To avoid being replaced, we must not allow the devil to shift our focus from Christ and heaven. Job’s passion was to see God, despite going through much sufferings and temptation. In this world, there will be times of rain, sunshine, adversity, prosperity, ups-and-downs, friendship or abandonment, tiredness or strength, fellowship or being forsaken. In spite of all these, we must hope and determine to see God at the end. It will be glorious when we see the Lord face-to-face.
“But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him,” 1 Corinthians 2:9.
The Scripture reveals that all the redeemed who maintain holy lifestyle until rapture will have their bodies changed to glorified ones. “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house, which is from heaven…” (2 Corinthians 5:1, 2).
We will have the same glorified body with Jesus Christ that can travel any distance faster than any aircraft. His glory and splendour would beam on us as we wear glorified bodies forever. Before then, we must be adorned with the undefiled purity of rapturable saints.
God expects people who have the hope of heaven to be cleansed from all defilements by the blood of Jesus Christ, maintain purity of heart and life, and be ready for rapture. “And everyman that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” This hope drives the believer to apply the blood of Christ proactively for cleansing and purity.
Personal strivings cannot qualify anyone for heaven, but the grace and purity God grants. People who have this hope are not defiled with secret sins while openly professing to obey God’s injunction. They follow the example of Christlike purity and righteousness and continue to overcome temptations and sin. They are purged, purified and live a transformed life.
To be ready for the rapture, there must be cleansing from things that defile: “…evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man,” Mark 7:20-23.
The prayer for cleansing is urgent and personal. “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow,” Psalm 51:7.
The time for cleansing is now, not after the rapture. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land,” Isaiah 1:18,19. God does not reject the penitent; the opportunity and provision for cleansing is available for everyone. So also is the provision of heaven for those who maintain purity of heart and life until the end.
• Further reading (King James Version): 1 John 3:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51; John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 John 3:1; 2 Corinthians 6:17,18; Galatians 4:4-6; Romans 9:6-8; John 3:3,5-7; Romans 8:14-16; Philippians 2:14-16; Hebrews 2:9,10; 1 John 3:2; Job 19:25-27; Psalm 17:15; 1 Corinthians 2:9; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 5:1, 2 6-8; 1 John 3:3; Revelation 21:27; 14:4,5; Mark 7:20-23; Psalm 51:7; Isaiah 1:18,19.
