Based on 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 (New King James Version)
"For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
Abraham Lincoln said: “We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” President Lincoln spoke these words during his Gettysburg Address on the afternoon of Thursday, November 19, 1863, while one of the bloodiest wars in US history was still carrying on. The American Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865. It claimed over 785,000 lives. The United States was torn between each other where family members killed each other: father against son, and brother against brother. Hundreds of thousands of lives were sacrificed for different ideals and principles. What kind of resolve was necessary for a country to heal from such horror?
One of the key words President Lincoln used in his very meaningful speech was the word, “resolve.” We do not use this word very much today. The word resolve as defined by dictionary.com means: “to come to a definite or earnest decision about; determine (to do something).” It is an idea of the past when it comes to meaningful ideals. Most peoples’ resolve or determination have turned to achieve more mundane or temporal things like material possessions, superficial relationships, adventures, hobbies, etc. Some people put their lives at risk for a hobby, for instance. It’s not to say that some of these things are necessarily evil (although some can be). The problem is that there isn’t any resolve or determination for those things that are truly meaningful and unselfish. There is no real sacrifice for those things that truly matter in life. It appears that most people are determined to sacrifice those things that truly matter for things that don’t mean much. How come?
If we examine general Christian faith in many people today, there is little to no resolve for the things of God. Most people quit at the very first sign of hardship. They are not very fond anymore about following Christ when the Bible goes against something they want to do or practice. Many people are even ashamed of declaring publicly their faith. They would rather keep their relationship with Christ as a secret with the excuse that it is something “very personal”. If a group of people resolved within themselves to help bring together and heal a country after such a horrible thing (like the American Civil War), why is it so hard for many of us to live and follow Christ?
One of the answers is that many folks have been brainwashed with a very easy and meaningless gospel. It is a lazy and carefree type of doctrine where it almost encourages people to be weak and undetermined for God. Carefully selected Bible passages are used to substantiate an irresponsible way of life. Many indoctrinate people to believe in an “all forgiving and all merciful God”, trying to eliminate the Holiness of God and discipleship. It’s a gospel that neglects the other principles God teaches throughout His Word. I guess those other thousands of chapters are just fill material, right? Absolutely not! The Holy Bible is the complete counsel of God to man, and it needs to be taken in its entirety; not just the parts that you like to hang on to or that favor your own agenda.
Let’s pretend for a moment that you are getting married to someone, and the person you are about to marry only wants to accept certain parts of you. Let’s say they like your eyes, your hair, and why not; your legs. But they don’t feel anything for the rest. So, they somehow “physically” separate those parts they like about you and throw away the rest. I know the visual is horrible and exaggerated, but you get the picture, right? If people want to be accepted completely, with all their parts, then why do many people try to only pick out the things they like about God, or those things that only favor what they want? And, if we all want someone to stay with us, whether things go well or not, why do so many abandon God so easily?
I think everyone wants to go to heaven, but not many want to do anything for it. And herein lies the other false teaching. Are we saved by grace and not works? Of course we are saved by grace alone! But does that mean that it is not important to follow Christ? No way! The intent of God is not for us to just be believers of Christ. We must be followers or disciples of Christ; which means we must follow Him and live out the things He teaches us to do. Once we surrender our lives to Christ, it is only the beginning. We must allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, allowing Him to transform us into what God wants us to be. God is in the business of transforming and changing lives; not in leaving them broken and fallen.
And here is where our passage today comes in. We should resolve or determine within ourselves if we are truly willing to follow Christ, or not. We must keep in mind, if we truly resolve to follow Christ, that what we do here and now counts towards eternity. For it is written: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” The good and bad that we do here counts for us, or against us. There is a final judgment! God will judge His people also! If we understand this, then we must understand that there is a responsibility with faith. We should not live our lives carelessly, assuming that God does not care about what we do with ourselves. He cares, and each human being (especially believers) will give an account for their actions. So, the question is, “Have you resolved in your heart to do the best you can with the eternal opportunity God has given you through Jesus Christ?” Lord bless! John