THE HOME OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ~ Precious Victor Akah
We're starting off with an interesting Bible passage I read recently and thought of sharing to remind us of what actually matters most in this life. Yes, it's good to go to school, learn a skill, get a job, marry, have children, build houses, buy cars and other good things of life; but at the end, one thing surpasses all in importance. You may think you already know what I want to say, but wait, don't be too quick to assume, let me surprise you.
2 Peter 3:10-14 reads thus:
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him."
There are salient points we must note down from this Scripture:
1. Jesus will still return some day, and to those who're not prepared and expecting His coming, He'll come like a thief. Regardless of the mockery and ridicule of Jesus' promise to return by people of the world, the undying truth remains that Jesus will come again, because He does not lie. Everything He told His disciples would happen while He was with them on earth happened, so this won't be an exception. If I were you, I would prepare and be ready too for His return.
2. This present heavens and earth (including everything in it) and the elements will all be destroyed in the future, when Jesus returns. Having this knowledge at the back of your mind will provoke you to be more of a giver than a hoarder (a stingy person who hoards this). It will also prompt you to shift your focus from fleeting and ephemeral things (like the ungodly pursuit of money, affluence, power, influence) to eternal things with eternal value, like living for Jesus, obeying God and doing His will, living godly and righteous life, fulfilling God's primary purpose for creating you and sending you to earth.
3. Since these things will be destroyed in the future, the Bible instructs that we ought to live holy and godly lives, as we look forward to Jesus' return and speed His coming by turning completely from sin, living righteous and telling others to turn from sin and live righteous.
4. After this present heavens and earth is destroyed, God will bring forth a new heaven and a new earth, which is called the HOME OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. Rightly judging by the name, it means that only those who are righteous will be qualified to live and dwell in it. Are you righteous? How do you become righteous to qualify if you're not yet righteous? Simply by turning from your sins, accepting Jesus and living in obedience to His commands in the Holy Bible.
5. If you're looking forward to this new heaven and new earth and hope to live in it, the Bible instructs that you must make every effort to be found (by Jesus when He returns to earth) spotless, blameless and at peace with Him. So the question is, are you born again? If yes, are you living a holy and godly life now that you're born again, because that is how to be and remain spotless and blameless? Are you at peace with Jesus by keeping His commandments and avoiding sin? Jesus said in John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments."
Review these five salient points and ensure that you're presently living the right kind of life mentioned and encouraged in the Scripture we just read - that will qualify you to live in the home of righteousness when this present world is destroyed by fire. That, my friend, is ALL-IMPORTANT!
Shalom.
Comments
Post a Comment