“Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.”
Jeremiah 9:23-24 NKJV
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
Colossians 3:1-4 NKJV
Vain glory
I have a lot of dreams. In many of them, I am a younger man, with my body restored, running about and doing the things I was once was able to do. I marvel at walking many miles, of running, of doing feats of strength. For a brief moment, I glory in who I once was. When I awaken, I am met with the reality that all those things I gloried in are passing and fading away.
Frequently, well meaning Christian friends will tell me that they are praying for my full healing, for my bodily restoration. I cringe when I hear this. As mortality becomes an increasing thought in my mind, so does the promise of glory. As my mortal body falls apart, there is an increasing yearning for what comes next. Instead of health, wealth and prosperity, I rejoice in the fact that I know Jesus, and one day will be with Him.
I ran into the passage in Jeremiah, chapter nine, this morning, and was reminded that the true glory is knowing the Lord. The Holy Spirit of God has given me knowledge and understanding of the Lord, and an intimacy. As I grow older, I am discovering that this is far more precious than wealth, more durable than health, and that there is no greater prosperity than to know Jesus.
“Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.”
Proverbs 3:13-15 NKJV
We are living in a world that is utterly captivated by the pursuit of riches. We seek the things that pass away, hoping that somehow, that next acquisition will fill the empty places. But of course, it does not. In our pursuit, we adjust our values to focus on the fleshly things, to join the world in its adulation of the worthless. We lower our expectations from the eternal to the temporal.
As I have gotten closer to Jesus, my “wanter” has been forever broken. Instead of seeking after the next great thing, I find myself focused on understanding the eternal truths, the things of God that do not fall from favor, do not perish, and do not become tarnished.
Brothers and sisters, let us look to the things above, and glory in God. We’re are seeing this world dissolving right before our eyes, as the Lord is demonstrating His sovereignty and His control of everything. We are waiting and we are groaning with the rest of creation, eagerly anticipating His glorious return.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.”
Romans 8:18-22 NKJV
Let us glory in God, as we look forward to the appearing of our Lord. All the things happening in our world are harbingers of things to come. Let us observe all with anticipation, excitement, and not fear. Let us also be mindful to use whatever opportunity we have to share the Gospel.
Our sovereign God is moving, and our time is short. He is preparing the tension that will be present in the end times, and creating the impetus for our persecution. When Roe falls, there will all out war on Christians. Let us be ready, fortified in the Lord. The battle will belong to Him.
“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
Revelation 2:10 NKJV
Pray for me as I pray for you.
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Musings from an idle mind 