Life fit for a saint – Part 2

Our Lord Jesus Christ explicitly emphasised the need for believers, true Christians, to seek “first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added” to them. This was the principle that guided the saints of old in their walk with God; it was the desire of their hearts and centrality of their actions.

Because they realised that their earthly possessions when compared to eternity will be insignificant, they “declare plainly that they seek a country… they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” To qualify to enter heaven, every sinner or backslider needs to repent, exercise faith in Christ’s atonement and constantly live with the consciousness that Christ may return at any time to take His people home.

Every believer must purge himself and also allow the Lord to purge him. Although God purges His, the believer has a responsibility to purge himself. He is commanded to “mortify therefore (his) members, which are upon the earth….” To mortify is to crush, kill or destroy.

As a new creature in Christ, the believer is expected to get rid of the works of the flesh, which include fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, covetousness, idolatry, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication, stealing, etc. The warning to get rid of “covetousness, which is idolatry” is necessary because anything a believer is obsessed with above God becomes an idol. It could be entertainment, fashion, marriage, money, pleasure, position, etc.

Having done our own part, we need to ask God to purge us. The Psalmist understood the need for inward purity and prayed for it. His plea to God was: “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Also, Isaiah, upon realising his unworthiness, prayed that God should purge and make him holy.

And after one of the seraphims touched his lips with a live coal in his hand, he was given the assurance that his “iniquity is taken away, and (his) sin purged.” Believers who want to remain pure do not take the grace of God for granted by exposing themselves to objects of temptation. Rather, they “flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

As we wait for the coming of the Lord, the Scripture enjoins us to “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” In spite of the challenges and difficulties that confront us, the Lord expects us to preserve and perfect the holiness or sanctification experience we possess by avoiding carelessness and self-indulgence.

Whether in a religious or secular setting, people without principle live for others. Believers who fail to realise their new position in Christ live to please self and others. Without principle, we will lack the stamina to stand for Christ when it matters most. A prevailing principle makes us persevere even in moments of discouragement, trials and temptations. Therefore, the principle of every rapturable saint should be to do everything “in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

Since fornication, adultery, drunkenness, fraud, discord, pride, stealing, etc., do not glorify God, the true believer eschews them. At home, school or office, he does not derive pleasure from anything that is contrary to righteousness, holiness, transparency and the gospel. If we truly love Christ, and have made Him the Saviour and Controller of our lives, we must obey His commandments unreservedly. “Whether, therefore, ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

Christ is our perfect Example because He pleased the Father in all things. Therefore, to glorify God with our lives and qualify to meet Christ at the rapture, we must make sure we possess genuine and current salvation experience. The Lord is coming again for rapturable saints; anyone who desires to meet Him when He shall appear must purify “himself, even as he is pure.”

Further Reading: King James Version): Colossians 3:1,2; 1:2,4,12,26; 1:4,27; 2:5-7,11; 2:20,12; 3:3,4; Psalm 73:25,26; Matthew 6:33; Hebrews 11:14-16; Colossians 3:5-10; Psalm 51:7; Isaiah 6:6,7; 2 Timothy 2:21,22; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Colossians 3:17,23; Matthew 7:12; John 2:5; 15:13,14; 1 Corinthians 10:31; John 8:28,29; 12:49,50; 1 John 3:1-3.