When you shall stand before God at the end of your sojourn here on earth, you are not going to be valued, weighed and judged by any external or material factors of those things which are highly esteemed by the world as far as their blind minds and corrupt understanding of accomplishment is concerned in life: but your life shall be weighed on the scale and balance of the word of God: to evaluate the worth’s, productivities and fruits of your spiritual life in the light of the word of God: for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.1Peter 4:1-6.
Eternity is set before all and sundry, saved or lost. Hell also has enlarged herself and opened her mouth without measure to swallow the pomp, glory and all the earthly goods which man has labored for himself under the sun but has nothing to contribute or to do with eternity in Christ (therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. Therefore, hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoices, shall descend into it. Ecclesiastes 2:1-20. Isaiah 5:13-14): but for the heaven of eternal rest, glory and life is the purpose that brought Christ down to the earth for the salvation of the redeemed; those that are washed in his blood and are saved by his grace, having their names written in the Lamb’s book of life, that they should be where he is right now, even in his Father’s house, where there are many mansions, in the place he has gone to prepare a place for them. This is the spiritual goal Christ set before us while he’s preparing for his ascention to the Father’s house, that we should pursue heaven with strong determination against any personal hindrances; be it from our right hand, to cut it off, or from our left eye that would cause us not to make heaven, to pluck it out: it is better to enter eternal life with one eye and one hand, than the whole body to be cast into hell. And if it be an external opposition, we should not back off to love our life so much as to shrink (pull back) from death. Shall death’s threat or physical death itself be able to separate us from the love of God? No, in all those things, we are more than conqueror through him that loved us and gave his life for us. Revelation 12:11.
Christ himself, as the only mediator between man and God, dearly and willing paid the ultimate price to bring us back to the Father; for he gave his life as a ransom for our salvation: Jesus also, for the joy which the Father has set before him in heaven, endured the cross, and despised its shame, and is right now seated at the right hand of God. Hebrews 12:1-2.
The intention of the creation of man was primarily purposed for intimacy and fellowship with God, which he proposed in himself before the foundation of the world to have created man in his own likeness, after his image. But his plan for man was deviated, obstructed, defeated and changed through Satan by the sin of Adam and Eve which caused their fall and expulsion from the Garden of Eden to set up the battle between Satan seed and the seed of the woman, that is Christ, who has bruised the head of the old serpent, Satan, to restore the lost fellowship and relationship with God, now and throughout all eternity. Before the fall, God’s pleasure and delight was his constant unfailing visit in every cool of the day’s visit to have communion with the man and the woman of his love and affection. What is man that thou visit him, and the son of man thou art mindful of him? Psalms 8:4. Has God not been our dwelling place in all generations, before the mountains were brought forth, or ever he formed the earth and the world? Psalms 90:1-2. Because of the breath of life from God’s nostril into man’s, there is a little awareness of eternal consciousness in him, which periodically awakens his thoughts to the reality of the continuation of his existence after death, though he’s not perfectly sure of how it’s going to look like because he has no assurance of his salvation in Christ Jesus in whom was life, and the life was the light that shined every man that come into the world. Something tells him that he will be going to a better place after death, but because he is spiritually blinded by sin and Satan (2 Corinthians 4:3-4), he doesn’t know how to get there, or where the place is, neither can he confirmed his delusional expectation of eternal life without being born again of water and of the Spirit of God: he’s without the Spirit of God that bears witness with our spirit that we sons and heirs of God’s eternal kingdom in Christ Jesus.
It is man’s utmost responsibility and duty to know the reason and purpose of his creation and existence: to know what and the reason he is here on earth for a short period of time, only to live forevermore afterward, either in heaven of everlasting life, or in hell of everlasting shame and contempt! Job 14:1-5. Daniel 12:2. Better is he that has never been born or come into this world (Ecclesiastes 4:3), than he that was born, but has not known or discover the purpose, pursuit and the goal of his creation and existence for the short period of his sojourn on earth…Remember now your creator in the days of thy youth, when evil days has not come yet (Ecclesiastes 12:1): seek God that you may live, and so the Lord your God will be with you. Amos 5:6.
King David discovered the purpose and the goal of his creation from his early childhood and he seeks to pursue after God in all his ways. He realized that his foundation, formation, existence and presence and eternal continuation is in God, lest by observing lying vanity, he should forsake his own mercy, he cried unto God (as the hart pant after the water brooks, so pant my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsted for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? Psalms 42:1-2) and was heard and was greatly helped to get to the goal and to obtain the price. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he gives to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now command all men everywhere to repent: because he hath appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Acts 17:24-31.
Christ is the way to God, and he’s our forerunner as the only way to follow through after his lifestyles, leaving us an example, that we should follow in his steps. Christ is the truth that set free, and the truth to live: for they shall all be damned that has pleasure in unrighteousness and obeyed not the truth, having not the love of the truth, that they should be saved. Christ is the life: in him was life, the abundant life (never should anyone mistake Christ abundant life to the wealth and riches of this world, for even the descendants of Ishmael -Arabs have riches and wealth in abundance than most of the people of God. The abundant life in Christ is the fullness of life, and grace from grace we received from him, found in our present transformation of his likeness to attain unto the measure of the fullness of his statute) as the true life to live in Christ: it is the fullness of his Spirit, the indisputable consciousness and the testimony of his abiding presence which should bring or lead us to eternal life: as it is written, let your conversations be as it becomes the gospel of Christ. Philippians 1:27.
This is the purpose of all men, especially those that are presently saved in the world, that they should increasingly seek to know, and to live for him who died for them and rose again (for the love of Christ constrains us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 2 Corinthians 5: 14-15). They should be ready and willing to walk with God, such as Enoch once walked with God, and we saw him no more, for God took him to heaven: but before his translation, he had the testimony that he pleased God. Hebrews 11:6.
Man’s true purpose and joy is found in pleasing God: to do his will in every good or bad situation within the bound of the scriptures: this is all his righteousness in Christ Jesus, and the assurance that he shall not be ashamed before Christ at his coming because he do those things that are pleasing in his sight in submission to the word and will of God. He lives by the scriptures –by every word that comes out from the mouth of God, having his eyes set and fix on heaven to pursue, and eternal life to gain. He is not permanently attached to anything or anyone (willing and ready to part with anything as long as God and his word is glorified therein), except that he is rooted and grounded in the word of God, grounded in love and faith, and loves God with all his heart, and his soul to follows hard after his creator. Psalms 63:8. The desire of his soul is continually unto him: whatever decision or consideration he is to make for any involvement or participation, such decision is based on his perfect-godly understanding of the impact and effect of its interest in the kingdom of God which is established in the scriptures, able to enhance his relationship with Christ, and to edify others in their continual pursuit of heaven. He shall flee youthful lusts to pursue and to follow after righteousness, faith, charity and love, patience and meekness with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. His treasures are not kept on earth, where thieves break through and steal, and where moth and rust corrupt, for that would be considered against his as a false move, decision, pursuit and wrong goal. He is completely freed from the misconception and wrong pursuit of certain men of corrupt minds in the kingdom of God, supposing that godliness is a means to gain wealth: for whosoever set his pursuit and goal on the possession of wealth and riches as priority in the kingdom, shall fall into many hurtful temptation and snare which drawn men unto perdition through the cares of this word, and the deceitful of riches, and the lusts of other things that sways many away from the narrow way to heaven, unto the wide and broad road to hell which the spiritually insensible men have chosen to get to heaven. Mark 4:19. 1Timothy6:3-12. Matthew 7:13-14.
If our desire is to live a fulfilled life at the end of it all, when the testimony shall be given about us in heaven (Hebrews 11:40), we should not only be found in Christ who is the life manifested, but we should be willing to be as the wind that blows wherever God directs or drives it to blow, willing to do whatever he demands of us, and ready to speak the truth without respect of persons, lest we partake in other men’s sin. John 3:8. Acts 20:26-27.
Our pursuits and interests should be Christ oriented and Christ centered: Christ is the life: to live is Christ, and to die is gain. And whatsoever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Colossians 3:17. This scripture clearly reveals that it is all about Jesus. Like the blind Bartimaues, our pursuit and purpose should be to see Christ as he is at the end of our life on earth against all odds. We should learn and grow and live daily for him before our wife or husband: before our father and mother: before our children: before our friends and neighbors: before our managers and the colleagues: they should know that the productivity of our love they partakes: the devotion of our reverence for God they admired: the trust we earned by our sincerity before them: the affection and kindness we shared with them, and goodness flowing out from us, not mentioning the services of love which we renders in humility, including every other virtues in us are the results and fruits of the travail of Christ soul: for it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in him. Colossians 1:19.
The fruits and blessings of a fulfilled, victorious and successful life are found in Christ: otherwise, man is lost in the spiritual purpose, pursuit and goal of his existence on earth.
All things were made by Christ, and nothing was made without him: he is the life authentic, the spring and the source of it: the sustenance and maintenance of it: not living for Christ, and not living Christ life, is to live a futile and superficial life, notwithstanding the outward, physical, material or whatever result of earthly glory and success. John 1:13: Colossians 1:16-20.
Like Shimei who wanted to gain everything and would not let go of certain things that he may prolong his days on earth, everyone in life looks and thinks for any purpose and good reason to keep living (not like those that commit suicide, guilty of life and living, having lost their purpose and pursuit in life), and they set a goal to pursue their purpose in life: but when they tend to lose focus, or if they do not really understand the true purpose and worth of their being, they instantly lose focus to pursue after wrong goal of vanity, vexation of spirit and death. If our life depends on Christ life, doctrine and obedient, just as Shimei’s life depends on Solomon’s deal (and the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, build thee an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither. For it shall be, that on the day thou goest out, and passest over the brook Kidron, thou shalt know for certain that thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thine own head. And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days. And it came to pass at the end of three years that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants be in Gath. And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath. And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again. And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, did I not make thee to swear by the Lord, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? And thou saidst unto me, the word that I have heard is good. Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the Lord, and the commandment that I have charged thee with? The king said moreover to Shimei, thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the Lord shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head; and king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord forever. So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon. 1Kings 3: 36-46), we should keep focus on Christ who is the author of eternal salvation to all those obeying him (Hebrews 5:9), lest we wander away from the pathway of duty and obedient because we are distracted to run after vain things like Shimei did to lose his life, and would not give careful thought to lay hold on the simple instruction that hold his life in the bound of life. What shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Life in Christ is more than meat, and our body, which is the temple of God, is more than cloth: anything which is not presently glorifying Christ in us will bring us to shame at death and in judgement: therefore, let us glorify God in our body, and in our spirit which are God’s.
You are commanded by the word of God to live for Christ: it is therefore wrong to say that you are living for anyone or living for anything apart from living for Christ to shine as light out of darkness, or living for the Lord to make a difference in something: if we live, we are the Lord’s: and if we die, we are the Lord’s. Every false purpose and motive of living for money, wife, husband, children, stomach and other things should be repented off: that we should seek to live in the will of God as representative to those things. Those that are truly in Christ Jesus cannot rightly say that they’re living for any of those things if they are to be made perfect and complete in all the will of God. If Abraham had the notion to be living for Sarah, or living for his carnal, earthly and worldly legacy, it could have been very difficult for him to obey God in the trial of Isaac as the burnt offering before God. Abraham could have had his legacy exclusively in Isaac, but now, much more as the stars of heaven in multitudes, so are his seeds as God sworn by himself, saying, in blessing, Abraham shall be blessed because he obeyed his voice. Abraham pursues after God and he got to the goal of being called the friend of God, and the father of faith. You are likely going to have some trials of faith to show your love for Christ and preference obedient to his will and word over the ungodly suggestions, demands and ideas from your wife, husband, mother, father, siblings, relatives, colleagues, boss etc, and what shall you do in the days thereof? Shall you love them above God who is above all to bend to their demands and pressures against the will and the word of God, just as your first father Adam did and failed before God? It could have been better for Adam to fail in his marriage and relationship with Eve, than to fail in the pursuit and purpose with God! Adam missed the goal and was driven out of the Garden of Eden lest he should eat from the fruit of the tree of life to live forever in his sin! It could have been better for Adam to make glad the heart of God by his obedient before him that appointed him: to resist Eve and Satan, than to plunge the whole human race into the pit of physical death!
Whatever the cost of the personal sacrifice and commitment to make, such as cutting off the right hand or the right eye which are standing in the way of pursuing the goal to obtain the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, the spiritual goal getters are motivated without any hesitation to make the right choice. These types of people are the Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego of our time. They don’t’ look for death to tempt the Lord or to escape the troubles of this present evil world, but they would continue to live for Christ and to proclaim him unapologetic despite the difficulties in their purpose and pursuit after God. They are not afraid not to be spared from any punishment, even death (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from your majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, your majesty that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. Daniel 3:16-18): as long as they are in the world, they are alive to fulfill divine agenda and to defend God’s cause in whose hands are the issues of death (Psalms 68:20): but if they are called higher to eternal glory like Stephen was as a martyr, so be it, for precious in God’s eyes is the death of his saint – to live is Christ, to die is gain. Psalms 116:15.
Those who are in the pursuit after God are willing to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord because they walk by faith, and they seek daily for a country which has foundation, whose maker and builder is God. This is the victory of their faith: it is their inner witness and the assurance of their salvation in the love that is stronger than death, which many waters cannot quench (after we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, the Holy Spirit says, in this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles. When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, the Lord’s will be done. Acts 21:10-14) that they may reach the goal to obtain the prize. Physical death is limited and powerless to separate them from the love of God which is Christ Jesus: their living or dying is to magnify Christ in their body: for them, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. They are living daily for the kingdom to come by their godly conducts in the way of Christ righteousness, seeking for the new city to come. They are willing to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. For when they are present in the body, they are absent from the Lord: therefore they strive daily, that whether they live or die, they should be accepted of him to obtain the inheritance, incorruptible and undefiled, reserved in heaven for them: and that by living or dying, Christ shall be magnified in their lives: for them, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1: 20-21. 2 Corinthians 5:1-9.
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