Before we can really understand the reason God gave us His Word, we have to get a reality check on our life, which means we have to understand what our existence is really about. We will be looking at the “who, what, where, when, and why” aspects of our existence, and then look at the “how,” the how being - learning to get to our eternal destiny. While our present life focus may be on dealing with what is going on in our life right now, because we have eternity as part of our make-up, our life is not just about our time here on Earth. It goes well beyond that.
Briefly:
Who- we really are; our make-up, temporary and eternal
What –we are to do here on earth; our assignment, our purpose
Where – we are headed; what is our God desired destiny for us
When – our purpose will be fulfilled, completed
Why –we are here now; at this time in history
WHO
We are not just the physical body which we see in the mirror. We are so much more. The apostle Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica a blessing at the end of his first recorded epistle to them, stating that may each person’s “whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” With this statement he gives us the basics of our makeup. We are a three-part, or triune being, which give input into our hearts, our hearts being the treasury, or the storehouse of what we value, which in turn directs our life.
It is the heart into which God looks and judges us, because out of it “spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). What flows out of our heart reveals what we value the most in guiding what we think, say, and do (Genesis 6:5; I Samuel 16:7b; Luke 6:45; Romans 10:9&10).
Of all the parts of our being, the parts that are permanent, or eternal, are the spiritual ones - the spirit, the soul, and the heart. The body is the temporary part. So we are eternal spiritual beings in a temporary physical body while we are here on Earth.
In II Peter 1:14, knowing that he would be shortly be put to death, he states, “knowing shortly I must put off my tent,” he refers to his physical body as a tent, referencing something temporary, both in physical material and where it is placed.
In Genesis 2:7, God breathed life into Adam after He had formed him from the dust of the ground. At that point, Adam’s whole being (spirit, soul, and body) was an eternal being. Had God not thrown them out of the Garden when they sinned, they would have still had access to the Tree of Life, and would have lived forever (Genesis 3:22&23), as sinners with no relationship with God.
After Adam and Eve sinned, then God placed a curse upon Adam’s body, that it would eventually return to the ground from which it was taken (Genesis 3:19). That curse was called “death,” now making man’s body mortal.
Since then, God has established a physical law on Earth that all men have an appointment with death and judgment (Hebrews 9:27).
Not only did Adam and Eve’s sin cause the body to be cursed, but their personal relationship with God was broken, and consequently, for all that followed after them. That relationship was later restored when the second Adam, Jesus, came upon the scene, and finished the work He was sent to do – that of our salvation.
One of the problems for us as humans is that, compared to eternity, our lives here on Earth are very short, 70-80 years (Psalm 90:10). In Isaiah 40:7, the prophet Isaiah describes the shortness of human life as being compared to grass and its flower, which both wither and fall away.
Yet, for the temporary time which we spend in this body we will be judged on what we say and do during that time, and the eternal destiny for the eternal part of us will be determined by that very short life. And we only get one chance to get it right. There is no make-up test we can take. It all depends upon our first run at this temporary life.
While this does not seem fair, for something temporary to control something eternal, you have to remember that God created us. We are playing on His court, and must abide by His rules. He is omnipotent enough to know that our temporary choices here on Earth would also reflect our choices in eternity as well.
Peter also wrote that we are “sojourners and pilgrims “on this Earth (I Peter 2:11), pilgrim having the meaning of “a traveler in a foreign place.” Using the word pilgrim, Peter is indicating that we are just passing through this life on Earth, and have a home somewhere else, and, which is, by assumption, an eternal one (Hebrews 11:13-16).
Paul states that our citizenship is in Heaven (Philippians 3:20&21), and that is where we will receive our glorious body that will replace the tent, the body of dust, our temporary physical body that will be left here on Earth when we die.
As we go through this life, we will be tested to see if we will follow the Lord’s commands, or be like Adam and Eve, and disobey in sin.
In fact, the devil, the great adversary of God, will be our forever adversary as well, seeking to destroy us (I Peter 5:8, John 10:10). Peter cautions us not to “think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you” while on our journey (I Peter 4:12&13).
So, you may ask, why didn’t God just destroy the devil when he rebelled? Why did he allow him to exist, especially here on Earth?
One of the reasons goes back to how God made us. We are creatures that have the ability of choice. The choices we make, good or evil, to obey or to rebel, will reveal our heart, which, again, is what God really looks at.
If our heart is not sold out to God on this journey now, then it will not be sold out later on in eternity, and we will eventually be out of harmony with God. That is why we have to have a new heart by being born again, so that we make the right choices.
This is part of the testing that lets God know who we will follow. Will we be loyal to Him, or follow the devil, for in the end, all things that offend will be destroyed and everything will be lined back in harmony with God (Matthew 13:41-43, I Corinthians 15:20-28).
Peter also lets us know that, as believers and followers of Jesus Christ, we are now “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (I Peter 2:9). While we may not fully enter into this position of who we are while here on Earth, when we get to Heaven, we will fully operate in that position.
So, believers have a divine destiny, and while on Earth we are being trained and prepared for that time in Heaven when we will rule and reign with Christ (Revelation 5:9&10, 20:6).
While on this journey we are not to be disheartened about our struggles, for, although we personally will not be able to make it on our own to our eternal destiny, God has had mercy upon us and sent us Jesus, His only Son, to help us.
Adam and Eve had a tree of Life in the garden from which to eat and live forever. We now have the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ, from whom we can partake and live forever.
Jesus has left us with all the tools to live a sinless life, appear before the Father as righteous, as well as finish the work assigned to us.
WHAT
So this leads us to the reason of what we are here on Earth for. Not only are we on a journey to an eternal destiny, we have a purpose, a work to do while we are here.
Basically, we are to fulfill what is written by God in the book about us before we were ever born (Psalm 139:16). We are to bear fruit for the Lord. When we are in Christ, “…we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (quoting Ephesians 2:10)
Jesus explained the need to bear fruit for God in John chapter 15. One of the key verses being verse 8, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit.” As we bear fruit, we glorify God, and establish His kingdom on Earth, just as Jesus did by the things He said and did (Acts 10:36-38).
Jesus also stated that we could bear no fruit without being connected to Him (John 15:1-8). Just as we can do nothing without Christ, we can do all things through Him (Philippians 4:13).
As God equipped Jesus with all He needed to do His task, all that we need to complete our purpose is found in Christ and what He has provided for us.
In the gospel of John, John records repeatedly the Jesus declared that He was sent by the Father. He had a specific work to do on Earth, which we see Jesus giving an account to the Father of His work in the 17th chapter of John. Jesus even said that He came to do the will of the Father, written in His book (Psalm 40:7&8).
On the cross, when He gave up His spirit, the last words He uttered were “It is finished,” thereby indicating that His work on Earth was completed.
John states, more than once in his gospel, that Jesus did things so that the scriptures might be fulfilled. The Bible is His story, His book, as the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation reveal Christ Jesus and how He fulfilled all that was written in the Bible about Him.
In Luke chapter 24, we find the Lord declaring to His disciples, after He had risen, the scriptures that pertained to Him and how He fulfilled them, starting with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (verses 13-27) and later to the rest of the disciples (verses 44&45).
Not only did Jesus have a work to do, but, as mentioned before, He gave an account of His life to the Father, found in John chapter 17.
Just as Jesus had to give an account of His life as to how it measured up to the book that was written about Him, so we too will have to give an account of the life we have lived on Earth, how it measured up to what was written by God in our book (Romans 14:7-14).
Just as it was with Jesus, all of us have been sent by God to do a work here. Adam and Eve had a specific work to do – tend the Garden of Eden. As a farmer sends his farm workers to specific fields, at a specific time, to do a specific work, so it is with us. As the body of Christ, the Father has sent us into our part of the field of this Earth to labor for Him.
We can see this repeatedly in the Bible concerning the people God used for His purposes, like Moses, Daniel, David, Samuel, Jeremiah, Esther, and Cyrus, to name a few. They were sent to do a specific work, at a specific place, and at a specific time in history.
In conjunction to the work we are to do, we are to also use the talents that God has placed within us (Matthew 25:14-30 - parable of the talents). We are to also be faithful in what we have been called to do (Matthew 24:45-51 - parable of the faithful servant; I Peter 4:10).
While on this Earth, as Christians, we are also to mature, and become more like our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:15-21; I Peter 2:1&2).
We are also to live a righteous life, through our relationship with Christ, so that when He comes to get His bride we are worthy, walking in holiness, without spot or wrinkle (I Peter 1:15&16; I Thessalonians 4:3-7; Hebrews 12:14). We do this by following the Holy Spirit over the lusts of the flesh (Romans 8:1, 6-8).
Since there will be rewards for the life we live here, we are to die to self and follow Christ (Matthew 6:19-21; 10:38&39; Mark 10:29&30; Luke 9:23&24; 14:33; II Timothy 4:6-8; Colossians 3:23&24).
We are to also watch for the return of our Lord (Matthew 24:36-44).
And while we are watching we are to become overcomers. Why? Because that is where the reward is – being overcomers. In the book of Revelation, our Lord Jesus promises each church a reward if they overcome –Revelation 2:7 – Ephesus; Revelation 2:11 –Smyrna; Revelation 2:17 – Pergamos; Revelation 2:26-28 – Thyatira; Revelation 3:5 – Sardis; Revelation 3:12 – Philadelphia; and Revelation 3:21 – Laodicea.
There is a race to run, a goal to reach, and an enemy to overcome. We are encouraged to run the race that God has for us to run (Hebrews 12:1&2).
WHERE
So where are we to labor for the Lord? Where are we to carry out our assignment? Right where He has placed us, where we live and work, unless He calls us to a different place. We were born and placed where we are by His design, both in the physical location as well as our place in society. Not every being created was born in the same place and at the same time, but all were placed by God’s design.
Where are we headed? God’s intention, our divine destiny, is for us to find our place with Him in Heaven. Upon leaving this Earth, for believers, our first destination will be a joyous occasion, that of attending the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9).
The next place is to be eternally with the Father (I Peter 1:3-5; Hebrews 11:13-16). Jesus stated that He has prepared a place for us, and that He was the only way to the Father (John 14:1-3, 6).
Since Jesus came to restore man back to God, then that is our general divine destiny. If we choose not to get to Heaven by the narrow way of obedience to God (Matthew 7:13&14, 21), then we have a destiny to be eternally suffering in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).
WHEN
When are we to accomplish our purpose? Now, as you live and breathe. You can live a life of purpose anytime you want, no matter how young or old.
Whenever we have opportunity, we are to work for the Lord (I Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 6:9&10).
WHY
Our primary purpose while on Earth at this specific time, because we are children of God as born again believers in Jesus Christ, is to establish the Kingdom of God in everything we do and say.
Just as our Lord Jesus came to set all things back into harmony with God, so we are to do as well, to the best of our ability. It is our time to be involved in this, since this is the time frame God has placed us in.
Not only is today the time for us to accept our salvation found in Jesus Christ, it is also the time of our commissioning (Matthew 28:19&20; Acts 1:4-5, 8).
So being available for God to use is why we are here.
How
In order to get to the other side or our journey to the Father, we have to have to be connected to that other side. The Father has given us a connection to Him through His son Jesus Christ so that we can be reconciled to Him (II Corinthians 5:18&19).
Not only that, the Father has not left us on our own to figure out how to get to Him. We have His Word, the Bible, which is really a prophetic book about Jesus and those who are one with Him. In John 14:6 we have the words of our Lord Jesus, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the road map to the Father, and the Bible gives us a glance at just some of what He has provided for us when we get into in His presence.
In addition, we also have the Holy Spirit, who indwells believers and guides them into all truth, (John 16:13), which in turn takes us to the Father.
The Real Question
So now the real question comes in to play. Now that you are aware of what life is really about – that what we do and say in our temporary body determines where the real us will spend eternity – how will you respond?
There are two distinctly different destinies to which man can go to – it’s either Heaven or Hell. Who you follow, who you allow to rule your life, will be the one who guides you to your end destination.
Will you take up the free cup of salvation that God is offering through Jesus Christ, His Son? Will you drink it, meaning that the life of Christ will become your life? Will you just hold it, not partaking of that life? Or will you just not pick it up at all?
Will you be a doer of God’s Word, or just a hearer? (Matthew 7:24-27; James 1:22-25; John 14:21, 23).
Jesus Christ was totally committed to doing the Father’s will, even to death.
The issue boils down to this: will you, as a disciple, a follower of Christ, be committed or just involved.
So the choice is like a plate of ham and eggs. The chicken got involved, and just gave an egg. The pig was committed, and gave his all.
You have the same choice. You can choose to be an overcomer, die to self, and commit your life to doing God’s will. Or, you can just sit on the sidelines of life, pretending to be a disciple of Christ, and only involved. Commitment gets you into Heaven; involvement keeps you on the outside looking in.
Remember, you have a choice. As Joshua told the nation Israel, “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14&15).
It is time to make a commitment choice. Both the life you live now and where you spend eternity depend upon it. Will my choices by Godly ones that bring eternal joy? Or will they be devilish choices that bring temporary satisfaction but eternal damnation?
Commentaires