Life or Death - Which?

Anita Clark – Pastor, Grace Chapel, Carbondale, Kansas

                       

“And many that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:2,3.  

Old Testament believers believed in the resurrection of the dead and a life hereafter. Daniel was told by the Lord that there would be a resurrection of the just and unjust. Resurrection and everlasting life was promised to the righteous, and everlasting contempt would be upon those unbelievers who will be resurrected also, but to eternal punishment. The word “contempt” means “an object to be abhorred, to loath, or dislike.”  Why would the Lord express it this way?  Think about it.  Even in the Old Testament times, God provided a way of salvation.  By accepting that salvation, which looked forward to Jesus’ sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, provision was made so that although those believers died they could rest in hope of being raised to live in heaven forever.  On the other hand, those who did not believe, would also be raised up in resurrection, but to a very different purpose. They would suffer God’s “contempt.” The New Testament teaches us that they will suffer forever in the lake of fire. “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:15.    

Jesus said in John 5:28-29, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”  The phrase “done good” or “done evil” is not really speaking of some work that a person could do, but rather to believe is to do good, while rejecting salvation is doing evil. The Scripture teaches that the only way we can have eternal life is to believe, and the only way to have eternal death is to go on in unbelief.

Jesus spoke to Martha, when her brother had died, “I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believeth thou this?” (John 11:25.)   John says in I John 5:12, “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in His Son.  He that hath the Son of God hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”  Praise God!  By believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, we partake of His eternal life.  Christ is in us, and we are in Christ, and that is for eternity.

The Apostle Peter says in I Peter 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein we greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried by fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”

Our resurrection is made possible because Christ Arose. I Cor. 15:20,24 states, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept...Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming.” The time is short.  He is going to come soon. The signs of the times of the nearness of the coming of the Lord are very prominent at this time.  Look up your redemption draweth nigh!  We are made alive through the new birth and we are alive forevermore.  This transaction, changed into His likeness, is going to take place very soon.

 Prophecy

Earlene Davis

Christ’s message to Philadelphia

Revelation 3:7-8, “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” 

Philadelphia means, “brotherly love” which speaks of their spiritual condition, they loved the brethren (I Jn. 4:12). They walked in the Spirit, for the fruit of the Spirit is love (Gal. 5:22). Philadelphia like Smyrna no fault is found by the Judge, Jesus Christ with these two churches. Smyrna saints that are faithful unto death, represent the full overcomers who go by the way of the grave during this Church Age, and will be resurrected; Philadelphia represents the full overcomers who will be alive when the Lord comes and will be translated (I Thess. 4:16-17). 

Christ has the key, the authority to open the door set before these saints, the open door of heaven, the door of translation. With little strength they have kept His word, “the word of my patience” (V. 10). Jesus is waiting the Father’s signal for His return for His bride. These saints kept His word, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ,” Titus 2:13. In their weakness they depended on His Strength (II Cor. 12:9-10). The joy of the Lord was their strength, (Neh. 8:10).  

V. 9, “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.” The same professed law keepers of the Jewish religion of works are their persecutors, who also opposed the Smyrna saints. When they bow before the Lord in worship, they will acknowledge the full overcomers right to reign conjointly with Him, for His bride will be by His side. 

V. 10, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” They are promised to be kept out of the judgment of tribulation days. 

 

Vs. 11-13, “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” A crown is promised if they continue running with patience, if not they could loose their reward. Smyrna saints are the only other church promised a crown. “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out:” A pillar holds up and is steadfast. They held up the truth and they will be reward accordingly. 

“And I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. Three names will be given them, the family name of God; a new address, the city of my God, the new Jerusalem; and My new name, the Lamb’s wife, Rev. 19:7. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Listen to the teacher, the Holy Spirit.

Christ’s Message to Laodicea

The Laodicea church is in quite a contrast to the Philadelphia church. They are in such a state of deterioration, professing to be Christians, but it is in name only. Laodicea means ‘just people’ or ‘rights of the people.’ They are politically correct, the people ruling, voting in pastors and electing elders, setting policy, etc. 

Rev. 3:14, “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.” The Judge, Jesus Christ comes to them as “the Amen,” the One able to carry out His word, the faithful and true witness. He comes to them this way because they were not faithful nor a true witness.

Vs. 15-16, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” They are indifferent, the truth does not concern them. They are neither angry not glad. There is not much hope for them.

V. 17, “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” They are self-satisfied and feel rich, but the Judge says they are spiritually destitute.

V. 18, “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire (speaking of Deity), that thou mayest be rich (eternal riches); and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed (covered with Christ’s righteousness), and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve (the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit), that thou mayest see.” The Trinity is active in our salvation.

V. 19, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” God is not willing that any should perish, but that all come to repentance (II Pet. 3:9). “Buy of me,” believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the visible religious conglomeration, Christendom, not the true Church. Apostasy is their chief characteristic, neither cold nor hot, just lukewarm in  a self-satisfied condition, which God hates. “I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

Vs. 20-22, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Christ is on the outside knocking in love for some individuals to invite Him into their heart. The overcomers of Laodicea are saved and will in that measure reign with Him. We have looked at these seven churches historically, that they actually existed and how Christ, the Judge viewed them. Next issue, we will look at them dispensationally, picturing the whole Church Age from beginning to the end.

 JONAH

Debra Isenbletter, Pastor, Christian Assembly, Springfield, Missouri

Jonah 3:3, “So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey.” Jonah is again called by God to fulfill the responsibilities of a prophet of God and he answers that call faithfully.

His Obedience: “Jonah arose.” The first time Jonah “arose” it was in disobedience (Jon.1:3). He “arose” to run from the Will of God and from the Word of God.  Now Jonah runs with the Word of God. What a difference! The word “arose” means to “stand up” and this is the first step. Jonah stands up to do exactly what God wants him to do.  The wonderful truth attached to taking this first step, of standing up, is the provision and promise and the power that God gives to the one who does this. He will be “established,” he will be strengthened, but not until he first “stands up.” He will receive strength as he needs it, the moment he needs it. Jonah’s purpose will be “fixed” and that shows that the first step of faith enables us to take the next step of faith. Jonah will not change his mind, he will do what God asks him to do. Jonah arose knowing that he would be “proved” by God but at the same time he knew that he could “prove” God, and his God would meet his need, whatever it might be. There is nothing negative about being proven by God because the positive side is that we prove God and He is always there for us.

The other meanings for “arise” and “arose” show what happens when God proves us and we prove Him. He puts us to the test and we put Him to the test and there is a powerful result.  We are able “to continue,” despite the obstacles, despite the suffering, despite the persecution, whatever it may be.  We are able to “continue” because we walk not in our own strength but in the strength of the New Creation life. We walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, energized and enabled by the Spirit. As Jonah “continues,” he is able to “accomplish” all that God asks of him.  It is not really the accomplishment of the flesh but what happens when the flesh submits to the Spirit of God and draws power from the Word of God.  Jonah will accomplish something amazing, simply by being a yielded vessel.  Finally, Jonah is able to be “fulfilled” simply by doing the task set before him. Jesus spoke often of doing His Father’s will, but behind that doing, behind that obedience was a wonderful fulfillment, a wonderful satisfaction. Jesus found joy and delight in doing His Father’s will. The final promise, which is a wonderful reward is “to become powerful.” As Jonah “arose” and went through all the steps of obedience that led to the conclusion of his ministry you see the power that was manifested.  He was “more powerful” than when he started. All the trials and obstacles that a child of God faces as they obey the Will and Word of God, whatever the cost, result in spiritual growth and spiritual power.  There is a cost and it may be a great cost, but there is a reward and it is a great reward.

Jonah arose in faith, he arose without fear, he arose and stood firm.  His experience taught him the power of God and God’s Word was all he needed.  The power of God disciplined him and afterward delivered him. Jonah arose in the power of a transformed life. It is a picture of resurrection life. It was an energized life, it was an enabled life, it was an empowered life.  Jonah is a picture of walking in the power of Christ’s resurrection. Jonah also shows us that as we obey, we are established, and energized and we are able to overcome and be overcomers. The Lord may ask what seems to be the impossible but He can make it possible through our obedience.

His Objective: “and went unto Nineveh.” If the great fish left him in Joppa and he  traveled to Nineveh from there, it would have been about 550 miles. If he traveled on a caravan, they traveled about 20-25 miles a day.  If he did that, what an opportunity to witness. He could also have traveled alone, and spent time alone with the Lord.  He could also have landed near Nineveh, we just do not know.  What we see is that God chose the city for Jonah to preach to and it was a Gentile city and it was an ungodly city.  Jonah going to Nineveh is a type of Israel’s true calling. They will one day be a light to the Gentiles, but only after they receive the light of the gospel.  When they minister to the Gentiles, it will be Christ’s life and His light that those they preach to will see. (Isa.60:3). As the new creation, they will teach the nations about the Lord (Isa.2:3). This is God’s provision and purpose for His people. It was His promise in the Old Testament (Isa.42:6-7) and it was fulfilled in the New Testament in Jesus and His ministry (Luk.4:18) which was not just to the Jew but to all who were in need. Peter would go to the Gentiles, though he had to be persuaded by a vision but once he went, those in Jerusalem accepted this and acknowledged the fulfillment of prophecy. (Act.15:14-15).  When the Apostle Paul began to preach and teach, though he went to the Jew first, he became the apostle to the Gentiles (Gal.2:7-9).  He became that “light to the Gentiles” that Israel should have been (Act.9:15). He was not “disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Act.26:19).  In Acts you can see in the Jews rejection of the Gentiles Jonah’s past attitude and in Paul’s acceptance of his ministry to the Gentiles, Jonah’s present attitude.  

His Obligation: “according to the word of the Lord.” This is the testimony of Jonah’s changed attitude. He had disobeyed “the word of the Lord” but now he obeyed that word without question. This is the reason for Jonah’s successful ministry. He did everything according to the word of the Lord and he would say everything according to the word of the Lord. This was his obligation. 

Nineveh’s Might: “Nineveh was an exceeding great city.” After Jonah answers God’s call, after he journeys to Nineveh, we see the challenge he faces. The city is not just a great city but an “exceeding great city.” It had a lot to boast in. It was an important city. It was the capital of Assyria. The greatness of the city is undeniable and Jonah had heard about this city, now he was about to see it. God did not see their greatness and Jonah will be looking at the city through God’s eyes. God saw something else that was great, the great need of that city. Jonah would show them how great God was.

Nineveh’s Magnitude: “of three days’ journey.” This is the size of Nineveh, it is how long it would take to walk straight across the middle of the city or around its perimeter. Most commentators say this would be about 60 miles and if you allowed 20 miles for one day’s journey, it would take Jonah three days to do this just one time.  I thought about what a physical challenge this would be for Jonah. Walking through the gates, seeing its size, not knowing how long it would take to do this would have seemed like an impossible task. But once Jonah started, he did not stop until he completed that task.  It would have been exhausting to walk the streets, day after day, to stop in each market place, to make sure he covered every part of the city, at least once and he could have done this more than one time. How exhausting the task was for Jonah reminds me of Paul and the physical toil of his ministry. Jonah might have labored “night and day” like Paul and he might have preached with “tears” (Acts 20:31). Like Paul, Jonah would have done this “by the grace of God” (1Co.15:10), that this grace was not bestowed in vain and that Jonah was not afraid to preach. It does not matter if the message is for sinner or saint, Preach the Word. Jonah did not hesitate did not turn back. He walked through the gates of that city by faith, empowered by the Spirit of God and was willing to preach all the Word of God.

 God’s Timing and Purposes – Ecc. 3:1-8

Part 4

Pastor Vicky Moots - Kingman, Kansas

Ecc. 3:3a: “A time to kill, and a time to heal...”  No one likes the idea of killing but sometimes it becomes necessary, such as in self-defense, in war, to put an animal out of its misery, or in hunting to provide food.  In the spiritual sense, this verse is further clarification of the meaning of the last part of v. 2, relating to the death of Jesus.  

The first killing that was necessary in the Bible was done by God, Himself, in the Garden of Eden after man sinned, in order to cover their nakedness, in Gen. 3:21: “Unto Adam also and his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” This was a picture of the future killing of Jesus who died for our sin and clothed us with His righteousness.

Jesus told His disciples in Mark 8:31 that it was necessary for Him to be killed: “And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.”  When Peter heard these words, he rebuked Jesus for saying them.  He was expecting Jesus to become King and take His throne, not to die.  He could not comprehend that in order for Jesus to reign as King that He would have to die first.

Exodus 12:3-6 tells us that the Passover lamb had to be killed.  Jesus had to die to give us life, for He was to become the final Passover Lamb.  The Passover lamb was commanded to be killed by the congregation of Israel: “…they shall take to them every man a lamb…a lamb for a house…Your lamb shall be without blemish…and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.”

It was a “time to kill” in order that there would be a “time to heal.”  The lamb had to be killed and its blood applied to the doorposts of their houses.  God had told Moses in Ex. 12:12-13 that He was going to execute judgment on the land of Egypt: “For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment…and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”  

God warned of coming judgment but also provided a way of escape, a way of healing, by the killing of an innocent lamb, without blemish, if they obeyed and applied its blood to the door post of each house.  The blood of that lamb pointed forward to and was a picture, or a type, of Christ, the perfect, spotless Lamb of God who was killed and whose blood delivers us from God’s coming judgment.

But that killing also purchased our healing: body, soul and spirit.  Isaiah prophesied of this in Isa. 53:4-5: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows…But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

The time for the Lamb of God to be killed was on that day over 2,000 years ago when He died on the cross of Calvary.  We all, the whole sinful world, were responsible for that killing, because He came to die for the sins of the world so that we could be healed.

So, when is the time of our healing? The time of our healing is the day when we each personally apply the blood of the Lamb to the door posts of our hearts. At that moment He heals our sin-sick souls and delivers us from spiritual death.  He also provided healing and strength for our physical bodies by faith at whatever time we may need it.  Sometimes, our physical healing is gradual, rather than immediate and miraculous, and He only gives us enough strength for each day or each step we take, but His grace is always sufficient.  However, the time of the ultimate healing of our bodies will be when we leave our earthly clay house and receive a glorified body, free of pain and disease.

The killing of Jesus was physical, to pay for our sins, but Paul tells us that there is another killing that must take place, a spiritual killing, after we are born again.  Paul first of all states the fact that we died with Christ in Col. 3:3: “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”  Then in v. 5 he commands us to perform a personal spiritual killing: “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth…”

What exactly does he mean by this? The Greek word for “mortify” is “nekroo.” Meaning “to put to death, to deprive of power, to destroy the strength thereof.”  “Members” is referring to the members of our physical bodies which we employ to serve sin, as we yield to our old, corrupt human nature, our “old man” with his earthly, sensual desires.

We can’t literally destroy our physical body members, but we can render them powerless to serve sin by considering them to be dead to sin.  Paul tells us how to do this in Rom. 6:6: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”  Paul then tells us in v. 11 that we must accept this fact by faith and reckon it to be true in our own lives personally: “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

This is both a killing and a healing, for we are counted as being dead to sin, and therefore we do not need to serve it any longer.  Instead, we are healed and living and able to use our members as instruments of righteousness to serve Christ.

 He Rode Into Jerusalem 

He rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey 

It was the Father’s will for Him to ride. 

Jesus knew the hour had come; our sins to pay. 

His Father’s will must be obeyed.

 

He rode and the people strew palm leaves in the way. 

They cried blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord. 

Yet, did they understand what His entry meant that day? 

Some did not know the depth of love he showed.

 

It was important, the Scriptures, He must fulfill. 

Jesus knew his mission was almost done. 

He told His disciples His death was His Father’s will. 

And on the third day rise again, the victory won.

 

In Zechariah nine, nine, said years ago 

The Messiah, Israel’s King would enter in this manner. 

So they were to rejoice and shout aloud too. 

Their King would die but live forever.

 

Jesus had a purpose in coming to Jerusalem 

A Cross of shame was waiting on a hill. 

He came to fulfill prophecy told of Him 

To bear all our sin was indeed the Father’s will. 

Phyllis Nesbitt

 “My Life, My Course”

Jack Davis

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto my self, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24.

Paul seems to speak here of the life with which the Lord had entrusted him, and the course on which the Lord had set him. Many have said either by word or deed; “It is my life, I’ll live it the way I want!” Will you?

My life, how does it count? How do I count it? What use shall be made of my living? We are warned from many directions, “If you value your life, or health, you will do such and such, or will not do thus and such.” How can you preserve or save your life?

Read these words of Jesus in Mt. 16:24-26, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” 

It is amazing that, of all that is done to preserve youth and life today, the greater part is wasted. Staying in the top physical condition possible, does not enable one to avoid illness or death. Thank God for the privilege of presenting our body a living sacrifice. Rom. 12:1-2, “ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” 

You may try living selfishly…not putting yourself out for anyone, not going out of your way for anyone, but live (?) to your own satisfaction, pleasure, comfort and glory. Such will not be eternally beneficial for you. Rom. 14:7-9, “For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.” 

Also II Cor. 5:14-15, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” Living unto oneself makes for an empty shallow unsatisfactory existence here and now, without reckoning on the scale of the eternal.

What is your life? Is it not a vapor? James 4:13-15, “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” 

Praise God, our lives may contain valuable eternal substance, being fruitful, productive unto  glory, or pass as a shadow or a mist.

Paul’s life counted, was worth while. His living was not in vain, because he lived unto the Lord. Such living benefits others. Fear of death seems to overwhelm those who live selfishly. Those trying to preserve their life unto themselves, lose it or lose the enjoyment of (living) it.

Paul enjoyed living (and we may do the same) by pouring out his life unto the Lord. Phil. 2:17, “Yea, and if I be offered (poured forth) upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.” II Cor. 12:15, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.” 

II Tim. 4:6-8, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

Paul did indeed finish his course with joy. Jesus is coming soon, how shall we then live?

 Not of This World

Gordon Crook, Pastor

Grace Assembly, Wichita, Kansas

Jesus left His glory to come to this world so that we might participate in His glory. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” Philippians 2:5-7. 

An important lesson we learn from John is found here: “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.” John 1:10, and here: “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” John 18:36. It becomes quite clear that Jesus didn’t come here to become a part of the world system, or to establish His kingdom here. He came to offer Himself a sacrifice for our sins. “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28.

We also learn from those verses that we, His servants, are also not of this world. If we were, we would be fighting to establish His kingdom here. Many of God’s precious children seem to be unaware of this fact as they spend much time working to create a kingdom here.

The ruler of this world today is Satan. This does not mean that God is not in control over all, but Satan is ruling over this world system today, and it shows. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12. “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:4.

As God’s people, we must be careful not to get drawn into this world and its drama. Satan would like to pull us into that to distract us from where our focus should be. If Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world, why would we want our to be? We have been called to a heavenly kingdom. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:1-2. “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve [me] unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:18.

We are already spiritually separated from the world. Jesus made provision for this at the cross. “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14. If we are dead to this world as Paul says, why then would we be trying to become part of this world? What is it that we want here? 

God has given to us His wisdom which enables us to understand the value of leaving behind this world. “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:” 1 Corinthians 2:6-7. Notice that the wisdom of this world comes to nothing. It has no lasting value. “Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” 1 Corinthians 1:20. If you have paid attention to the wisdom of this world, it is clear that it leads away from God, and towards things that do not last.

It follows then that when we decide to follow God’s leading and wisdom, the world will think poorly of us. We will seem foolish to them, because they cannot understand what we understand. “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” John 17:14. If the world is too accepting of us, we might consider if we really are “not of this world.”

So, as God’s precious people, we need to live our lives here as though we are not of this world. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2.  This is exactly how we can have our attitude and behavior show that we are not of this world. We need to be transformed every day in our minds by taking in God’s Word just as Jesus mentions about His disciples.

Our enemy (Satan) will continually try to drag our attention and desire back to the world, but we can overcome that as we spend time in God’s Word and yield to the working of the Holy Spirit who reminds us of the following: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:15-17.

There is no time to let down our guard against the attack of Satan. Every single day we need to heed God’s encouragement to us. There is a prize that awaits those that are not of this world. Let us run swiftly and constantly to obtain that prize; Jesus Christ our bridegroom.