Home  Articles  Site map

Forgiveness of our sins followed by transformation into the character of Jesus is the best gift God can give to us who were bound in sin and headed for hell. This is offered to us free and without pre-conditions, and anyone who acknowledges his sin, repents and turns to Jesus for salvation can receive it. But many are so enamoured by the things of this world that they choose to remain in sin and enjoy its pleasures. Others who receive this offer may choose this present life more than eternity (Lk.12:19), or may backslide (Mt.13:22).

Sometimes God offers us a crash programme for us to be plucked away from clinging to our earthly life and to be given an opportunity to seek after God and His life. "For behold, the Lord GOD of hosts is going to remove from Jerusalem and Judah Both supply and support, the whole supply of bread And the whole supply of water" (Is.3:1). God may take away something on which we used to lean, or make life difficult for us. Some dream crumbles, we lose something we valued, or adversity hits us with force. This may appear as if God was punishing us. No, He is trying to wean us away to Himself. If our life was comfortable and without problems, we would not feel like seeking God. But now, when such 'support' is taken away from us and our 'foundation' disappears from under us, we suddenly feel helpless.

Actually, in such situations, we have a choice of response. We can hate God and leave Him, or we can draw nearer to Him and cling on. This choice determines the direction of our life and our eternity. We need to remember that eternity is far more important than the comfort of our present life, and that taking the suffering of this life in the right way can be the key that unlocks eternal blessings (2Co.4:17). It can be the shake-up that we need to call our attention to what God has planned for us which we have been missing so far.

"Bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come" (1Ti.4:8). A godly life is a blessing even while on earth, because it keeps us steady, satisfied and fulfilled during all the ups and downs of life. And certainly, godliness is the only thing of value in eternity. But many times we are so involved with the things of this life that we may lose focus on godliness. God may warn us and send us many exhortations and we may still not wake up. Then His love for us is so great that He will send some 'calamity' to wake us and give us an opportunity to go through a crash course in godliness.

We have to learn to look at things this way. Jesus must become the Pearl of greatest value for us, and we must learn to sell off all other pearls we have and run to purchase it. We must hate the sinful life that we have by nature, and long to become like Jesus in the way we think, speak and behave. Only then will we be able to receive everything that Jesus died to give us.

Tweet