The Crystal Ball

Anyone ever gone for a crystal ball reading? Seen a psychic? Tarot cards? We like to know what all is going on, what’s going to happen! What we need to do.

In this passage, Paul gives us a look at the past, present, and future. Maybe not quite what you’d be looking for as you stare into a crystal ball, but it’s what we need even more! He gives us the reason for why we should live godly lives in the past, present, and future.

Verses 11 starts with “for”, so it’s building on what was said before it… So these verses are the reason, the why, for godly living. The truth that, when we correctly understand it, will lead us to godly living!

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Christians will seek to live godly live because of all He did for us and the hope he gave to us.

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What has happened

Jesus came and made salvation available.

There are a lot of moments in history that we can point to as moments that changed everything… sliced bread was apparently a big one…

Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is the hinge point of all of history!

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Jesus is the way that salvation is made available to all people.

John 14:6 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

He made salvation possible for all, but not actual for all.

Romans 10:13 ESV

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Call on the name of Jesus and no other name to be saved! He came and brought salvation! If you haven’t called on his name, call! If you have, then you know that life is different now than it was before Jesus!

What is happening

We now need to live like Jesus told us to.

We are all called to be disciples. A disciple is a follower.

Tell someone to follow you and take off. If they follow, they showed that following means there is action. If they don’t follow, ask everyone if they were following.

It’s like this with Jesus.

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Worldly passions

Colossians 3:5 ESV

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

But it’s not easy to live this way. What can motivate us?

What will happen

Jesus will return and we should be looking to the skies, eagerly awaiting his arrival.

When I was a kid I loved the Ninja Turtles. They were my favorite…

When I was four or so, one of the Ninja Turtles was going to be at this water park that used to be in Memphis called Adventure River. I was looking forward to it from the moment my parents told me about it. Excitement and anticipation. It’s hard to think of a better day as a kid than going to a water park to meet a Ninja Turtle! Now I knew it wasn’t actually going to be a Ninja Turtle… I mean I think I did. But when the moment came and I actually met him, I was disappointed. It wasn’t nearly as good as I thought it would be.

We should be living with an excitement to see Jesus, but there won’t be any disappointment when we see Him!

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We need this hope to live for Him in this world because it isn’t easy. It is filled with difficulties! But we have a promise that we hope in…

Romans 8:18 ESV

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Your reward is seeing your Savior face to face. Let that hope carry you every day!

The hymn O That Will Be Glory describes it well

When all my labors and trials are o’er, and I am safe on that beautiful shore, just to be near the dear Lord I adore, will through the ages be glory for me

When, by the gift of his infinite grace, I am accorded in Heaven a place, just to be there and to look on his face, will through the ages be glory for me.

Friends will be there I have loved long ago; joy like a river around me will flow; yet just a smile from my Savior, I know, will through the ages be glory for me.

O that will be glory for me glory for me, glory for me, when by his grace I shall look on his face, that will be glory, be glory for me.

So we know that God’s grace made salvation available and trains those who receive the gift to live for God in the present age while to see our Savior Jesus. Why is it all happening?

Why it all happens

It’s all because of what Jesus did to make a people for himself!

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Redeemed and purified

1 Peter 2:24 ESV

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

This is what Jesus has done for his people! Are you one of his people? Have you called on his name in faith to be rescued from your sins? If not, call! If you have, do you desire to live for Him? Are you eager to do good works? If not, something is wrong and you need to find out how to make it right! If you do, continue in godly living and eagerly await your blessed hope!