Excellent word. The preamble was enlightening. We do not have a complete understanding of what the judgement seat of Christ actually requires from us. Paul said it was "The terror of the Lord" . A lesser man such as myself should fear as well.
When we get into Jude's warning I can see that spirit of Cain in myself. The testimonies I heard about salvation we like "I came to Jesus and he gave me a wife, a good job and a fine house...praise God!" Well, it didn't work like that for me and I was jealous of those brothers. I railed against God and angerly screamed by complaint. The loneliness and rejection was almost too much to bear. Needless to say my blasphemy didn't incite God to move in my favor. And I am thankful about that. He never sent me my quail but kept the pressure on. Am I broken? I don't know. I know I desire to be and the thing I want most is to hear "well done my good and faithful servant" The thing is , I see so much that disqualifies me. I do weep before God with my whole heart but that doesn't mean I am broken. Those could just as easily be the tears of Esau. I pray they are not. I pray they are rather the tears of the prodigal son returning to his Father. I despair, not only the state of the church but also my own Laodicean wretched state.
I am reminded of a verse in Hebrews.
Heb 6:1-3
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.
IF God permits..wow
Please pray for me brother.
on a side note. The word for "earnest" or "arrabon" has another interesting definition in the Vines dictionary
[ 1,,
G728,
arrabon ]
originally, earnest-money" deposited by the purchaser and forfeited if the purchase was not completed
Let's pray we all complete the purchase!
Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
