Monday, June 18, 2012

Reaping Everlasting Life


Every so often, we have one of those grand "ah ha" moments when the dots connect and the picture forms.  This is one of them, which I pray you will read and be blessed by also!

Starting with a time of meditating on this verse:
Galatians 6:8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (NKJV)

How does one reap everlasting life?  Let's take a closer look!

Eternal/Everlasting Life
Everlasting life is not a state or a place.  It is the progression of God’s will into every area of our lives, like when we pray:
Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. (NKJV)

Paul told Timothy to “lay hold” on eternal life
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (NKJV)

It is not that Timothy was not saved!  Paul was telling Timothy to go after the Life and the blessings that Jesus had already purchased for us (John 3:16).  Eternal life is, after all, simply knowing God.
John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (NKJV)

And we need to get to know Him better all the time!  God IS love 
1 John 4:8(b) ...God is love. (NKJV)

And we need to know this love:
Ephesians 3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (NKJV)

Sowing to the Spirit
How then do we sow to the Spirit?  We read God’s Word!  See the Parable of the Soils (Matt 13:1-23).  We have to read it in faith:
Hebrews 4:2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. (NKJV)

Why do we have to read it in faith?  Because it takes faith to believe the goodness of our God, the promises He has given us in His Word.  We need to read it with the thought that God LOVES US, that we are the objects of His immeasurable affection to us.  We need to trust this love the Word speaks of for it to take effect in our lives.  Faith is increased when we know His love:
Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. (NKJV)

In simple English, it is easy to believe someone whom we know has our bests interests at heart.  This will help us to believe the exceedingly great and precious promises given to us that Peter wrote about.
2 Peter 1:4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (NKJV)

On the contrary, it is easy to read these promises, not trust the love of God for us and just ignore them.  Unbelief requires NO faith, no trust in the love of God whatsoever, and the Word will not profit.

Once we believe and perceive this goodness, our minds are changed.  We agree with what God’s Word says to us.  Truly then, we see that it is God’s goodness causes us to repent, change our minds:
Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (NKJV)

Area by area, our minds get changed.  This is the renewal of the mind, where in which we are transformed.
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (NKJV) 

The end result is that we start to know His will for our lives and we lead fruitful lives.
Conforming to this world, allowing the junk of it to filter in is, on the contrary, sowing to the flesh and it reaps corruption.  It works opposite and contrary to what we are trying to achieve.

Purpose in your heart to reap everlasting life today. 
1.              Believe His love for you.
2.              Read the Word and have faith in His promises, knowing they came from His love
3.              Meditate on His goodness in His promises and allow them to change your mind!

Pray this blesses you!

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