FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

Scripture: Isaiah 43:18-19; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Philippians 3:12-14

Before we know it, the small thin threads of single actions are twisted into a rope of habit, and we are invariably “caught in the cords of his [our own] sin” (Proverbs 5:22). Let no one say in his heart, “I’ll only venture to evil, just this once and no further,” because it is a trap, a snare we set for ourselves to believe that it will be only once and no more. (read Galatians 6:7-8). Isaiah was right on the mark when he wrote under the Spirit’s inspiration, “Tomorrow will be as today, and much more abundant.”

Consider how important then, are the smallest acts when we realize just how much influence they have on our moral and spiritual character! Permanent and solid character is built up and strengthened out of the smallest trivial actions, and this is the aspect of our past days that we should give consideration to, when pushing forth into a new year.

However, we need to remember, and yes even meditate on the fact that we would be wholly and totally lost if it weren’t for the Savior’s pardoning mercy and renewing grace. The law of reaping what we have sown, or of continuing as we have begun, may be modified as far as our sins and failures are concerned and our tomorrows do no need to inherit today’s guilt, or habits. Our past may be completely blotted out and renewed through the mercy of God in Christ. No debt needs to be carried forward to another page of the book of our lives, for Christ has given Himself for us, and He speaks to us all, “Your sins have been forgiven” (see Ephesians 1:7). There is no evil habit that needs to have continued dominion over us, and we are not obliged to carry on the bad tradition of wrongdoing into a future day, for Christ lives, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

So then, with confidence and assurance in the promises of God we can now lift our thoughts to Him, who will bless our future as He has blessed and pardoned our past, and we can be assured that He will even enlarge within each of us the gifts of His love and the help of His right hand as He paid so dear a price to own each of us. Let us hope for our future selves the growth of our souls in all things lovely and of good report, and that we might prosper as our souls prosper in the daily advance in the love and likeness of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We can have confidence that as we grow in years, we will also grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, until the day comes when we shall exchange earth for heaven. That will be the greatest application of His word, when, finally giving up this mortal tent, we can calmly be sure that even though today we are on this side of creation, tomorrow we will be on the eternal side and there will be no break in the continuity of abundant life promised by our Lord, but only an infinite growth in our life, and heaven’s tomorrow will be much, much more abundant.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture: Isaiah 43:18-19; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Philippians 3:12-14

Whether we choose carousing and revelry, as Isaiah warned, or cultivating the “good seed,” the law of continuity shapes our moral and spiritual characters. What I am today, I will more abundantly be tomorrow. The tenacious power of habit solidifies actions into customs. Today is the child of yesterday and the parent of tomorrow.

That grave certainty of the continuance and increase of moral and spiritual characteristics works both to the good and to the bad, but with a serious difference. To secure its full blessing in the gradual development of the nature of good, there must be constant effort and purposed tenacious resolution. So many stumbling blocks line the path of laying down the good seed in our hearts. Just look at what Jesus referenced to His disciples and apply that to our own hearts. (see Matthew 13:3-9; Mark 4:3-9; Luke 8:5-8). With all the seed being sown in our fertile spirit, if we trust to the natural laws of growth and neglect careful husbandry, we might sow much but we will only gather little. Yet to inherit the full consequences of that same law working in the growth and development of the evil that is sown, nothing more is needed but carelessness and apathy. Leave bad seed alone for a year or two and “the fruitful field is counted as [will be] a forest,” (Isaiah 32:15), a jungle of matted weeds, with a straggling blossom where cultivation could have been.

However, if humbly we resolve and earnestly work and yield, looking for the Lord’s help, we can hope in His promise that our characters will grow in goodness and in likeness to our dear Lord, that each new day shall find in us a deeper love, a more consecration, a more joyful service, so that in all the beauties of the Christian soul and in all the blessings of the Christian life, “Tomorrow will be as today, and much more abundant.”

“For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance” (see Matthew 13:12; 25:29; Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18; 19:26).

“The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18).

So, we may look forward with confidence and assurance on the certainty that we will continue to push forward towards the likeness of Christ in our lives as the Holy Spirit molds and shapes our character, despite the advance of evil around us. Fleeting moments of concerns, and even regrets, may come and go. However, time and habit, cultivating the “good seed” will bring us closer to the goal for which we run this race.

We don’t need to dwell any longer on the truth that the same law of the continuity and development of character works in some men to there demise. God has told us that even though His desire is that none should perish, man, by his own carelessness, or neglect will choose to find their own misguided ways to salvation (see 1 Timothy 2:3-4; 2 Peter 3:9). By slow, imperceptible, certain degrees the evil gains and blinds men not willing to open their eyes to the light. Sadly, without persistence and resolve to do any different, yesterday’s sin smooths the path for today’s. Once temptation is yielded to it ultimately gains power. Once temptation is appeased, it becomes to surrender to it in any future instance. Peter denied the Lord three times, and each time more easily than the previous time (see Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:55-62; John 18:15-18, 25-27).

To Be Continued

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture: Isaiah 43:18-19; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Philippians 3:12-14

The old year is dying, the new year is commencing, and whether the past has been wasted, or redeemed and used for God; whether the work of the past has been done or left undone, there is still a work for all of us to accomplish. Each day and each year brings its own set of duties, and our spirit needs to be awakened and stirred to adequately perform those tasks. The days do retreat and go away, and oftentimes we feel that there is something solemn about this passing from one year to another.

Some of you might be anxious about your spiritual condition. Take the past year as a whole, and perhaps you may be able to hope that some spiritual progress has been made. But it hasn’t all been progress forward. The picture may have its dark side. You’ve had your temptations, you’ve had your troubles and annoyances; and you’ve been forced to see how weak your strength is, how poor your best resolutions, how much you have fallen short of what you had intended a year ago. The day vanishes away. But if the past has not turned out the way you wished, or envisioned it, must you therefore give up in despair and discouragement? I tell you emphatically, no, you may be thankful for any advancement at all. You could have made no progress whatever but for the grace of God. Believe that He has been with you this whole time and He will continue to enable you to live more and more in the abundant life He has promised, all to the Father’s glory.

Again, the close of the year may suggest its thoughts to those who are fellow-laborers in the schools, or in the hospitals, care-centers, and hospices among the sick and destitute, or those trying to do the Lord’s work whatever it may be in their local neighborhoods. You might be looking back over the year that is gone, and you may feel there are abundant reasons for regret. Possibly, some opportunities for good have been lost which never will come back again. Some one was ill, and you knew of the illness, but you delayed your visit, or you didn’t take the time to fervently pray. Or again, you might have taken a bolder and firmer course, had your zeal for God been stronger. Maybe, you were witness to some evil done, and you didn’t protest against it. You might have heard hate-filled words, but you didn’t try to check them. There might have been a time or two where you might have spoken for God, and you timidly held your peace. Yet all hasn’t been failure. As painful as we may feel about our doubts and weakness of faith, we might still be able to see and thankfully acknowledge the evident signs of God’s presence with His people around us.

With the circumstances developing all over the world as well as in our own back yard, there is a future which we can only slightly influence, and the less we dwell on what is out of our hands, the better for us spiritually. God is still in control; He still sits on His throne. But there is also a future in which we can see change and be molded into the image of Christ, the future of our own characters, the only future which is really ours at all, as surrendered to Christ Jesus. In that area of development, it is eminently true that “Tomorrow will be as today, and much more abundant” (Isaiah 56:12).

To Be Continued

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.