2 Corinthians 5

Dear appleofHiseye,

I was inspired by your letter yesterday to write a reply to it, I hope the others don’t mind, because your letter spoke right to my heart, probably the same feeling that the churches back then felt when they received Paul’s letters firsthand and reading them aloud. Sometimes I do wish that more of such exchanges are done in church, using the Word of God as the basis of encouragement.

You mentioned about forgetting our direction in life, and it made me wonder if I still had my direction in life, or, if I still held on to the same one that I had in the beginning.

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. (Revelation 2:4)

Have I left my first love? Where have I fallen? From where do I pick myself up again?

Yesterday, at an experiential training camp in church, we were asked to pick a card to describe our current state and I chose “想飞”. Do you ever have the feeling like you really want to do something, but you are limited and restricted and thus not able to do so? Often, I feel like this body of mine is wasting away (like when you said that the outward man is perishing, the skin and stuff), and I am so inadequate in a lot of ways that I cannot really do much for the Lord. It is like what Paul wrote about us groaning in this tent, wishing to be further clothed with that heavenly dwelling. But do you notice what is interesting (and encouraging) about that verse?

For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. (2 Corinthians 5:4)

Not because we want to be unclothed.

Yes, in this tent, this earthly house, we may be burdened and we groan. Sometimes, we will to do good, but the good that we will to do, we do not do; yet the evil that we do not wish to do, that we practice (Romans 7:19). Hence, we often find ourselves in a struggle, a spiritual battle, for we strive to please God despite all our fleshly desires.

However, not because we want to be unclothed of this earthly tent. Paul said it was needful that he remain in the flesh (Philippians 1:24) for reasons of pastoring and spreading the gospel. Hence, though we are hard-pressed on every side, we are not giving up (2 Corinthians 4:7-9). Like God appearing to Moses in the burning bush, we will not be consumed, because God will continually be our source of strength, if we continually go back to Him. Hence, I am not giving up. In this earthly tent, yes, I groan, and that’s because I am struggling; and I am struggling and striving because I want to receive that heavenly home in the future.

I was also reminded of a time during a Bible study fellowship in my university with fellow brethren, and we were asked this question directly, “Are we looking forward to the coming of the Lord?” A sister replied, “I can’t wait,” and I felt the same way too. As what Paul has said, it is far better to depart and be with the Lord (Philippians 1:23). I knew that so strongly back then. What about now? Is the life I am living now congruent with that belief, that hope?

The question remains, what should my direction in life be? How should a Christian’s life be like? How often do we ask ourselves this question?

In today’s reading, a few points stood out for me.

1. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. (2 Corinthians 5:9) - Am I living a life that pleases God?
2. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17) – Have I really put to death the old man, old habits, old ways, and really put on Christ, living a new life in Christ? Am I just living in my old ways, not relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to live a renewed life?
3. …those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him… (2 Corinthians 5:15)
   …has given us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18) – Am I living my life for Him? Do I remember that this ministry has been given to me and my purpose in life is to give Him glory (Isaiah 43:7)?

In the midst of a busy lifestyle, we often lose our sense of direction and become disoriented. But what you mentioned about Paul’s letter addressing us with love and guiding us on the right path reminded me that the Word of God can steer me in the right direction and keep me walking on this path. How can I forget how powerful the Word has been in my life?

Where have I fallen? From where do I pick myself up? Everything starts from the heart, isn’t it?

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21)

Where is my treasure? I know my treasure is in heaven and so I strive for the things unseen, not the things which are seen. But I also have a treasure in this earthen vessel of mine, and hence, I am called thus: Treasureinearthenvessel. It is to remind myself that I have a God who is living in me, this worthless dust, but because He lives in me, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

I guess I need to pick myself up from where I have fallen. To refocus my life on Him who is the source and sustenance of my life. Again, it starts with prayers and reading of His Word.

Sincerely,
Treasureinearthenvessel

1 Corinthians 10

But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:27)

A disciplined life,
Christians are to lead;
We’ll be disqualified
if we don’t heed.
Once saved, always saved?
Certainly not!
Where in the Bible of that did you read?

God was not pleased with our forefathers,
though He took care of them -
Were they not all led by the pillar of cloud by day
and the pillar of fire by night?    
Did they not all walk through the Red Sea
while the Egyptian soldiers were swallowed up?
Were they not all given Manna from heaven
so that they may not suffer hunger?
And were not their thirst satisfied
by the water from the rock?

Such blessings bestowed
and which accompanied throughout their days!
But what was the end?
“Their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.”
And we know only two who entered the Promised Land.

Lust,
Idolatry,
Sexual immorality,
Tempting Christ,
Complaining.
The five evils which the Israelites committed.
Though the LORD’s grace aboundeth more,
they didn’t fully learn their lesson.
They failed to exercise discipline
and they forgot to count their blessings.

Someone commented,
“For all their blessings and spiritual experiences,
they never entered into what God really had for them.”
And I wondered,
if we truly know
what God has prepared for us too.

In My Father’s house are many mansions;
if it were not so, I would have told you.
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 to Myself;
that where I am, there you may be also.
 (John 14:2-3)

Do we know?
No, we do not know.
If we know, we won’t be living our life this way.

But what about the blessings and grace
which He has so abundantly showered upon me?
Surely God is happy with me!
Surely my faith is strong!
Look, a stable career, and a complete family,
money to spend and money to spare!

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. (1 Corinthians 15:19)

Have we counted our blessings?
Have we considered what’s most important?
Are we going to follow after the rich man’s footsteps (Luke 16:19-31)?
Do we have to wait till we are disqualified before we regret?

A Christian life is a disciplined life;
He who endures to the end will be saved.
He seeks not his own, but the other’s well-being;
He knows what God has really prepared for him.

And that is his aim.
And he shall enter into His promise.

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Can you think of any examples of “the five evils” in today’s context that could also hinder us from entering into the Promise of God?