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Topic: First (as in original) (01/10/05)
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Another new year has been born with a fresh start toward goals that many will never realize. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it? What will happen in the next three hundred and fifty-odd days? Will we endure another terror strike? More natural disasters? Lost jobs? Deaths? We can look at these things and be leery of them or learn from them. So, what is this great lesson that we may learn?
First: that all that you see around you and yes, even your very life, are temporal. All of your wishes, goals, dreams and prayers will some day be history as will also be the ramblings and rumblings of this writer. History forever freezes the deeds of men for future generations to examine. It also puts a sudden end to all that we do. The liberal’s ranting and raving will be stilled. The terrorist will be robbed of his hatred. The politician will have nothing to say and Christians who have missed God’s will for their lives, will have to live with that memory. All of this is temporal.
Next… well, we could go on and on. Learning the first lesson should be enough to help us understand that this life will soon be past and “…only what’s done for Christ will last” as the saying goes. That is, if what is done is in obedience to His revealed will. For that to happen, we must be continuously filled with His Spirit. As the chorus to the old hymn says, “…trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus; but to trust and obey.” Obedience to His revealed will, the Bible, is the real mark of the Spirit’s filling. For the Spirit came to glorify Jesus Christ, not Himself. If we are willing to obey His Word then we will find another old saying very interesting. Here it is!
“With some He is present, with a few, He is prominent and with a very few, He is preeminent.”
Interesting? Yes. I think so. This describes much of what is called “Christian” today. With those who have been saved, but not discipled, He is present, for He said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” With a fewer number, He is prominent. They seek His blessings, but still hold back in some areas of life. To these He says, “Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” For an even smaller number, He is preeminent. This is a large word that means, He is “first of all”. (He is the original Preeminence from eternity). These are the Christians who, although not sinless, seek to put Him and His will first in all areas of life. They may even be the next martyrs in our time. Oh yes, the word “martyr” is also translated as “witness”. These tread the old paths, not selling out their blood-bought faith for modernism’s mess of pottage. They are content to live each day for Him and seek nothing for themselves. John said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” This is their happy watch word. They reap his blessings and much spiritual maturity because of it. To these He says, “Come ye blessed of my Father…”. I’ll let you research the Scripture references. Is He “first of all” in your life? Is He, really?
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