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Maybe You have a heavy heart today. I would like to share something that may encourage You. Please enjoy! The purpose to our lives here on earth in God the Son Jesus Christ is to Glorify HIM both now and for eternity. What happens on earth does have an impact on eternity. While fraught with trials of all sorts, these seemingly purposeless occurrences have a Glorious outcome. The Faith HE gives us is invaluable beyond comprehension. 1 Peter 2:4-5 New International Version (NIV) The Living Stone and a Chosen People 4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Footnotes: 1 Peter 2:5 Or into a temple of the Spirit Here God the Son Jesus Christ is noted as the Living Stone and the believers are noted as living stones serving as a holy priesthood and offering spiritual sacrifices to God through God the Son Jesus Christ. This theme of being HIS temple permanently is noted both in the New and Old Testaments. From the Old Testament: Isaiah 51:1-2 New International Version (NIV) Everlasting Salvation for Zion 51 “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; 2 look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was only one man, and I blessed him and made him many. Quarries are messy places. Rock is being dug out, marked out, and cut out. Then the shaping begins. Quarries can be wet, slimy, muddy, and cold. Quarries can be dry, dusty, with loose and sharp rock, and hot and thirsty. The cuttings from the seams of rock can seem to be haphazard without any design or known purpose. Here is an interesting statement from the temple being built during Solomon’s time: 1 Kings 6:7 New International Version (NIV) 7 In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built. Hmmmm. No hammer, chisel, or other iron tool was heard at the temple site. That was here on earth. This could possibly be with regard to the Bride of God the Son Jesus Christ, too, where we are the temple? Here is an indication that faith and the Bride of God the Son Jesus Christ are related: Hebrews 11:1-10 New International Version (NIV) Faith in Action 11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. 5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a] For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. 7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Footnotes: Hebrews 11:5 Gen. 5:24 This eternal temple has an architect. A builder with no equal who is the ONE we serve namely God the Son Jesus Christ: Hebrews 3:1-6 New International Version (NIV) Jesus Greater Than Moses 3 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,”[a] bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory. Footnotes: Hebrews 3:5 Num. 12:7 Our forming is for HIS Glory for it says: Isaiah 43:6-7New International Version (NIV) 6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth— 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” And yet, we may be praying to be formed for HIS eternal Kingdom for God the Son Jesus Christ taught us to pray: Matthew 6:9-13 New International Version (NIV) 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,[a] but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’ Footnotes: Matthew 6:13 The Greek for temptation can also mean testing. Matthew 6:13 Or from evil; some late manuscripts one, / for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. God the Son Jesus Christ may also have indicated our shaping for HIS eternal Bride of Christ when he said: John 14:1-4 New International Version (NIV) Jesus Comforts His Disciples 14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” Footnotes: John 14:1 Or Believe in God Could prepare be HE is designing each individual believer to be fitted in HIS eternal design? So far, what occurs on earth does appear to have a bearing on eternity. So, what about the shaping, how does that occur? Romans 5:1-5 New International Version (NIV) Peace and Hope 5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b]boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Footnotes: Romans 5:1 Many manuscripts let us Romans 5:2 Or let us Romans 5:3 Or let us So we see here, too, that God the Holy Spirit is critical for our shaping. Faith is worth more than gold. However, Faith may be the gold spoken of where the Bride of God the Son Jesus Christ is described. 1 Peter 1:6-7 New International Version (NIV) 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. I suspect we can all be guaranteed to have an abundance of trials to shape us for HIS eternal purpose: Acts 14:21-22 New International Version (NIV) The Return to Antioch in Syria 21 They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch,22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. We can also see trials are the norm for the believer in God the Son Jesus Christ: James 1:2-4 New International Version (NIV) Trials and Temptations 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Footnotes: James 1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verses 16 and 19; and in 2:1, 5, 14; 3:10, 12; 4:11; 5:7, 9, 10, 12, 19. Even HIS discipline can be of great comfort and a sure sign HE is intent on our eternal purpose in HIM: Hebrews 12:5-7New International Version (NIV) 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[a] 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? Footnotes: Hebrews 12:6 Prov. 3:11,12 (see Septuagint) So HIS working may be being manifested in how HE relates to each of HIS children. This all serves HIS purpose for HIS eternal glory. Colossians 1:24-29 New International Version (NIV) Paul’s Labor for the Church 24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. Matthew 5:14-16 New International Version (NIV) 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 New International Version (NIV) 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Again, this is all for HIS Glory. We as his children will be called up at HIS appointing for it says: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 New International Version (NIV) Believers Who Have Died 13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. While saints (plural) go up and are assembled based on the work completed on earth, the Bride of Christ (singular) comes down: Revelation 21 New International Version (NIV) A New Heaven and a New Earth 21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb 9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia[c] in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits[d]thick.[e] 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.[f] 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass. 22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Footnotes: Revelation 21:1 Isaiah 65:17 Revelation 21:4 Isaiah 25:8 Revelation 21:16 That is, about 1,400 miles or about 2,200 kilometers Revelation 21:17 That is, about 200 feet or about 65 meters Revelation 21:17 Or high Revelation 21:20 The precise identification of some of these precious stones is uncertain. So, faith could be the very thing that purifies us in our trials to rid us of anything that is shameful or deceitful so that each individual believer is transparent and pure – clear as crystal and pure transparent gold. No matter what our trials are, they have purpose eternally for HIS Kingdom. No trial is welcomed in whatever form the trial takes but they can be valued as they are pursued by Faith – HIS Faith! Ephesians 2:8-10New International Version (NIV) 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. So, the next question is, “What does this Faith on earth consist of to ensure I am aligned with HIS Will for HIS Kingdom?” All Scripture references taken from: New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.