For we know that if
our earthly house,
this tent, is
destroyed, we have
a building from God,
a house
not made with hands,
eternal in the
heavens.
For in this we groan,
earnestly desiring
to be clothed with
our habitation
which is from heaven,
if indeed,
having been clothed,
we shall
not to be found
naked. For we who
are in this tent groan, being burdened,
not because we want
to be unclothed,
but further clothed,
that mortality
may be swallowed up by
life.
2 Corinthians 5: 1 --
4
It is most
important that when we read the Word of God to understand what the writers were
writing to people of their day and use expressions that they would understand
or even used in their daily lives. We
may not use those same expressions and if are not careful will put our concepts to those words which may not be in accordance with what the writer was actually
saying. The expressions that Paul uses
are in reference to the Jewish ideas and doctrines for the word "to be
clothed," signifies to be surrounded, covered, or invested with anything;
and the word "House" often signifies a case or clothing: an example
would be "the House of the face," that is a veil. Metaphorically, there is an attribute to the
garments of the soul, both, in this, and the other world, and they are saying
that the design of God in creating man into this world is that they may get
themselves a garment by the study of the law and good works. Things are not so different for us for we also
must study the law of God and the good works that He has assigned His children
to exercise. The guarantee is that by
this garment of the soul, the meaning is for us to become the image of God, or
being made holy. Adam and Eve had lost
that and we today are deprived, therefore it is good to say that we are naked,
unclothed, or unveiled. The question
that we should ask ourselves is: are we willing to be a people set apart from
this body, that is, be separate from people that are in contradiction to the
law of God? Or, are we a people that
are set apart from, the ecclesia, from this world and the community of this
world, that is, following that which is formed by the spirits, and by Satan
itself?
Take the
time to consider this most important fact and whether or not you actually
believe it to be true and factual: is your expectation as a believer in Jesus
Christ that of eternal happiness after death?
Do you just hope for this to occur, or do you really believe it? Are you so assured by your faith that there
is a happier life after this life ends?
By the grace of God you can have the greatest of hope and that hope
should find its foundation in God's interest in giving everlasting blessedness
that you will receive in the unseen world.
We have the words of Jesus as recorded by the apostle John: "Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not say to
you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?’" (John 11 -- 40). Is this not true that when you venture out
into your life, that life of faith, there will come upon you something in your
common sense circumstances that contradict your faith? Often it is a flat contradiction but common
sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense. Why? These stand in
relation to the natural and the spiritual.
Again a question: can you venture out in life and trust Jesus Christ
when your common sense is trying to tell you not to trust Him? Can you be heroic and follow the statements
of Jesus Christ even though your common sense is shouting to you that it is all
a lie? How often it is easy for us to
simply say "I believe God can do it;" but have you really ventured
down into this demon possessed valley, this life with its culture that is in
total opposition and in contradiction to God.
Are you able to laugh at this because of your faith that is the mount --
of -- transfiguration that has enveloped your belief? We study God's Word that we find some clarity and then we come
across something that contradicts it for instance we say that we believe that
God will supply all our needs, but when you actually run dry, have no outlet,
when you enter into this trial of your faith will you sink back to
something lower? Faith must be
tested! Adam and Eve were tested by a
simple test not to eat the fruit of a certain tree when God had provided
everything that they ever needed. God has not changed, He provided everything we need in this life. If
we're not careful our faith can be turned into a personal possession outside of
the Word of God or by the test of our faith, we can actually take personal
possession of this faith given to you by God freely. The question again is: what is your faith up again just now? This task will prove that your faith is
right, or this test will kill your faith.
How can we go through any test that comes into our line? Believe steadfastly on Him and then anything
that you come up against your faith will develop your free. Remember this the last test of our faith is:
death. Faith is absolute trust in God,
a trust that is never dreaming that He will not stand by us.
"Am I a God
near at hand,"
says the LORD,
"And not a God
afar off?
Can anyone hide himself
in secret places,
so I shall not see him?"
Says the LORD; do I not fill heaven
and
earth?" Says the LORD.
Jeremiah
23: 23 -- 24
God’s Word is like
fire in our souls
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