ICS Daily Devotions
Trap Of Gaining The Whole World
2 Tim 4:6-8 (NKJV) For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
The Apostle Paul made this reflection of his life when he was about to become a martyr for His faith and for preaching the gospel. He was very focused on what he was called to do and that was being an apostle and evangelist. He was faithful to the calling until the day he was brought back to the arms of the Lord. He fought the good fight, kept the faith and finished the race. There could have been times when he felt discouraged but he kept on with the ministry. Paul could have been tempted as a minister but he was capable of walking away from it. He kept walking with the Lord and kept doing the work of the ministry until he finished the race. He did not look back after he put his hand to the plow to serve the Lord!
The Apostle Paul was living out the teachings of Jesus Christ regarding what is important for us in this life. You would have realized some common traits of a matured Christian. It is to be faithful, focused, and determined.
Matt 16:26-27 (NKJV) For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
We must be aware of the end goal in our lives. Are you striving to gain the whole world? Jesus gave a contrasting difference between two different people in this passage. There are those whose sole objective in life is to gain everything that’s possible in this world. God is not part of this person’s life equation because the person doesn’t believe in God and His salvation plan. This person lives for the current life without eternity in perspective. The end result is losing his or her soul. It is a miserable life. On the other hand, there are those who believe in the redemptive plan of God and prioritize to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. They will live for the Lord and serve Him with their household. This group has great clarity in their mind that they are pilgrims and sojourners on this earth. Their final destiny is in heaven. The Lord is saying that each of these who live their lives for the Lord will be rewarded according to their work! We will be rewarded based on our faithfulness to the call upon our lives along with the talents and giftings that He has given us.
We should all be aware that our salvation has nothing to do with us for as we are saved by grace through faith. We have the imputed righteousness on us when we confess and believe in our heart that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. Our salvation is purely based on the atonement and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. It is apart from work and the law. Nothing can ever change this truth. All who are justified, whose sins are washed away by the blood of Christ will spend eternity in heaven! Justification or making us right before God just like if we have never sinned before is purely the work of God and it has absolutely nothing to do with us. It is purely the grace of God, therefore, we are going to heaven. But the Apostle Paul described the Christian walk like a race where the athlete is focused on the finishing line. The goal of an athlete is to cross the finishing line. He will discipline himself and push his body to ensure that he finish well. He needs to exercise discipline about his diet and ensure that he does not skip his training sessions.
As Christians, we should be very clear regarding what is important and valuable in our lives. Everyone has a very different end goal in their lives. The end goal of our lives determines how we will live our lives now. Many people in this world have decided that being rich, famous and successful is the goal for their lives. Therefore, they will work tirelessly to achieve that goal regardless what is the cost of achieving it. It is just like what Jesus said, we might strive to achieve to win the world but we have lost our own soul for it. It is good to be successful, rich and famous, but it is wrong to solely achieve these without God in the equation. Despite the material success, we can remain very carnal in our thought life, values and principles if we do not renew our mind with the word of God. Let us, therefore, renew our minds and be successful servants for Christ, finishing our spiritual race well.
Sermon Series: Serving God
