A Worthy Walk
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, -Ephesians 4:1
How are we to properly serve the Lord? Is it merely attending church every once in a while or is there more to it? Does the Lord only require a verbal commitment to him or does he command us to actively serve him? These are questions that the Apostle Paul answers in his epistles. In our above verse it is clear that we are to be engaged in a worthy walk as Christians.
Paul likens our Christian service to a job. The word vocation literally means an occupation or profession. When God’s children are born again by the Holy Spirit, they are pressed into his service. Their vocation is to serve God! Paul thought of himself as the Lord’s prisoner. In other places he calls himself a servant of the Lord. He took his Heavenly calling seriously! He prayed that the Colossian church would, “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God (1:10).” Is this your prayer and desire?
Our primary job in this life is to be about the Father’s business. However, we oftentimes put vain worldly things before the service of God. Does your secular career define who you are? Are you known for your dedication to recreational endeavors? Do your things own you instead of you owning them? All of these things mean nothing in the grand scheme of life. We need to adhere to Jesus’ teaching a seek first the kingdom of God in all things and he will take care of everything else we need.(Matthew 6:33). The things of this world are temporary. Walking worthy of the Lord is far more lasting.
In Ephesians 5:8, Paul instructs us to walk as children of light. Did we get to this state based on our own merit? No indeed! He states that we were sometimes darkness, but now we are light in the Lord. We can walk in light because, “God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6). The good news for those that are the light of the Lord is that they have the ability to know the things of God. Those of us who have been exposed to Biblical teaching are able to obey God’s commandments and serve him acceptably. Later in chapter 5, Paul writes, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise (v.15).” One who walks circumspectly is spiritually aware of his/her surroundings. All of their decisions in life are tempered with scriptural teaching. When we are walking circumspectly as Christians, we are fulfilling our God-given vocation.
Those of us engaged in secular professions are usually given an annual performance review or observation. Sometimes our compensation is tied to meeting certain standards on these reviews. If you were given an annual review on your service to the Lord, how would you fare? How would you perform in the area s of bible study and prayer? What about meekness and humility. Would you meet the biblical expectations in the area of evangelism? We must realize that we all fall short of God’s standard. However, we must also recognize that our service to God is a lifelong profession that we are to be engaged. May the Lord bless us to better serve him in the days ahead!
Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Article - Who Will Be in Heaven?
Who Will Be in Heaven?
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: -Matthew 25:34
Have you ever wondered who about who will be in Heaven. Some believe that it will be populated by a select few while others suppose that everyone will be there. Will Heaven be populated by professing Christians only? What about those who never heard the gospel or Jesus’ name spoken? Is the native living in a hut deep within the jungles of South America out of luck because the missionary has not reached him? There is also the issue of the countless millions throughout human history who have died without hearing the gospel and the unborn that never see the light of day in this world. Do any of these have any hope of being in Heaven? If so, how will they get there?
The answer is simple. All whom Jesus died for are or will someday enjoy Heaven’s immortal glory, no more or no less. If anyone is to make it into Heaven it is by the glorious grace of God. The biblical term for this group of people is the elect (Romans 9:11, Titus 1:1, 2 John 1:1). The elect of God are those who were chosen in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). In Matthew 25, Jesus calls the elect his sheep. Upon his return to the earth, he will place his sheep on his right hand and shout the words, “Come, ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Before the world was created the destiny of God’s elect was settled. They were chosen to inhabit Heaven after death. Jesus Christ was the redeemer for all of the elect family of God. He paid our sin debt on the cross of Calvary.
Those that will inhabit Heaven are not limited to a select few. The Bible says that if we are in Christ, then we are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:39). How is Abraham’s seed described in Genesis? First, they are likened to the stars of the heaven (the sky) and the sands of the seashore (Genesis 22:17). This divine proclamation assures us that there will be a large number of people in Heaven. God then tells Abraham that in his seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed (v.18). If you can count the stars in the sky or the grains of sand upon the beach, then you will be able to number the elect in Heaven! Needless to say, there will be a great host of people from all nations in Heaven.
In Revelation 17:9, John gives us a view into Heaven. He writes of a great multitude that no man could number standing before the throne of God. They represent every nation, kindred, people and tongue. It is a comfort to know that the Lord will reach and save everyone of his elect. Though the missionary may never reach the whole world, God knows them that are his. We don’t sorrow for those who may have died not hearing about Jesus. Jesus knows them that are his. In John 10:27 Jesus says that, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Jesus knows them that are his and he will not lose one. “All that the father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out (John 6:37).” This promise applies to the most pious Christian. It is also true for the lowly nomad in the desert that feels his sinfulness. It is real for the native running through the jungle that looks to the sky and recognizes that there is one greater than himself. God can even reach the unborn babe in his mother’s womb. Though he may never see the light of day in this world, God knows his situation. The Lord knows them that are his! All that Jesus died for will someday be with him in Heaven forevermore. He shall save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).
Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: -Matthew 25:34
Have you ever wondered who about who will be in Heaven. Some believe that it will be populated by a select few while others suppose that everyone will be there. Will Heaven be populated by professing Christians only? What about those who never heard the gospel or Jesus’ name spoken? Is the native living in a hut deep within the jungles of South America out of luck because the missionary has not reached him? There is also the issue of the countless millions throughout human history who have died without hearing the gospel and the unborn that never see the light of day in this world. Do any of these have any hope of being in Heaven? If so, how will they get there?
The answer is simple. All whom Jesus died for are or will someday enjoy Heaven’s immortal glory, no more or no less. If anyone is to make it into Heaven it is by the glorious grace of God. The biblical term for this group of people is the elect (Romans 9:11, Titus 1:1, 2 John 1:1). The elect of God are those who were chosen in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). In Matthew 25, Jesus calls the elect his sheep. Upon his return to the earth, he will place his sheep on his right hand and shout the words, “Come, ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Before the world was created the destiny of God’s elect was settled. They were chosen to inhabit Heaven after death. Jesus Christ was the redeemer for all of the elect family of God. He paid our sin debt on the cross of Calvary.
Those that will inhabit Heaven are not limited to a select few. The Bible says that if we are in Christ, then we are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:39). How is Abraham’s seed described in Genesis? First, they are likened to the stars of the heaven (the sky) and the sands of the seashore (Genesis 22:17). This divine proclamation assures us that there will be a large number of people in Heaven. God then tells Abraham that in his seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed (v.18). If you can count the stars in the sky or the grains of sand upon the beach, then you will be able to number the elect in Heaven! Needless to say, there will be a great host of people from all nations in Heaven.
In Revelation 17:9, John gives us a view into Heaven. He writes of a great multitude that no man could number standing before the throne of God. They represent every nation, kindred, people and tongue. It is a comfort to know that the Lord will reach and save everyone of his elect. Though the missionary may never reach the whole world, God knows them that are his. We don’t sorrow for those who may have died not hearing about Jesus. Jesus knows them that are his. In John 10:27 Jesus says that, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Jesus knows them that are his and he will not lose one. “All that the father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out (John 6:37).” This promise applies to the most pious Christian. It is also true for the lowly nomad in the desert that feels his sinfulness. It is real for the native running through the jungle that looks to the sky and recognizes that there is one greater than himself. God can even reach the unborn babe in his mother’s womb. Though he may never see the light of day in this world, God knows his situation. The Lord knows them that are his! All that Jesus died for will someday be with him in Heaven forevermore. He shall save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).
Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.
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