As an educator, I sought ways to help students develop and stay focused on their goals. In a brain-storming session, the students came up with the idea of inviting local citizens, who were living note-worthy lives in the community, to speak to the class. This gave the students a unique opportunity to listen and to ask them questions as to why they chose their present education and work. In like manner, when Christians lives exemplary spiritual lives before God and the world, their example is motivational for all seekers of God’s love and mercy.
Jude, in his epistle, declared, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 20-21). Then realizing the importance of example, Disciples of Christ can be instrumental in bringing the lost into the fold of God. Knowing that only by believing and obeying the commands of Jesus, can immortality be attained, Saints must “…go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). Happy are those who continue “walking in the light as He is in the light…” (1 John 1:7), and showing and telling the Good News. Such behavior is essential if one is to see God.
Once a persecutor of the church, Saul, upon receiving instruction from Ananias, obeyed the commandment of Jesus to be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 22:16). Submitting to God through the gospel of Jesus Christ, He realized he had died to sin and was no longer a child of darkness. He described his new life in Christ in the following manner: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). His confidence in the Lord, led him to proclaim to the brethren at Galatia, “…you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27). Having positioned himself in Christ, he now could now help others build themselves in the faith.
Because Jesus loved and washed the obedient ones from their sins in His own blood (Revelation 1:5), respect for such love must be on going in the lives of all those who seek a Heavenly reward. The Hebrew writer speaking of faith, penned “…without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). How do we obtain faith? The apostle Paul revealed the key to developing faith when he penned, “…faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Hearing and doing his will, Saints are committed to enduring to the end, thus receiving an abundant entrance into Heaven. By their faithfulness others are encouraged to do so as well.
Christ has already won the victory. For those who hope in Him, “…it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:2-3).