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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Out of the World of Out of the Evil?, #11
Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them [festive processions to Zion]. Who passing through the valley of Baca [of weeping] make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. (Psalms 84:5-7)
God is creating people who can bring "Heaven," which is Christ, into every situation in which they find themselves.
God is creating saints so strong in Christ that the rule and worship of Heaven is present wherever they are. This is the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Heaven.
There are believers in Christ who bring peace, healing, strength, and blessing wherever they go—even under the most unlikely and depressing circumstances. Such are peacemakers, and the sons of God.
There are other "believers in Christ," who may or may not be saved in the Day of the Lord, who bring gossip, bitterness, confusion, wherever they go—even where there readily could have been righteousness, peace, and joy.
Although they profess faith in Christ they actually are servants of Satan. They promote division, confusion, hatred, strife, lies, arrogance, rebellion—every evil, satanic work. Disaster follows in their wake. Their actions, words, and motives are of Hell, not of Heaven.
Sometimes it is difficult to determine who truly is of Christ. Only God knows for certain, and we are commanded not to judge (I Corinthians 4:5). At the present time there are many "believers" who still are strongly influenced by Satan. They are among us but are not of us. They have not been redeemed from the hand of the enemy.
There are righteous Christians and unrighteous "Christians" (although an "unrighteous Christian" is a contradiction in terms). How can we account for the obvious difference in personality and behavior between these two sets of people? The Scriptures do not teach that all who profess Christ will be received of God and enter the Kingdom of God (Matthew 7:21).
Have both the righteous and the unrighteous believers attained the first resurrection from among the dead, the resurrection of God's kings and priests? Are both groups "going up in the rapture"? Is spiritual growth in Christ actually essential to entering the Kingdom of God?
As we have said, a correct concept of where we have come from and where we are going makes a difference in the manner in which we behave as Christian people. If we are being converted from the power of Satan to the power of Christ, we are looking to God each day for the wisdom and strength to cooperate with the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
But if our objective is to move from the earth to Heaven, we are waiting to die so our goal may be achieved. Also, we hope God's preachers do not take too many of our pleasures from us because we would like to enjoy ourselves as much as possible while we are waiting.
It is this incorrect goal and the consequences that flow from holding this goal that are producing the love of the world we behold in the churches of Christ. We think we have our ticket to Heaven so why not enjoy ourselves while we are waiting?
To be continued.