Pastor Hill: The life that is now

1 Timothy 4:8, For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

Many Christians speak of the life that is to come and rightly so. We have much to look forward to as is stated in John 14:1-3, Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Speaking the Truth in Love by Pastor Tommy Hill

Speaking the Truth in Love
by Pastor Tommy Hill

The passage in Timothy reminds us or informs us that we have much that we can look forward to in our present life when we pursue godly living.

Titus 2:11-12 says, For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Titus 2 teaches us that there is a proper Christian behavior we are to display in this present world. If we are commanded to live in this specific way then we must conclude that there are benefits of doing so. God has never required something of us without allowing us to enjoy the fruits of our labors. Christians must not forget that TRUE GODLINESS hath the promise of the life that now is.

Abraham, found his earthly life, to be profitable as he lived a godly life for the God he served. God provided for him as he left his homeland looking for a new land that he was trusting God to bring him to. He experienced normal affairs of life. There was strife between him and his nephew Lot as well as the promised birth of a long promised son. In all of life’s circumstances Abraham believed God and his trust and faith resulted in him receiving that which was profitable. The Bible tells us in Genesis 24:1 that the Lord blessed Abraham in all things. This was due to his steadfast trust in God and his desire to live a godly life. There is great profit to living a godly life in the life that now is.

There was little separation between his secular and spiritual life. His life was his religion and his religion was his life. He trusted God about everything.

If trusting in God is good for anything, it is good for everything.

The Lord intended that our faith be a part of our daily life, quieting our fears, comforting our hearts; He said in Matthew 6:25-26, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

The same truth was stated again through the pen of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:6-7, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

He who has gone to prepare a place for us will not leave us without provisions for the journey here below. He fits us for Canaan by the experience of the wilderness. He molds us here to make us into the image of His Son for our heavenly abode. In our pursuit of godly living, we receive all the blessings and benefits of God for the life than now is. In fact, the details of our lives are placed under heavenly care as is written in Hebrews

1:14, Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Towards the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus let us all know what we would find in the world. John 16:33 states, These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. We know that faith will not save us from trouble, but it will cause us to glory in our tribulations. Romans 5:3-5 helps us understand this. “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

We have much to live for in our LIFE THAT NOW IS.

Pastor Tommy Hill is the pastor of First Free Will Baptist Church in Hamlet. He is a Richmond County native. He can be reached at firstfwbchurchhamlet@gmail.com. His column will appear each Friday in The Pee Dee Post.

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