The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Seed and the Nations of the Saved, #13

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

If the destiny of the members of the Body of Christ, the Seed of Abraham, were that we go to the heavenly Paradise, play harps, enjoy our "mansions," having neither definite roles to fulfill nor definite tasks to perform, it would not be necessary for God to deal with us endlessly concerning the sin and self-seeking in our personality.

If our destiny were to go to Heaven, there to bask forever in the beauty and wonder of Paradise, it would not be necessary for us to be changed into the image of Christ; it would not be necessary for us to enter total union with God through Christ; it would not be necessary for us to be perfected in faith, in hope, in trust, in patience, in the knowledge of the Lord, in absolute obedience to the Father. All these personality developments would be desirable but not absolutely necessary for residence in Paradise.

The reason many of the Lord's people do not grow into spiritual maturity is they do not know of the roles and tasks that are the inheritance of the Seed of Abraham. They have been taught that the goal of their calling is the attainment of eternal residence in Paradise.

The needs of God and the nations of the earth cannot be met by people who merely are saved and baptized with the Holy Spirit. The needs of God and of mankind can be met only by people who have been delivered from sin and from self-will and who are in union with God through Christ. It is only as we are crucified and Christ lives in us that we can fulfill our role as the Servant of the Lord.

God promised Abraham, "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." We who are members of the Body of Christ have the responsibility of cooperating with the Holy Spirit until we are able to fulfill all the roles and tasks God has ordained for the Seed of Abraham.

The Kingdom of God is not waiting for the nations of the earth to stop sinning and serve the Lord. Rather, the nations of the earth are waiting for the elect to lay down their lives so God can make them the instruments He has determined to use to deliver and bless the nations.

The peoples of the earth have been in a spiritual prison from the time of Adam and Eve. Only Christ working through the members of His Body is able to open the massive doors of that prison so the inmates can walk out into the glorious light of God's Presence and blessing. (from The Seed and the Nations of the Saved)