Finish Strong

“…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”                    -Philippians 2:12 

Note carefully it says “work out” not “for.” This passage does not mean to work in order to earn, merit, or deserve your salvation.

This is clearly taught in Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourself: it is a gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”

The Greek verb for “work out,” KATERGAZESTHAI, always has the idea of carrying to a logical conclusion.

Nearby the Dematiaceae Chapel in Florence, Italy is the Academy of Art. Florence is the location of one of Michelangelo’s most magnificent works, David. As a sculptor he produced such great works as Moses, the Pieta, and David. His highly acclaimed work is incomparable.

A large chamber in the Academy building houses what are known as Michelangelo’s slaves. They are incomplete works of art that were in progress at the time of his death.

He always started with a piece of stone which yielded to his will as his skilled hands freed from it the intended work of art. Until the moment of completion each was always an incomplete work of art in progress. These incomplete works are called “slaves” because they have not yet been completely freed from the stone.

One is of a man whose upper torso and head are complete. The lower part is still the block of unhewn stone.  It appears as though the man is standing in stone. In another the lower extremities of the body are complete and the unfinished block of stone rests on the person’s shoulders. It is as though he is struggling to free himself from the stone.

These incomplete works lack the quality of the completed works principally because they are unfinished. Do they mirror your life?

To carry your salvation to its logical conclusion God is willing to help. “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure” (Philippians 2: 13).

“It is God who works in you both to will and to do…”  The same Greek word is translated as “works” and “to do.” It is ENERGEIN.  In it we can hear our word for energy. This word is only used in the New Testament as a reference to the action of God. It is effective action because it is the action of God. His actions for you are not for you to remain half-finished. Carry your salvation to its logical conclusion.

Seeing the End From the Beginning

Scripture speaks of God as creating the heavens and earth. The Greek word for “created” is (bara) meaning to create out of nothing, not to reform.

Of the other end of creation Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words will by no means pass away” (Luke 21:33).

The “first heaven and the first earth” are said to have “passed away.” The Greek phraseology gives room for two possibilities. One is that the heavens and earth are swept away into non-existence, nothingness, annihilation. In light of other texts this is the proper application. 

In reference to the “first” earth it means the planet earth. The reference is to this spheroid that measures 24,902 miles around its waist, the equator, this globe that travels 18.5 miles per second in its 595,000,000 mile journey around the sun.

When and how this passing occurs are spoken of by Peter:
“Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?”  (II  Peter 3:11-12).

From the dawn of creation God has had in store the means of achieving this renovation. Now, that is advance planning. The planet earth has an outer shell or crust about twenty miles thick. Inside this is a zone called “the mantle zone” which is about 1,800 miles thick. Underneath this is a zone called the “outer core,” which is about 1,360 miles thick. It is made of molten fluids. Occasionally some of this rises to the surface and forms volcanoes. By design from the beginning God has had in store the means of renovating the earth. 

“But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men”  (II Peter 3:7).

Jesus made this promise to His followers, “I am with you to the end of the world.” There are three Greek words that can be translated “to the end of the world.”

GE is one. It is a reference to the ground, this terrestrial globe. We hear this root word in such words as geology and geography or geophysics. 

KOSMOS is a second Greek word that can be translated as earth. It means “adornment” or “embellishment.” Looking at God’s beautifully created world the Greeks began to call it the KOSMOS, the adorned and embellished. Our word cosmetics comes from the word KOSMOS. 

AION is the third Greek word translated “world.” It means an indefinite period of time. It was used to refer to an era or an order of things.  This is the word used by Jesus when He said, “I am with you to the end of the world,” meaning “to the consummation of the ages,” the end of time and history.

He who planned all that and arranged for it to happen has a plan for you.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Being with you to the end of the ages means He is with you today. Acknowledge it and interpret your present condition in light of it. Rejoice and be glad.

Its About Time

“In the beginning was the Word…” is how the opening verse of the gospel of John begins in most translations. That is a correct translation of the Greek text which literally means, “Before time began to begin was the Word…”

When creation is considered we most often think of material objects. However, this verse confirms time itself was part of creation. Time began at a particular point. Before that point, bewildering as it is, there was no time.

The Revelation teaches us there will come a point when “time shall be no more.” We are living in a parentheses between eternity past and eternity future.

Each new year brings us 8,756 hours. Of these the average person will spend 2,920 hours sleeping. That leaves 5,836 hours which provide ….

A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;

A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;

A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones; 
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;

A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;

A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace. -Ecclesiastes 3:2-8

Note nestled among those is “a time to die.”

Then when time runs out for you, there is eternity awaiting. You will then give an account as to how you have used your time. (How about today?) Make certain that in time you have prepared for where you will spend eternity by having at a point in time put your trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior. If you have done so, reflect on it and rejoice. If you have never done so, do it right now. Immediately note the date and time, and record it rejoicing it is recorded in eternity.

If you have done it before, live like it, confident in, and obedient to the loving Lord.

Take Refuge in the Lord

A stabilizing verse is found right in the middle of the Bible. As a matter of fact, it is Psalm 118:8, long considered by some as the middle verse of the Bible: “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” (Psalm 118:8) Every verse in this chapter mentions God.

“Man” as used here is a reference to human instincts, our conscience. God, not our human conscience, should be the final arbiter in decision making. Therefore, a well indoctrinated conscience is an aid in making right-minded decisions. A conscience that does not have such a basis is more subject to making wrong decisions.

Therefore to make better decisions become better versed in Scripture.  It should be our desire “to have a conscience without offense toward God and men” (Acts 24:16).

Taking “refuge in the Lord” means to let God through His word and by His Spirit guide you in decision making. Unbiblically informed people today are saying everything about America is wrong and we are going to change it or burn it down.

Not all of our Founding Fathers were Christians, but they were well informed on the Bible. Most of them had been educated by ministers. The foundation of America was forged by people whose conscience was guided by the Bible. They took refuge in the Lord. The rioters today are being guided by their unbiblically informed conscience.

It is therefore incumbent on us to hide His word in our heart that we be guided in all we do.

Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage: I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Take courage in your refuge all you who are dispirited.

Who, Me Worry?

Do you ever spend time worrying about some future event? Whatever the experience is, you engage in a big time worrying session playing, “what if.”

Have you ever thought about it, worry is simply negative thought, nothing more. Worry is the only sin we brag about. “I worried so much I couldn’t sleep,” or “I worried so much I couldn’t eat.”

Our beloved Lord has said, “My grace is sufficient for you.” We muse, will it really be? Think about it, hasn’t it always been?

In the Medieval Era one of the Reformers was condemned to be burned alive at the stake. The night before his execution screams were heard coming from his cell. He was trying to see if he could stand the pain leading to his death. To do this he was sticking his finger in the flame of a candle. Each time he put his finger in the flame, he withdrew it in pain. The next day as he stood tied to the stake with the flames rising around him he was heard singing a hymn. 

God’s grace was sufficient at the stake, though it wasn’t the night before. What made the difference? At the stake he needed God’s grace and had it, the night before he didn’t need it and didn’t have it, but was imposing on God’s grace.

The promise is “My grace is sufficient for you.” That is not future or past tense, it is perpetual present tense. It is not sufficient before needed, but every time when needed. Let that dispel your worry, knowing when needed His grace is sufficient. Now frame your thoughts in that light and confidently think positively.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”  II Corinthians 12:9

When Paul initially received that promise, he had been appealing to God to take away his thorn in the flesh. By God’s grace he learned:

Affliction is most often a time of great spiritual growth.

Apathy is a spiritual virus that overtakes us and consumes us.

Therefore, may we say with Paul, “I gladly glory in my affliction.” It is possible to transition from griping to glorying only if II Corinthians 12:9 is applied. Remember who said, “My grace is sufficient.” If you need a reminder, it was the God of all grace who loves you, who desires, and designs good for you.