I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live
pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return (Phil. 1:10).
When
we talk about the distant past, we say, "In days gone by." When we talk
about an indefinite future, we say, "Till kingdom come."
The
early Christians lived in an up-to-the-minute consciousness and strong
conviction that Christ would come again any day. As a result, all
planning was short-term. We might have lost much of that urgency as time
passed, but we still believe that Christ will come again - we just
don't know when. This means that it could even be today or tomorrow.
Christians live with the conviction that the end of all things is in
God's omniscient hands and that we have limited time ahead of us.
Paul pleaded with his Christian friends to be ready for Christ's second
coming. Because God could call them to account for their lives, they
had to live "pure and blameless" lives. One of the qualities they would
need to make sure of this not only to keep themselves pure, but also
that they wouldn't cause anyone to stumble. This meant that they would
be pure, but not in such a self-righteous way that they would frighten
others off with their "goodness." Their pure lives were to be acceptable
and not hypocritical.
Whenever you are tempted to do something
wrong, always look ahead. "What would happen if Christ would find me
involved in this?" Remember that God always brings the future to the
present and we must be ready.
We must never speak to simple, excitable people about "the Day" without emphasizing again and again the utter impossibility.
~ C. S. Lewis ~
Saint James Assembly of Faith
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