“TRAVEL WELL!”
I Have had 2 Corinthians 5:10 on my mind these past days and some of the night on “The Judgment Seat of Christ,” and this morning scribbled down a few thoughts, as it encouraged me and I hope will encourage you to “Travel well,” on your way towards Home to be “with Him!”
AFFLICTED; -It had been fourteen years since Paul had great revelations and to keep him humble he says from”exalting himself,” a “thorn” had been given to him. The word for “Thorn,” was used of a wooden stake sharpened at one end for a tent peg, and was also used to torture or impale someone. So, dear Paul did not have a sliver of wood under his skin but a very painful spiritual “thorn” to keep him humble and dependent upon the LORD. And in his weakened condition which was helping wean him of self reliance to God dependency, he would find the sufficiency of God’s grace and Power in his weakness. His response was to glory, boast in the LORD, because he knew God’s purpose and God’s provision for him! – {Read 2 Cor 12;2,7-11}. Paul had a painful “affliction,” and yet we see it did not define him, God was using it to refine him and depend more on Him and we see his heart is not bitter but boasts in God and he does not turn inward but upward to the LORD and outward to inspire others, on the future bliss that awaits them and to caution and comfort and encourage them to live, Walk Wisely on the Walk Home!- Travel well!
Paul writes to them and reminds them of our final destination is not this world, but Heaven. And below are a few thoughts to hopefully encourage you who are His followers…
- ABSENT – v 6- We are “absent from the LORD.” We are not Home yet. When I was a child at school and the teacher at the start of the day would read out the names of each student, and we had up to fifty students at times, he would read the name and you would answer your name with “present,” and if someone was not there someone would respond, “absent!” That affirmed they were not there! Well we are “not there”….Yet!
- AMBITION– v8- Paul said that not only him but others by using the word,”we.” “We have as our ambition, to be pleasing to Him…” What a high and lofty ambition, aim, purpose for living, for a person’s life, to please the LORD, not for acceptance by Him but because they, as we, have already been accepted as Ephesians 1:6 says, “accepted in the Beloved,” but a way of showing appreciation to Him for His loving them! Think on this; a high school student is asked “what do want to do next?” and they respond “I have as my ambition to be pleasing to the LORD!” Strange!! But why should it be except we have not made it “normal” as believers for them. That no matter what they do do it all for the LORD! same with jobs, singles, marriage, grandparents, get a Godly Goal and aim, trusting His Spirit to enable you and.. He will! -{Read 2 Peter 1:3-4; Phil 2:13}
- APPEAR – v 10- This appearance is not optional but inevitable. All of His followers will be with Him and appear before His Judgment Seat. This is not to determine our destination but for Evaluation of the motives for the deeds we have done in our body since He saved us.
- APPRAISAL– He will reveal, unveil, the motives, and works we have done, and judge righteously, accurately. He uses the words “good and bad” and these are not moral issues, sin issues, for He has dealt with “all” of those on the cross, but these are neutral issues. Such as going for a walk, a run, a bike ride, a drive, playing sports, what you watch, painting, or a recreation. It is those morally neutral issues, such as wash the dishes, make your bed, simple everyday things … neutral issues! It to do with what you do and the motive, and if it is for Him He will reward you if done for His Honor out of love for Him and His glory. So the great thing, including those unseen things you do are seen, noticed and approved by Him when done for Him. He alone has the ability to correctly appraise deeds, and the motive behind the deeds!
- AWARDED – He will award rewards for those whose motives and works were done for Him! The word “bad” means “useless, worthless,” when they are not done with the right motive for the right purpose, namely for His sake, they will be “hay, wood, stubble,” and consumed! But hose you do for His sake, He awards, rewards you for! How cool is that! The simplest thing done with the right motive , He rewards, how gracious and kind is He!
- ADJUST – This is where we may have to pause and evaluate our ambitions, pursuits. Are they Heavenly orientated and minded or self centered? We may have to confess to the LORD we have got off the path and do a u turn and begin afresh trusting Him to teach, remind and reinforce to us and by His grace through us spiritual goals, keeping in mind we are heading… Home to be with Him! A Good passage to memorize to remind you and for the Holy Spirit to bring to memory is Colossians 3:1-3-“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.”-{Col 3:1-3 nlt}.Maybe put on your phone where you can see throughout the day, or write out and pace on a bathroom mirror for the next month so as you brush your teeth you can read, re-red it and before you know you will have memorized and can meditate upon it and make wise decisions accordingly. The Holy Spirit can recall to your mind and also to use you to help other brothers and sisters in Christ to walk wisely as they too head Home to be with the LORD Jesus!
Paul used the thought of appearing before the Judgement Seat of Christ, not as a dread, but as motivation for wise, loving, faithful focused living. As how we live here, with our motives and choices has eternal consequences.
Living in the present with an eye to the future.
We can be thankful that by His mercy, grace and His work we have a future to look forward to being with Him, and may you have awards, rewards from Him as you hear,”Well done, good and faithful servant!” And in the end, it is not about looking to do some “big” or “great”thing for the LORD but being faithful, in the little and big things, it is faithful to opportunities!
You’re not Home yet, He has gone ahead to prepare a place, ” I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” -{Read John 14:}
Travel well…walk and choose wisely.
See you on the other side! :).