorway to our permanent residence. This of course addressed to Christians who believe in the things ahaead that we cannot see or know fully.
I believe this is an important understanding whether life is a series of difficulties, or whether things seem to always work out for your benifit. when we accept Jesus, He offers what is beyond anything this place can offer and something that death cannot change or take away. its a difficult thing to truly live for what is not yet manifest or able to be seen and touched, difficult to Live truly by Faith in what God has said is in store for us, but nevertheless, it is the promise of the Christian Faith, that this world and all that is in it is not ours and that much of it is against us and rejects chroistians because it rejected Jesus who is in us.
a few things to consider
colossians 3:1-3 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
thats quite the promise and wuite the instruction that Leads to the fulfillment of that promise. its hard to be in this world, and yet not have our affections set on the things of High value here wealth, security, popularity, success. But those things shouldnt be our desire even as many preachers tell us that those things are for us. consider what paul said there and then realize it came from this principle spoken By Jesus
matthew6 :19-24 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.22The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!24No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
when you are alone and being honest with yourself, test your Heart and find out where your affections are set and what you serve and seek after. theres nothing wrong with reflecting honestly about your own Life and actions, its actually quite revealing to do that, and will lead to changes entering into your heart. if you find that " yes, im honestly living for what God has promised, im honestly seeking glory and eternal Life, im actually serving the right master " then God bless you may you continue and be encouraged by how far you have come.
If you find that " well really i would fit into the category where my desires and affections are all about things in this world Money, better Job, more success, bigger business, a better car, or whatever else"..... study How much this principle is repeated in Gods Word, and pray about God changing that in your Heart and mind. its really an eye opening thing when you seek daily for the things of God it somehow makes the troubles we go through much less, and the success we experience much more valuable because when your focus is Gods things and the promises He has given, the success you experience are in the things of God rather than the things of the World....and the struggles arent as devastating because were seeking something More than what didnt work out, or what didnt go our way.
God bless just a thought to consider you will find this principle many times in the new testament, to live for what is promised to be ahead, rather than what we can find in this world.
1 peter 1:24-25 "For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
the good news of eternal Life in the Kingdom of God
I believe this is an important understanding whether life is a series of difficulties, or whether things seem to always work out for your benifit. when we accept Jesus, He offers what is beyond anything this place can offer and something that death cannot change or take away. its a difficult thing to truly live for what is not yet manifest or able to be seen and touched, difficult to Live truly by Faith in what God has said is in store for us, but nevertheless, it is the promise of the Christian Faith, that this world and all that is in it is not ours and that much of it is against us and rejects chroistians because it rejected Jesus who is in us.
a few things to consider
colossians 3:1-3 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
thats quite the promise and wuite the instruction that Leads to the fulfillment of that promise. its hard to be in this world, and yet not have our affections set on the things of High value here wealth, security, popularity, success. But those things shouldnt be our desire even as many preachers tell us that those things are for us. consider what paul said there and then realize it came from this principle spoken By Jesus
matthew6 :19-24 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.22The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!24No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
when you are alone and being honest with yourself, test your Heart and find out where your affections are set and what you serve and seek after. theres nothing wrong with reflecting honestly about your own Life and actions, its actually quite revealing to do that, and will lead to changes entering into your heart. if you find that " yes, im honestly living for what God has promised, im honestly seeking glory and eternal Life, im actually serving the right master " then God bless you may you continue and be encouraged by how far you have come.
If you find that " well really i would fit into the category where my desires and affections are all about things in this world Money, better Job, more success, bigger business, a better car, or whatever else"..... study How much this principle is repeated in Gods Word, and pray about God changing that in your Heart and mind. its really an eye opening thing when you seek daily for the things of God it somehow makes the troubles we go through much less, and the success we experience much more valuable because when your focus is Gods things and the promises He has given, the success you experience are in the things of God rather than the things of the World....and the struggles arent as devastating because were seeking something More than what didnt work out, or what didnt go our way.
God bless just a thought to consider you will find this principle many times in the new testament, to live for what is promised to be ahead, rather than what we can find in this world.
1 peter 1:24-25 "For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
the good news of eternal Life in the Kingdom of God