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About Me
- Glen Goddard
- Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
- If I claim to be a believer and God has not called me to stay...than I must go into the world.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
When it is hard going...
How I live around others is maybe the clearest indicator about what type of theology I ascribe to and practice. The acid test of this is this: Being a church member, do I help or hinder my brothers and sisters in Christ to increase or decrease their faith. In other words, do I add vinegar or honey when I am talking about others. Am I full of poison when in crisis or do I choose to allow God to bring "peace that passes human understanding..." I alone control and determine the level at which I will respond to God in crisis. Meditate on this: Psalms 32:10-11 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! Rejoicing when times are difficult and God seems to have left the scene requires a trust in God that goes far deeper than mere feelings.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Is eternal poverty possible?
1Pe 1:4 "to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you"
So once again the question remains: what is this inheritance that is above the law of physics? Is it not Jesus Himself? Is it not people who came to Christ because of our obedience to Christ? The only thing eternal in this world are people. People are the mission and inheritance of the His church. All Saints [and by that I mean those individuals that choose to humble themselves before God, repent of their sins and turn from sin to learning to obey the Lord Jesus] have an opportunity to build an inheritance that neither molds, rusts or rots.
We always have a choice. God created us to be people of choice. Concerning our inheritance, first, we have to make a conscious choice to be freed from the deception of riches, control and reputation. Second we have to recognize Saints that we are not citizens of this world and therefore we are not to try and build our inheritance here on earth. If we get this notion straight...that Jesus Christ is our inheritance, then it becomes easier to follow the Great Commission and Command to "Go into the world"..."Love one another..." If we get this notion straight we will become cheerful givers rather that hoarders.
People are the only things created to be eternal. We were created to be in fellowship with God. But God created us to be free agents meaning we can choose to spend this life apart from Him. It is a choice that all of us make. Refusal to consider carefully Jesus when He said: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" is a clear refusal to the claim that Jesus has on our life. It is to make a choice for an eternity isolated from God's love. We poo-poo the idea now at our peril. When we die sometime in the future, we will suddenly see the reality of our choices now. No one has the ability to control when our appointment with death will occur.
So once again the question remains: what is this inheritance that is above the law of physics? Is it not Jesus Himself? Is it not people who came to Christ because of our obedience to Christ? The only thing eternal in this world are people. People are the mission and inheritance of the His church. All Saints [and by that I mean those individuals that choose to humble themselves before God, repent of their sins and turn from sin to learning to obey the Lord Jesus] have an opportunity to build an inheritance that neither molds, rusts or rots.
We always have a choice. God created us to be people of choice. Concerning our inheritance, first, we have to make a conscious choice to be freed from the deception of riches, control and reputation. Second we have to recognize Saints that we are not citizens of this world and therefore we are not to try and build our inheritance here on earth. If we get this notion straight...that Jesus Christ is our inheritance, then it becomes easier to follow the Great Commission and Command to "Go into the world"..."Love one another..." If we get this notion straight we will become cheerful givers rather that hoarders.
People are the only things created to be eternal. We were created to be in fellowship with God. But God created us to be free agents meaning we can choose to spend this life apart from Him. It is a choice that all of us make. Refusal to consider carefully Jesus when He said: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" is a clear refusal to the claim that Jesus has on our life. It is to make a choice for an eternity isolated from God's love. We poo-poo the idea now at our peril. When we die sometime in the future, we will suddenly see the reality of our choices now. No one has the ability to control when our appointment with death will occur.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Unfading inheritance...
1Pe 1:4 "to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you"
Peter is going to great lengths to give us a clear word picture of what is in store in the future for the one who trusts the Lord Jesus Christ. Living in this world, we are accustomed to things that fade. In our world nothing retains its original beauty and newness. In our world everything is susceptible to some sort of decay. In our world everything living dies.
Imagine a world where the flowers that bloom will as rich in color and fragrance forever. Imagine a world were nothing dies. Imagine a world where nothing grows old...where decay is nonexistent. That is the world waiting for the one who is willing to relinquish control of something that they in reality have no control over in the first place...our lives. Consider...can you absolutely guarantee that you will live any certain amount of time? If not, then you are not in control of your life! If you are not in control...then WHO is?
Peter is going to great lengths to give us a clear word picture of what is in store in the future for the one who trusts the Lord Jesus Christ. Living in this world, we are accustomed to things that fade. In our world nothing retains its original beauty and newness. In our world everything is susceptible to some sort of decay. In our world everything living dies.
Imagine a world where the flowers that bloom will as rich in color and fragrance forever. Imagine a world were nothing dies. Imagine a world where nothing grows old...where decay is nonexistent. That is the world waiting for the one who is willing to relinquish control of something that they in reality have no control over in the first place...our lives. Consider...can you absolutely guarantee that you will live any certain amount of time? If not, then you are not in control of your life! If you are not in control...then WHO is?
Undefiled Inheritance...
1Pe 1:4 "to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in for you"
This is an interesting thought...our inheritance being undefiled. Being a person of inheritance we can be assured that we will not be tempted by it. We will not be tempted to waste it or misuse it as is the case with inheritance gained here on earth. We will not want to use it for sensuality or lust. Since there will be no ideas or even hints of sin in God's Kingdom, there will be no deterioration of our inheritance. There will be no cheating out of our rightful place as heirs as evidenced here on earth.
This is an inheritance that will last for eternity and be for our enjoyment. And I believe that since we will not be just sitting around on clouds bored while playing harps [the Scriptures make it clear that we are going to rein with the King of Kings...meaning that we are going to be working] we can use our inheritance to continue to expand His Kingdom.
This is an interesting thought...our inheritance being undefiled. Being a person of inheritance we can be assured that we will not be tempted by it. We will not be tempted to waste it or misuse it as is the case with inheritance gained here on earth. We will not want to use it for sensuality or lust. Since there will be no ideas or even hints of sin in God's Kingdom, there will be no deterioration of our inheritance. There will be no cheating out of our rightful place as heirs as evidenced here on earth.
This is an inheritance that will last for eternity and be for our enjoyment. And I believe that since we will not be just sitting around on clouds bored while playing harps [the Scriptures make it clear that we are going to rein with the King of Kings...meaning that we are going to be working] we can use our inheritance to continue to expand His Kingdom.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Do you know that your inheritance is imperishable?
1Pe 1:4 "to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in for you"
The question on my mind lately is this...what is the inheritance that God promises? We visualize inheritance as something of value. God talks about an eternal city that He is building just for us. We will be living in palaces. The city and the streets are built of gold? Precious stones are used as building material? Consider this verse: Rev 21:21 "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass." In another place it talks about the walls of the city being made of jasper."
God describes His city as being built of material that we consider very valuable. Streets paved in gold so refined that one can see their reflection! What value is gold if it is used as paving material? Something that is precious and valuable is not something that is walked on.
Consider this...God says that His inheritance is imperishable. Gold, silver and precious stones can be destroyed. These material things are not imperishable and can corrode. When God talks about an inheritance for each of us what does He have in mind? Material wealth? Or is there another type or form of inheritance...something even more precious than gold, silver or precious stones?
The question on my mind lately is this...what is the inheritance that God promises? We visualize inheritance as something of value. God talks about an eternal city that He is building just for us. We will be living in palaces. The city and the streets are built of gold? Precious stones are used as building material? Consider this verse: Rev 21:21 "And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass." In another place it talks about the walls of the city being made of jasper."
God describes His city as being built of material that we consider very valuable. Streets paved in gold so refined that one can see their reflection! What value is gold if it is used as paving material? Something that is precious and valuable is not something that is walked on.
Consider this...God says that His inheritance is imperishable. Gold, silver and precious stones can be destroyed. These material things are not imperishable and can corrode. When God talks about an inheritance for each of us what does He have in mind? Material wealth? Or is there another type or form of inheritance...something even more precious than gold, silver or precious stones?
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
What is this inheritance?
1Pe 1:4 "to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in for you"
The inheritance belongs to the rightful heirs. To qualify for the inheritance one must be a child of God. If you are not a child then you are not an heir and therefore not eligible for any inheritance.
Inheritance is not earned. It is a gift from the one who grants something of value. To get an inheritance one's name must be written into the will. Christians...those who's names are written in Jesus' will...the Book of Life...will be eligible for their inheritance. It is the final [?] proof to be unfolded of God's love for us.
Inheritance can only be given after the death of the testator. In this case the testator is the Son of God, Jesus Christ. The testator must put together the inheritance. It is the testator's work that makes the inheritance possible. It is the testator's will to provide for his children that makes the inheritance available. It is the testator's love for his offspring that impells him to plan and put aside something valuable to leave his children when he is gone.
The question on my mind is just what is this inheritance that God promises?
The inheritance belongs to the rightful heirs. To qualify for the inheritance one must be a child of God. If you are not a child then you are not an heir and therefore not eligible for any inheritance.
Inheritance is not earned. It is a gift from the one who grants something of value. To get an inheritance one's name must be written into the will. Christians...those who's names are written in Jesus' will...the Book of Life...will be eligible for their inheritance. It is the final [?] proof to be unfolded of God's love for us.
Inheritance can only be given after the death of the testator. In this case the testator is the Son of God, Jesus Christ. The testator must put together the inheritance. It is the testator's work that makes the inheritance possible. It is the testator's will to provide for his children that makes the inheritance available. It is the testator's love for his offspring that impells him to plan and put aside something valuable to leave his children when he is gone.
The question on my mind is just what is this inheritance that God promises?
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