Our Heavenly Prize

It is through God’s people that He became known and is still known today. His name, indeed, “will be magnified forever!”

God has elected all those who will serve Him and live with Him forever. Not all will join Him in His eternal kingdom but it is the responsibility through the ongoing power of the Holy Spirit in God’s people to elevate the name of Jesus who is our Lord and Savior; we are to spread the gospel message to all those whom God puts before us and tell of God’s will, plan, and purpose which is the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ.

It is by hearing the Word of God that transforms lives. People are converted not by anything else but by Scripture. It is the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross that we are redeemed, by His precious blood, we are purchased and ushered into God’s good graces, adopted into His family, and made brand new. Of course, the Bible is true in its entirety, but it is also lived out in the chosen. It is experienced which gives the believer more strength, courage, and boldness to carry out what has been told and worked out within each one. There is much evidence of God’s presence in the believer, He is seen, and if He is not, then conversion has not happened.

I believe this only because I lived for about twelve years thinking I was “saved,” but only to find out that this was not the case. Perhaps, these twelve years was a time of regeneration or maybe it was even longer. I do not really know! Obviously, I am not qualified or privy to all of God’s ways, but it is with great anticipation and wants that I continue to seek Him daily. As I told my husband the other day, I cannot step away from God, it is not an option, I am held by His ever-loving grasp. He has me in His hand and I cannot be taken from His grip. I see this as strong evidence of conversion! 

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one” (John 10:2729).

All praise and glory belong to God because if life were left up to me, I would still be lost in darkness!

To be quite honest, I am not sure of the moment of conversion but I do know there was a change in my heart that shifted, no longer positioned inward but upward. Those things that occupied my thoughts and time, which came to life in my youth and developed throughout the years, have gradually lost their importance. It was God who brought peace, love, and joy into my entire being. I tasted this as a child when reading His Word out loud; I could not cope with the world and all its evil then and I cannot cope with it today. I live to rejoice in God, He is my safe place, He is my forever home. 

I have been made to realize that this glorious transformation is not something I have done and just like you, I came into this world a sinner, without hope, without God. There is not anything we can do to save ourselves from trespasses and sin, from death. I now see by looking back to where and what God has done in the lives of the people in the Bible and in my own life that all credit goes to God. No one desires God and Scripture without the Creator’s intervention and indwelt Spirit of God, Himself. It is not natural to hunger and thirst for God! A human’s natural tendencies are self-preservation, our wants and needs, our inadequacy and sorrow. God’s people do not hang on to the things of this world, they look forward to what is to come. We wait for Him because we know that He is coming! 

For the longest time, the enemy told me I was nuts. The pandemic was making me crazy, my past was giving me an excuse to fantasize about a new life but the more I read God’s inspired Word, the less power the devil had in this spiritual debate that was a constant in my mind. Praise be to God, by His abundant supply of wisdom, understanding, and deeper knowledge of our heavenly Father, I see the lies of the enemy and stand firm and tall in God’s truth. Yes, I am certainly emotional and still struggle with tiresome, old familiar battles but they do not create the stir they once did. I know where my help comes from, I know my purpose, and I know where I am going; I am weak but yet I am strong! 

I am encouraged by 1 Samuel 7:23-28 (ESV):

“And who is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be His people, making Himself a name and doing for them great and awesome things by driving out before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, a nation and its gods. And you established for yourself your people Israel to be your people forever. And you, O LORD became their God. And now O LORD God, confirm forever the work that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning His house, and do as you have spoken. And your name will be magnified forever, saying, ‘I will build you a house.’ therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.” 

The Reformation Study Bible interprets some of these passages of Scripture like this:

“God has chosen David and the nation of Israel itself to be the people through whom His great name will become known.”

God created, man fell, and God redeemed by sending Jesus to take away the sins of the world. As R.C. Sproul says (paraphrased): the death of Jesus is sufficient for all but efficient for some. Meaning, that Jesus died for all but not all will reap His free gift. It is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone that we are truly converted. It is God’s choice, not ours!

Moses sings in Exodus 15:

“Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods?

Who is like you, majestic in holiness,

Awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

You stretched out your right hand;

The earth swallowed them.

You have led in your steadfast love the people who you have redeemed;

You have guided them by your strength to your holy abode…

You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain,

The place, O LORD, which you have made for your abode,

The sanctuary, O LORD, which your hands have established.

The LORD will reign forever and ever.”

The Reformation Study Bible explains this Scripture as “an important summary of the aims of the exodus that gives prominence to the motif of God dwelling on earth. The purpose is the settlement of Israel as God’s special people in the Promised Land, the sanctuary of God’s dwelling.”

God is at work throughout the entire Bible. He reveals much of what He is doing in this world in every book of the Bible, we can read the beginning, middle, and the end. We have been given

insight into what comes next. Of course, not everything is clear, but as we study, God will give us more to chew on, and through this process, Christians will grow in their understanding of who God is and who we are in His Son Jesus Christ. 

I confess I am guilty of turning God’s story into my own, but by His mercy, grace, and love He forgives and has put before me and before so many others His heavenly perspective; allowing us to look at this world through a biblical lens. I learned the Bible was not about me (I am still learning) and when He revealed this to me, my prayer and study time took on a whole new meaning, the power of God has captured me, and for this I am grateful! 

Abrupt ending, I know, but this is all I have for today. 

God bless you!