Hebrews 12:5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. 14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
In this carnal and wicked world it is so difficult to see eternity from our current state sometimes. I pray at least a couple of times week for the Lord to keep eternity before my eyes because it is so simple to get caught up with the deceitfulness of this world. With all the personalities that I come in contact with at the supermarket, barbershop, workplace, and just everyday life. I love Him Love Him Love Him Love Him Love Him. WHO? The one and only "I AM" for he rescued me from the temporal things of this world. I owe HIM my all. Nothing is too great for the Lord Jesus Christ. My desire is to have all my affections set on HIM.
Why do I love the Lord so? One reason is that I can rejoice in my suffering because I know that the Lord chastens me for my good. The scripture above makes the allegory that when our earthly fathers chasten us and their chastening is not perfect; but the Lord's chastening is perfect and geared to get us in preparation to be in the presence of Holiness. There in nothing we can do to partake in this in eternity but to put on the cloak of Jesus Christ' righteousness. This comes through the Lord Jesus Christ opening our heart for repentance and taking off the blinders that are placed on our eyes by the Deceiver.
Of course chastening at the time is not pleasant, but I can only rejoice in the fact that this almost is another version of the promise to come.
2 Corinthians 1:21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Ephesians 1:11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.
You see we have a deposit as believers. That deposit is the Holy Spirit. This confirms what Christ said in
John 10:28
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
By this we have stamped on us 3 things.
1) God's Authorship or ownership.
2) Authenticity of the believer.
3) Divine Protection.
I just watched a movie called "The Pursuit of Happiness" and I actually thought it was a darn good movie. It was about Will Smith, his son, and wife. The wife left him because she was extremely selfish and carnal and Will was patient and was just running into a lot of brick walls. This would have been a better movie I think if he found his "Happiness" in Christ alone. That would be too extreme right. I still liked it and I don't know why because after thinking about it Will only found happiness in the success according to the world. They need to make a sequel called "Happiness Never Obtained because I lacked Christ" Or how about "The Rich Man and Lazarus" Oops, already done. In essence true happiness is only found in the Lord, not in temporal things. Moses could have chose to be happy for a season but rather chose to be obedient to Christ-check him out...
Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.
In essence, we know we do not enjoy chastening or suffering but it brings about good in the believers life. Rejoice in the future promise and do not become entangled with the carnal affairs of the world. Always keep an eternal perspective.
