Dear Brethren and Friends,
With summer upon us and the restrictions of Covid-19 being laxed by some governments of this world (while others begin again to impose more restrictions), there is an increase in travel and entertainment. People have been cooped up and are anxious to get back into the groove of things. There could be a downside to all of this, and that is the neglect of spiritual matters, because now we may become really busy and God may at times take a back seat to our activities.
This could take us away from our task at hand, given to us by God, which is to preach and publish the gospel to the world as a witness, watch and pray, and grow in grace and knowledge, and we could instead become distracted by our busy lives and lose focus.
It is almost as though we need blinders on to keep us focused. They use blinders for horses for that purpose, as described on the internet:
“Blinkers, sometimes known as blinders, are a piece of horse tack that prevent the horse seeing to the rear and, in some cases, to the side.”
They help the horse to focus on what is in front of them and reduces distractions.
God’s instructions to us have not changed. Let us look at God’s command to Israel before going into the Promised Land:
“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess” (Deuteronomy 30:15-16).
These same rules apply for us today in that we may be blessed physically for obedience. Israel was God’s nation that would be blessed physically for obeying. We are God’s begotten children, described by Peter in the following manner:
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…”
(1 Peter 2:9).
Our future is so much greater than just being blessed physically; it is eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Revelation 5:10 promises us: “And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
The manner or method has not changed. We are to “walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.”
For us, the “land” which we are to possess, is ruling on and over this entire earth. And we are also promised as a free gift, if we are and remain faithful, entrance into the Family of God—the Kingdom of God.
Matthew 25:34 says: “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…’”
We want to be in this group hearing these words since God has no pleasure in those who do not fulfill their precious calling, as we read in Luke 9:62: “But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’”
If we are called, our commitment is to see the job through. The rules have not changed from what Israel was given but God’s free gift and His reward for us are so much better.
Let us ensure we do not get distracted by developments in this world which are seemingly giving us more temporary “freedom,” but rather stay focused on our commitment to obey and love God and complete the task of sending this precious Gospel out to the world. Then we will receive God’s great gift and shall reap our glorious reward which is greater than any physical reward we can imagine. To rule as Kings and Priests in the Kingdom of God is our promised destiny, and that is a goal to which we must remain completely focused.
In Christian Love
Rene Messier (Canada)
