Last month I got my coldest bike ride in almost 30 years. For those of you who know me, you know I spent a lot of time outside, even during harsh, cold winter months. My frequent activities outside during winter help get me ready for biking and those extreme temperatures below zero.
Preparation has a lot of benefits for us in this temporary life and for the life to come that will be second to none (1 Timothy 4:8). Healthy people know to warm up before exercising to reduce injury and even death in extreme cases.
It is better to start small before taking on more challenging activities. More and more, I am reminded that this life on earth is only our warm-up to prepare us for where we will spend eternity (Matthew 6:19-21; 25:1-46, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, James 4:14).
Believer, this world isn’t our permanent home, so stop trying to fit in order to be comfortable here. That is why the Bible calls God’s people foreigners, exiles, and aliens in this world (John 17:16, Hebrews 11:13, 1 Peter 2:11). This life is only our waiting room.
This life is only preparing us for our home in Heaven (Philippians 3:20, Hebrews 11:16, Revelation 21:1-4).
God put His people here and set us apart from this corrupt kingdom for a specific purpose (Deuteronomy 7:6, Jeremiah 29:11, Ephesians 2:10, 1 Peter 2:9). The saints are here to be messengers and workers of God, not to be great or comfortable here.
True Saints teach others everything Jesus taught His Disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). When we fail to do and teach others everything Jesus has commanded us, we will not be prepared for what is to com eand for us there will be no revival.
That is why Jesus tells us there will be many who come to Jesus at the end of this age, and He will tell them to depart from Him, for they did not prepare as He clearly warned His followers (Matthew 24:42-44; 25:1-3, Luke 13:24-27).
If we are followers of Jesus, we must be preparing others, both saved and lost, to do God’s will and to get ready for His coming Kingdom, He’s been good (Matthew 4:17; 6:33, Luke 12:40, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6).
It is the trials of this life that prepare us for where we will spend eternity, either in Heaven with God, or separated from Him in hell (Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-4). The purpose of God’s people being the salt and light, not to make people happy or rule this fallen kingdom that God Himself will destroy.
Sadly, there are too many people in the church who are obsessed with earthly greatness and political power, just like our Jewish forefathers were. Jesus warned that when we cease to be the salt and light, we are good for nothing and failed to serve God’s purposes (Matthew 5:13).
Many saints have forgotten that Jesus promised His followers would face hardships in this life, because it is not our permanent home (Matthew 10:22, John 16:33). When the false teachers teach and preach earthly prosperity and greatness, they have lost their saltiness and turned from sound teaching just like the Apostle Paul warned (2 Timothy 4:3-4). My world now isn’t a permanent situation,
Those who preach another Jesus than Jesus crucified preach another gospel than the Good News (1 Corinthians 2:2, 2 Corinthians 11:4, Galatians 1:6-9). These false teachers do not understand God’s ways and His purposes for the hardships we face in this life.
They are not preparing themselves or others for the kingdom of God; they appease the ears and the stomachs of those who are lost and perishing, who think to themselves, “We make the rules.” Neither will see the kingdom of God.
The Bible is abundantly clear that this fallen kingdom will come crashing down one day to make room for a new heaven and new earth that will be the kingdom of God (Isaiah 65:17, Daniel 2:44, Matthew 24:35, Revelation 21:1). There will b no survivors in this fallen kingdom.
That is why the true Saints teach others to fix their eyes on things above, not here below just as our Lord commanded us (Matthew 6:19-21, John 14:15). That is why these false teachers who are teaching earthly greatness and prosperity will not enter the kingdom of God, this world is their Heaven because they refused to repent (Romans 6:18, Philippians 3:19).
Why would anyone want to rule a fallen kingdom, when they can spend eternity in Heaven enjoying God’s Kingdom, which will be better than anything this world has to offer, where we can be holy forever (1 Corinthians 2:9, Revelation 21:4).
Brothers and sisters we must live by the Spirit, not the flesh that will perish with this temporary Kingdom that is how we prepare for the Kingdom of God, make war with your flesh (Galatians 5:16-17; 6:8). I cannot help but weep as I watch’s so many believers will only turn from sound teaching to satisfy their hearts of flesh; they put their hope in what will not last..
I pray God will open their eyes and help them repent before the Kingdom of God comes. Jesus gave His Disciples specific instructions on how to prepare for God’s Kingdom (Matthew 4:17; 22:36-40; 25:31-46).
We all must repent and turn from the selfish ways that focus on ourselves and this world, and do the things that Jesus says we prepare us for the Kingdom of God.
Repentance
Repentance is the process of turning from our evil desires and hearts back to God (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9). Repentance isn’t just for the lost, is for God’s people who have turned from the truth to their selfish desires for pleasure and earthly greatness.
It doesn’t matter how old or educated you are; we all have the capacity to wander from God like sheep (Isaiah 53:6, Mark 6:34). The Bible records several accounts of God’s people and entire nations turning from God for temporary pleasure and earthly greatness (Jeremiah 2:11-13, Acts 17:29-30).
Even King David and His bloodline turned from God and needed to repent at times (2 Samuel 12:13, 1 Kings 11:1-13). It is dangerous to think our knowledge or position makes us unbeatable when it comes to sin; we still have corrupt hearts of flesh (1 Corinthians 10:12, 1 Peter 5:8).
Even the Apostle Paul wrestled with his flesh; it is prideful to think we are stronger or better than him or the patriarchs of the faith (Romans 7:15-25). The bottom line is repentance is the only way we can be prepared (Ezekiel 18:30, Matthew 3:8)!
