"But
this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that
have wives be as though they had none; And they that weep, as though they
wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that
buy, as though they possessed not; And they that use this world, as not
abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. But I would have you
without carefulness."
—1st Corinthians 7:29-32
These are some truly remarkable Scriptures with profound meaning. We are
living in the Last Days. The Lord's return has never been more imminent than
it is today. The world has become a large insane asylum. People are confused
everywhere concerning the truth. The Bible gives us some practical spiritual
advice in 1st Corinthians 7:29-32 concerning the attitude we should have in
these “perilous times” as foretold in 2nd Timothy 3:1-7. In essence, God is
saying that we shouldn't place too much weight upon this temporal life.
The Scripture reminds us in 1st Corinthians 7:31 that THIS WORLD PASSETH AWAY. As such, the Bible admonishes us against placing too much emphasis upon the temporal sadness, problems, happiness, possessions and things of this life. The unsaved world places the greatest of importance upon this earthly life. Their hearts are saturated with the cares and riches of this life. They have little or no concern for eternity.
As Christian believers, we have hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our precious Savior! Jesus promised us in John 14:2-3 . . . “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” Amen! This ought to be our happy thought when life gets us down, and people mistreat us, and lie about us, and forsake us, and disappointment comes—our name is written in Heaven! Jesus saith to us in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Jesus has gone to prepare a place for every believer in Heaven, where we will one day live and be with our wonderful Savior. What a day that will be!
In 1st Corinthians 7:29-32, the Apostle Paul admonishes Christian men . . . “they that have wives be as though they had none.” This simply means that our first love and loyalty ought to be toward God. The Bible advises us to look beyond the daily struggles and problems of marriage and keep our eyes on Christ. If more Christian couples would focus on serving God and helping others in need, it would save many marriages from divorce. The Bible is telling us to step back and look at the big picture with eternity in view. If we learn to do this often, then it won't be such a horrible thing when one's wife burns dinner. Keep your eyes on eternity.
The Apostle Paul tells Christian believers in 1st Corinthians 7:29-32 to “weep, as though they wept not.” This simply means that no matter how much emotional pain, loss, suffering and tears we may experience in this life . . . there is a better life of lasting peace, joy and security awaiting us in Heaven. The Bible tells us to keep this in mind to help alleviate our temporary misery and pain on earth. We must redeem the time, for this life is so short. It will be over before we know it. I know it doesn't help much to hear this when everything in one's life is going wrong, but at least we know that Jesus is always with us (1st John 4:4; Hebrews 13:5) and that “all things work together for good” for the Christian believer (Romans 8:28). Jesus understood that people often rob us of our joy, which is why He said in John 16:22 . . . “And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” Amen! People can really ruin an otherwise great day. That will never happen in Heaven.
By keeping eternity in view, this world's many pains and sorrows are more bearable, because we know the Lord will make everything right in Heaven. Jesus' precious blood is the reason why we can have this hope. Jesus paid our sin debt because He loves us, and along with that God has given to us all things . . . “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). There is no way we can possibly imagine what things God has in store for us in Heaven. Please make sure that you are saved. We are saved by the Imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. So many churches today preach a lame gospel that is so vague, it is a wonder how anyone could ever get saved in those churches.
The Apostle Paul tells Christian believers in 1st Corinthians 7:29-32 to “rejoice, as though they rejoiced not.” We read in James 4:9, “Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.” And again in Hebrews 13:3 we read, “Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.” God never intended for joy and contentment to be an end in itself in this needy world. So many people are hurting in the world, and there is much we can all do to make a difference for God. The unsaved world lives for pleasure, fun and enjoyment. They are selfish, self-willed, self-centered and self-righteous. In the midst of our rejoicing in this sin-cursed world, we must redeem the time, realizing that billions of lost souls are headed for the Lake of Fire in their sins. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is their only hope of escape. This is why every believer is commanded to go soulwinning (Proverb 11:30; Matthew 28:19-20; Philippians 2:16).
The Apostle Paul tells Christian believers in 1st Corinthians 7:29-32 to “buy, as though they possessed not.” Jesus said in Luke 12:15 . . . “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” The greatest things in life are not things. Jesus plainly stated that earthly riches are a trap, offering false security to those who posses them. This is why there'll be far more poor people in Heaven one day than rich people, because rich people already have their own little heaven on earth, and foolishly neglect the salvation of their soul. “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself” (2nd Timothy 2:13). God is faithful (1st John 1:9). No one needs to go to Hell. Sadly, so many people today, especially those with many earthly possessions, don't care about their soul or the things of God. Oh, listen my friend, God loves you. Please don't neglect the gift of salvation which God has freely provided to you. Jesus shed His own physical blood to pay for our sins. . . “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” Thank you Lord Jesus!
Let us redeem the time, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others. We are certainly living in times of woeful apostasy and sin like never before. May we focus on eternity, knowing that our name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life, and that Jesus is preparing a home for us beyond the sunset in Heaven. This world's miseries, sadness, pleasures, possessions, and all that this life has to offer is only an ILLUSION. It is all temporal and will one day fade away into oblivion. Why spend your entire life amassing fortune and fame when you can't take any of it with you?
But the Bible promises in Daniel 12:3 . . . “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Amen! Everything that we do for God WILL go with us into eternity (Revelation 14:13). All of the people that we lead to Jesus Christ WILL be in Heaven one day to greet us. Everyone who we inspired to become soulwinners for Jesus Christ WILL one day thank us in Heaven, and all the lost souls who were reached for Christ through their ministry. We cannot save anybody; but God uses our soulwinning efforts to plant the Seed of God's Word into people's hearts, by which they are saved . . . “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” I challenge you, whoever you may be, to make sure of your own salvation first, and then become aggressive about winning souls to Jesus Christ, that you may one day shine as the brightness of the stars when all the people you led to Christ greet you on Heaven's shores.
Ephesians 5:16, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
Ye Must Be Born Again! | You Need HIS Righteousness!
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