You are not in darkness, so that that day should overtake you as it would thieves.—1 Thess 5:4 But you, brothers, you are not in darkness, so that the day should overtake you as it would thieves, Earthshaking events will soon occur. The fulfillment of Bible prophecies confirms this fact, so we need to keep on the watch. What will help us to do that? The apostle Paul urges us to “keep our eyes . . . on the things unseen.” Yes, we need to bear in mind our reward of everlasting life, be it in heaven or on earth. As the context shows, Paul wrote these words to encourage fellow believers to focus on the happy outcome of their faithful course. Doing so would also help them to cope with trials and persecution. (2 Cor. 4:8, 9, We are hard-pressed in every way, but not cramped beyond movement; we are perplexed, but not absolutely with no way out;*+ 9 we are persecuted, but not abandoned;+ we are knocked down, but not destroyed.;16-18 Therefore, we do not give up, but even if the man we are outside is wasting away, certainly the man we are inside is being renewed from day to day. 17 For though the tribulation* is momentary and light, it works out for us a glory that is of more and more surpassing greatness* and is everlasting;+ 18 while we keep our eyes, not on the things seen, but on the things unseen.+For the things seen are temporary, but the things unseen are everlasting.; 5:7 for we are walking by faith, not by sight.) Paul’s admonition contains an important principle: To keep our hope firm, we must look beyond the things that are immediately before us. We need to focus on significant events that are as yet unseen.—Heb. 11:1 Faith is the assured expectation of what is hoped for,+ the evident demonstration*of realities that are not seen. ; 12:1, 2 So, then, because we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also throw off every weight and the sin that easily entangles us,+ and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,+ 2 as we look intently at the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus.+ For the joy that was set before him he endured a torture stake,* despising shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.+
Posted on: Sat, 25 Jan 2014 13:54:44 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015