Christian Living

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YOUR HOPE OF ETERNITY

Hope, by definition, means to want something to happen, with a sense of expectation that it might. In other words, it is a belief or expectation that something wished for can happen.
However, the meaning I would like to dwell much on for the purpose of this message is that hope is a person or a thing that is a source of hope. That is, it is something or a person within your immediate environment that your expectation of a particular thing depends on. For instance, if your brother promise to fix you up with an appointment in his company, then your brother becomes your hope of securing that appointment. He becomes the deciding factor. If you're actually going to get it or not depends on him to a certain extent. If you dance to his tune, he fix you up, but if you don't, he deprives you the opportunity. He is your hope.

Therefore, when I say the hope of eternity, I am not talking about your expectation of getting there, that's a general thing. Even unbelievers also hope to get there. However, I am talking about what your expectation depends on. I'm talking about what will fix you up, and without which you have no chance of getting there.

Revelation 3:11;
I am coming soon; hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.

I pray as we consider this very passage in regards to the topic, Holy spirit will open our understanding in Jesus name.


I AM COMING SOON...
This is a statement that puts every Christian, including you and I, in great expectation or hope. Fortunately for us, Jesus did not leave us in the dark as to what He's coming to do. He made the purpose of His coming in clear letters in John 14:3;

"And when I go prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also".

This creates a great sense of expectation for all Christians, as everyone wants to be where Jesus is.
All are also aware that Jesus is coming back to take the saints. He is coming for a great harvest. He is coming to separate the righteous from the wicked. He is coming to reward everyone according to their works. He is coming to judge the world. And more importantly, He is coming to take some people home, so that they also may be with Him in that great kingdom. As a result, we all hope that when He comes, He'll take us along with Him. But the question is, are you really waiting for His coming? Are you in great expectation for His coming? Are you really anticipating the return of the Son of God, or you are still living in doubt?
When Jesus says "I am coming...", be rest assured that He is coming. It is not a statement of probability but a statement of assurance. He'll never lie!
Once again, are you looking forward to His coming fully prepared?

Rev. 16:15 says,
"Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed".

Christ is coming, but He will come unexpectedly! The Saviour of the world is definitely coming, but His coming will catch some people unaware! That is why it is expedient for you to keep watching day and night.
Note: "Blessed are those who keep watching for me...". It is a continuous action. It is progressive, and has to continue till He eventually appear. The revised standard version says blessed is he who is awake...Are you still awake or you are fast asleep in spirit and faith?
To be awake means to simply be in preparation for His coming. It means to live your life as if He'll come this very moment.

In addition, you're not just to be awake and watching for Him, you have to get your clothing ready!
It appears to me that some will be awake that very day, but unfortunately, their clothing will not be ready. Their clothing will not fit the great kingdom they are hoping for. Their garments will be full of all sorts of blemishes. Such people will want to enter, but they will be denied. They will hear a statement like 'sorry, your cloth is dirty'. We can't allow you go in with this stinking and filthy cloth.
So, as you are greatly anticipating His coming, you have to get prepared by living a holy and righteous life, otherwise, you hope in vain.
And if you've not been waiting, it's high time you started waiting and watching in holiness and righteousness. It is time you started living with eternity in view so that His coming will not catch you unaware.

I would like you to go on your kneels with sincerity of heart and ask for the strength to remain awake, focusing on Him, and the grace to keep your garment clean always.

HOLD FAST WHAT YOU HAVE......
The statement that followed "I am coming soon" is what I would want us to consider with all spiritual wisdom.

Let's read that passage again.

Revelation 3:11;
I am coming soon; hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.

It appears to me that when He comes, like I said earlier on, and as confirmed by this very verse, He is coming to award crowns for champions. He's coming to compensate those who persevere and hold on till the end with a crown of glory. Therefore, it is no doubt that those who are awaiting the coming of the Son of God are actually on a race. A race for a glorious crown.

However, there seems to be a warning to getting this crown..."hold on to what you have" ....otherwise you run in vain. Hold fast to what you have, otherwise, your crown will be withheld even if you come first. What a great warning!
An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It doesn't matter if he is the one who gets there first, he won't be crowned if he violates the rules of the game. It is a clear fact that everyone who runs do so in expectation to be crowned. But this expectation still depends on whether he runs according to the rules or not.

I see God addressing a similar issue in this very passage we read. He seems to be saying, behold, I am coming soon to reward you. I am coming soon to take you home. I am coming soon to give you a crown. So wait for me, don't sleep, keep watching, and make sure you are ready. However, for you to be certain of receiving the crown I intend giving you, don't just wait and watch, don't just be ready, you have to hold on to something which is already in your custody. I have given you something which you must ensure you hold on to till the end. Loosing it means your being crowned is not certain. That very thing is your hope! Your hope of glory! Your hope of eternity!
This very thing you must hold onto till the last day that you may exchange it for a crown.

WHAT TO HOLD FAST!

What to hold fast to, as the scripture has expose to us, could be very confusing without the help of the Holy spirit. Thus, I pray once again that the Holy spirit will open our eyes and understanding this moment in Jesus name.

Now, it would be very dangerous to begin to assume this moment, as assumption is the lowest level of ignorance.
I would like to inform you that your anointing as a minister of God, or whoever you are, is not what will land you in heaven. The fact that God is using you mightily to perform miracles and wonders does not guarantee your eternity. Your being a worker is not a yardstick to entering the kingdom. Your spiritual gifts are never going to be the requirement. That's the bitter truth!
If you've been thinking that all these and the likes are what will determine your getting to heaven, you've been living on a very costly and deadly assumption.

Mat. 7:22-23;
On judgement day many will say to me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.' 23 But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.' NLT

Simply put, many people will be disappointed that very day because of their assumption. Many will assume that prophesying, speaking in tongues, performing miracles, to mention a few, even in Jesus name, will get take them to heaven. Such people will be disappointed that very day. Jesus said, He will tell them, "I never knew you, you who break God's laws".
How could you have broken the law of the race and expect to be crowned even if you come first? You'll be disqualified!
Could you imagine how disheartening it will be for an athlete who managed to win a marathon race with his last breath, and was told he'll not be crowned because he violated the law of the game or he was not registered? That's how it'll look for some people that very day.
I pray it will not be too late before you and I know our stand in Jesus name.
Therefore, it is very expedient for us all to keep examining ourselves every moment even as we wait patiently for the coming of Christ.

CHRIST IN YOU; THE ONLY REQUIREMENT.

If you have read through the just concluded points I made clear, you might now be thinking: how do I know I'm qualified?
If you're feeling like this, you're not left alone. The good news is that God wants you to be certain of your faith. He doesn't want you to assume you're standing firm in faith while, in reality, you're not: so He made the test of certainty clear to all and sundry through the scripture.

2Corinthians 13:5;
"Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you are disqualified."

Whoever you are for God, whatsoever you are doing for Him, the truth of the matter is that if Christ is not in you, you are automatically disqualified for eternity.
One mistake people make in this age is thinking that God uses people base on the level of their holiness. That's not true.

God can use anyone regardless of their sinful ways of life. That's why there are so many ministers of God out there who are not living in holiness, yet God performs lots of miracles through them. They are useful for the kingdom, but they themselves are not fit for the kingdom.

Luke 9, verses 40 and 49 tell us more about this. The disciples of Jesus Christ as at that time could not cast out a demon, yet an ordinary man, who was never a disciple somewhere did it. The disciples saw him, they were surprised, because they think God uses only the followers of Christ. So don't ever think that because you now speak in tongues, prophesy, lay your hands on the sick for healing, work zealously in the house of God, or follow the doctrines of a particular church is an indication that Christ is in you. The fact that you're now 'in Christ', so to say, does not mean Christ is in you. There are so many people we call brothers, sisters, and fathers in the Lord who God is, in reality, not in them.
Jesus said, I will say to them, I never knew you. You are the ones claiming to know me because of the works I did through you, I do not recognized you. You only let my working through you get into your heads, and see it as an indication that you are holy.

Now, don't misunderstand my point, I'm not saying working for God is bad, neither am I saying the use of spiritual gifts God gave you is useless. The point is that, don't depend on them as your qualification for eternity. You will definitely be rewarded for your works.
God is not unjust as to overlook your work and the love which you showed for His sake in serving the saints, as you still do (Heb. 6:10).
He will surely reward you. However, whatever reward you get will not take you to heaven.

Rev. 20:11-13;
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

The first stage of the screening on the last day is that 'books' will be open and people will be judged according to their works which are written in the books. It pleases me to inform you that heaven has the records of your works. The pay role is there, and you will be paid according to what are written in the books.
Note that the appearance of your name on any or all of the 'books' does not guarantee your entrance into the kingdom. It is only a sign that you've worked for God. Read the last statement again.
'.....and the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.'
They are books in which your works are recorded.
After the awarding of gifts to, probably, choristers, ushers, prayer warriors, evangelists, prophets, bishops, church secretaries, e.t.c., another 'Book' will be opened, and the book is called 'Book of Life'. That's when the issue of entering the kingdom comes in.
The shocking thing is that it does not matter the magnitude and abundance of gifts you received in the first stage, if your name is missing in the Book of life, that's the end of the road, no eternity.

Verse 15;
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

It doesn't matter how many times your name appeared on other books, if it is missing in the Book of Life, no eternity.
Have you ever wondered why the book was named 'Book of Life'? It is because those whose names are written therein are those who have life in them. If you don't have life in you, your name can never appear in the Book of Life. And if your name is not in the Book of life, you can not enter the kingdom of God.

The life referred to is Jesus Christ. If you don't have Jesus Christ in you, you can't have life; and so your name can not appear in His book, that is, Book of Life.

John 1:1-4;
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (Emphasis added).

The Life is in Jesus Christ. So, for you to have the life in you, it means you must have Jesus in you. He is the source of life. It's not possible to have life in you when you have not given Jesus all your heart to dwell in.
Please, be sincere with yourself, forget about your spiritual gifts and anointing, is Jesus Christ really in your life? Without any assumption, do you really think Jesus Christ has gotten His deserved place in your life?
The only hope you have for entering eternity is 'Christ in you'. Don't be deceived by works. Christ in you, the hope of glory.
God gave us His only Son, you must hold fast to Him. You must hold on to that Son till the end to show Him forth otherwise, you will be disqualified.
No one comes to the Father, except through the Son. Jesus Christ is our hope of seeing the Father. He is our link to the kingdom. If He can't identify you, then, you have no hope of entering the kingdom of God.
Do you not know yourself that Christ is in you? - otherwise, you fail the test; otherwise, you hope for crown in vain; otherwise, you are disqualified.

The good news, however, is that Jesus Christ is ever ready to come into your life, it all depends on your readiness. He loves you so dearly that He'll never allow you to perish, if not He wouldn't have came, not to talk of dying in such an agonized manner.
The Bible says, He even stand at the door of your heart, knocking, and expecting you to open the door for Him to come in. He will never force Himself into your privacy, if you have any. He is patiently waiting for you to allow Him.
Can you go on to invite Him into you life now. Delay is very dangerous. Without Him in your life, you have no life. Without life, your name can not appear in the Book of life. Invite Him now before it's too late. Ask for the strength to hold on to that old rugged cross.

In Jesus name we pray.

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving( Colossians 2:6-7 ).

You are blessed.

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