“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (1Peter 4:12-13)
The Bible teaches us that we as individuals, as well as the church body as a whole, are a building built by God, the temple of the Holy Ghost.
“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.” (1Cor. 3:9-10)
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” (1Cor. 3:11-13)
“If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1Cor. 3:14-16)
When God allows us to have the mind of Christ and He reveals unto us the deeper things of God, He does it for a purpose.
First and foremost, He does it so that we might take these deeper revelations of God and apply them in our life. In other words, so that we can be:
“…built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Eph. 2:20-22)
The things that we hear and accept, believe and stand upon, become building blocks that make up our life.
During our life as Christians, we will go through many things that will try and test us.
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (1Peter 4:12-13)
Those revelations which we have received through the Holy Spirit and from the mind of Christ are compared to building blocks made from “gold, silver, and precious stones”.
Upon the house that is built with these the fiery trial has no effect, but only purifies and refines them to make them stronger.
However, the ideas and philosophies of man and the world are compared to “wood, hay, and stubble”. When these are mixed with the building blocks from God and used to build our temple, they will be consumed by the fiery trial and our building will “suffer loss”.
With the stakes so high, we cannot afford to settle for anything less than the revelations that come through the Holy Spirit and from the mind of Christ.
Although altruistic teachings and thoughts not based upon the Word of God may seem inspirational, moral, and idealistic, they are actually vain and idle words that will only lead to destruction.
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.” (1Cor. 3:19-20)
“But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” (2Tim. 2:16)
Only the written and revealed Word of God will endure and never fail.
Only that which is authored by God will last forever.
“Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever.” (Psalm 119:160)
“For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” (1Peter 1:24-25)
To build our life based upon the revealed Word of God and the mind of Christ is not all that God requires.
We are also called to be our “brother’s keeper”. (Gen. 4:9)
“When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” (Ezek. 3:18)
“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” (2Tim. 2:24-26)
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2Tim. 4:2)
“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (2Tim. 2:2)
When we have decided to shun the vain babblings of the world and seek the wisdom from above,
When we have humbled ourselves before God and determined to settle for nothing less than the mind of Christ as revealed by the Holy Spirit,
When we have taken the revelations from God and applied them in our lives first and then humbly shared them with others second,
Then we will have begun to walk in the mind of Christ and bring forth fruit that will remain.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:” (Mat. 6:19)
“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:” (Matt. 6:20)
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matt. 6:21)
Tomorrow– The “Hope of Glory”
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As Seen Through the Eyes of Faith 