Meditation

05/19/2021

“’I tell you the truth,’ Jesus replied, ‘no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—-and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last and the last first.’” (Mark10:29–31))

Here Jesus indicated the existence of two ages. One is the present age of history with its opportunities and rewards. The age to come lies by one the historical order but can be experienced or entered within the present age. The life of the age to come is eternal life.

A believer in Jesus possesses eternal life already (John 5:24). In that sense the age to come has broken in upon the present age. Even so, the future will bring full and final enjoyment of eternal life in the coming age. God’s evaluation of persons may prove quite different from our earthly expectations. As to the first and last, which many of us have wondered about in our lives, it is explained this way: “Suffering, humiliation, and humility mark the church. Are are no better than Christ,, our Master. As He served other people seeking fame, power, or position, so must we. We cannot demand heavenly rewards. We can only offer earthly service. Our rewards come in eternal life.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, So many people confuse “getting ahead in life,” to the rewards offered to us in eternal life. As our Lord and Savior served us, His church, with humility and humbleness towards all others, offering salvation to all and asking only for repentance of sin in exchange. It is in Jesus’ precious name that we pray, for all others around us, that they too might come to Him, to serve mankind with the same attributes that He had in abundance.. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“God gives special grace for each trial we face.”

KNOWING GOD:

“The mane who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (John12:25)

Similar to the present age and the age to come are John’s words about “this world” and “eternal life.” This world is the sphere of Satan’s activity. The life of eternity is God’s kind of life. He has manifested His life in the coming of Christ (1:4). In receiving Christ Jesus, believers receive eternal life (3:16). The life of he age to come is experienced by believers in the present age through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

I AM:

“What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if hey had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something as if it were not theirs to keep; those who used the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.” (1^st Corinthians7:29–31)

Some interpreters believe Paul referred to the time until the second coming. This Paul would have meant that the necessary prelude for the age to come is the passing away of the world in its present form. In its place will dawn the new age. Each generation must live in the conviction that time is short. Whether the point of termination be death or Christ’s return. Whether he point of termination be death or Christ’s return, the time is short fro all persons. Others believe Paul saw an immediate threat of severe persecution and recommended waiting until the “crisis”verse 26) passed to participate in life’s normal activities.

SECOND THOUGHT of the DAY:

“Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:32)

Beloved, this age anticipates an age to come. The idea of two ages is rooted in the prophetic message of he Old Testament that finds clear expression in the New Testament. The present age is characterized by the presence of evil and the activity of Satan (2^nd Corinthians 4:4; Galatians 1:4). Christ’s victory was achieved in this age but will be fully revealed in the age to come through the church (Ephesians 2:7). Believers live in this age but already participate in the age to come through Christ (Galatians 1:4; Hebrews 6:5). Persecuted believers can look to rewards in both ages (Mark 10:30). Relationships and life0styles differ in the two ages (Luke 20:34-35).

Christian conduct should not be pattered after that of this age (Romans12:2). The two ages see wisdom in different lights (1^st Corinthians 1:20; 12:2). Christ’s power and authority are greater than anyone else’s in either age (Ephesians 1:21). Persons must be committed to the values of one age or the other. You cannot, beloved, be committed to both (1^st Timothy 6:17;; 2^nd Timothy 4:10; Titus 2:12). I pray that you take the time to look up all of these verses and understand their meanings. After all, it’s only your future life!