“that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
(John 3:15 NKJV)
I imagine that each of you have seen some type of graphic or chart relating the differences between a leader and a boss, there are a couple of them floating around Facebook or LinkedIn. An important point in these is that a leader works to make his or her people better. Understood practically, a leader will have his or her people prepared to handle with excellence the types of situations they might face. I think we can acknowledge this as a truism. A truism that might be a shadow but it is a shadow of the Almighty’s purposes: we are constantly being made ready for heaven.
Let us begin with sin. Guilt, regret, and frustration are powerful emotions. For the Christian, we do well to acknowledge that these feelings often come from the Spirit (yes, sometimes the Spirit intentionally makes us miserable). Understand, we all hold a few sins close to our hearts and minimize them while asking God to bless us in them, a few examples: sex outside of marriage, pornography, choosing hobbies over family, resentment, anger, laziness, cowardice, and unrighteous entertainment. In these things we do not find condemnation if we know repentance, by the joy of Christ. Yet, the Father tells us that these are not what He wants for us.
Because eternal joy is what He wants to give us. In the believer’s heart His desire is to drive out sin and fill it with Himself. Here we do right to understand that if the Bible speaks about meekness it also speaks about boldness. If the Word speaks of contemplation it also speaks of action. He wants to make us into something beyond our basic desires. I can’t even think of words to describe the grandeur He desires for us and it can be known in this life.
To be made into a heir of the Kingdom of God, to be made ready for an eternity in His presence, and to be made capable of handling any situation we may find in this life; this is what your Father desires. Our training for eternity starts now, set your alarm.
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