The Daily Word of Righteousness

Working on a Building

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (II Corinthians 4:17)

We need to think more about the day of resurrection. What kind of body will we receive? Will our conduct today have any effect on the body we will receive?

We know the body we have now will be raised from the dead when the Lord returns. But what about our house that is being prepared in Heaven, the robe we will be given in that day that will clothe our resurrected body?

The third chapter of Revelation speaks of our being clothed with a white robe. The same chapter also implies that if we have soiled our clothing we may not be given a white robe when the Lord appears.

The seventh chapter of Revelation tells of those who have come out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. The nineteenth chapter of Revelation reveals that the Bride of the Lamb will be clothed with the white robe of her righteous deeds.

Paul reminds us in Galatians that we shall reap what we are sowing.

In Second Corinthians, Chapter Four Paul describes the renewal of his inner man as his outer man is brought down to death. Then he mentions that his afflictions are producing an eternal weight of glory that far exceeds his comprehension. In the next chapter Paul speaks of his house from Heaven. Since there were no chapter divisions when the New Testament was written we think that by an eternal weight of glory Paul was speaking of his house from Heaven.

Paul was saying that the afflictions that came on him were resulting in a resurrected inner man and also a strengthened house from Heaven, a better resurrection.

In the same chapter (Five, of Second Corinthians) Paul reminds us that at the Judgment Seat of Christ we shall receive what we have done in our body, whether good or bad.

Putting all these ideas together we conclude that what we are doing today will directly affect the kind of resurrection we shall have, that is, the kind of house that will clothe our resurrected mortal body.

If we have neglected our salvation, have lived according to the appetites of our body, have not sought out and obeyed the Lord's will, we will be clothed with a body that is neglectful of God's salvation, is filled with the death that always results from living in the appetites of the flesh, and neither seeks nor obeys the Lord's will.

If we have worked out our salvation with fear and trembling, being careful to seek the Lord and obey Him, have prayed, meditated in the Word of God, and have kept the appetites of our body under submission to the Spirit of God, then we will be clothed with a body that fears God and keeps His commandments, that seeks the Lord and sternly obeys His will, that loves to pray and meditate in God's Word, and that is able to judge and govern the works of God's hands by the power of incorruptible, resurrection life.

All this is to say if we bury our talent we will end up in the outer darkness. If we diligently apply our talent, we will be placed in a position of rulership, receiving the approval of the Lord.

Have we cut a straight course in the Word of truth? How do you feel about this?