Living Unto That Day

Living Unto That Day

“Redeeming the Time”

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day…”
2 Timothy 4:7-8

The Firm Foundation of Christ

The deep wonder of the “born again” experience is based solely upon the sacrifice of our blessed Saviour which can never be marginalized. His faithfulness is the assurance of our foundation in Him.

“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid,
which is Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 3:11

That firm foundation, which has already been laid, is what we build upon and invest our lives in. Faith is the fire and pulse of the Almighty God moving us unto the works of faith by which we reveal His Life.

“Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward”
1 Corinthians 3:12-14

The great tragedy in life (His Life) is to fail to build upon the foundation of a salvation so freely offered to us all. Notice the inflection of God’s word:

“Now IF anyone builds on the foundation”

Stagnation is the failure to “go on” in the grace and power of God. We read in the Book of Hebrews of those who “neglected” their salvation through passivity and carelessness.

“How shall we escape,
if we neglect so great salvation…”
Hebrews 2:3

Everything that pertains to life requires our attention and participation. The living Faith of Christ within ever seeks to bring us into a life of doing and overcoming. The promises are to those who overcome. The rewards are to those who by faith build upon the miracle of His foundation!

Those who participate in the fight of faith here will know the joy of heavenly rewards.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day…”
2 Timothy 4:7-8

Living Unto “that Day”

The confidence and the anticipation with which Paul viewed “that day” was based on his victories and finishing a race well run. His assurance was not in a “belief” but in the life of faith! The Crown of Righteousness was reserved for him as the result of his victories in the “good fight” in which he was personally engaged.

“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world”
1 John 4:17

Likeness to Him is what gives us hope on the Day of Judgment. We need to see with fresh eyes that it is in our submission to His dealings and breakings that we are enabled to be like Him in preparation for that sobering day.

The gospel of our day has lulled many into a life of ease and comfort wherein the call of God unto discipleship and servanthood has fallen on deaf ears. “We are rich, and need nothing” is the ethos of a people who place their hope in something less than the fight of faith and living an overcoming life.

“He that overcometh
shall not be hurt of the second death…”
Revelation 2:11

See Related Article: Apathy and the Body of Christ

Living Unto “that Day”

It takes His Grace to live rightly unto “that day”. May we be faithful to exhort one another to remain vigilant and true to Him.

Brian Troxel