18th April, 2022.

THE BELIEVER'S SANCTIFICATION Pt.7

1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.

WORKING OUT YOUR SANTIFICATION(E)

While growing up as a Christian( I'm still growing), I mean in my early years as a believer, the most common message on the pulpit then was majorly about the coming of Christ. After listening to those messages, it was always as though Christ would come after the service. Those messages kept us in check. We lived in expectation of His coming and it helped us to stay pure as apostle John said: "Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure"(1 John 3:2‭-‬3 NLT). The songs we sang those days as choruses were songs that emphasized His coming. The drama presentations focused on His coming. Some of the pictures or posters in the church told the same story.

One thing I'm very sure about is that Jesus Christ is coming. God hasn't changed his mind about that. He is coming for His own. The message about the coming of Jesus Christ is gradually waning or non existent in some circles. Little wonder why some believers live recklessly yet it is the consciousness of His coming that helps us to stay sanctified always: "And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame. Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children" (1 John 2:28-29 NLT). In early church history, they have a tradition of reading the book of revelation in every service. They do that for two reasons: to remind themselves about the coming of Christ so as to be prepared and to also receive the blessings that comes with reading the book of revelation. Early church believers believe that there's a blessing that accrues when they read& listen to the book of revelation according to what is written in Chapter 1:3 saying, "God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near".

Are you still looking forward to His coming or you're just feeling cool and okay with the "Jamboree" and "prosperity Gospel" that has filled the air? Let me show you what one of the apostles of the early church said they were looking forward to: "BUT WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW HEAVENS AND NEW EARTH he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BE FOUND LIVING PEACEFUL LIVES THAT ARE PURE AND BLAMELESS IN HIS SIGHT"(2 Peter 3:13‭-‬14 NLT). Those who look forward to His coming will always "make every effort" to be pure and sanctified. Looking forward to His coming will translate into living a sanctified life.