30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 16 19-31 Released from self cetredness 14 To walk by faith and not by sight
📖 Luke 16:19-31
17May2020 - *To walk by faith and not by sight* - _Luke 16:19-31_ - Bible reading: _I Peter 1:6-9_
_Luke 16:23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom._
The rich man is screaming his warning to us. His life on earth was full of self-centeredness but now he is in the place of torment. He is warning us to be full of God’s righteousness till the very end, as we are judged by Him.
Being in torment the rich man saw clearly. Should he not have seen clearly, while he was here on earth? He allowed himself to be blinded by the material and temporal things of life. This is why the rich man is screaming to us to be warned not to let our eyes be caught up with the temporal things of life.
_Psalm 62:10 Do not trust in oppression, Nor vainly hope in robbery; *If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them*._ The eyes of our heart need to be focused on Jesus for that is our righteousness, which is by faith. Faith and sight are opposites.
_II Corinthians 4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal._
God permits us to go through trials in life in order to purify our faith in Him. When He returns, He will judge our righteousness, was our life focused on Him or was it focused on the temporal things of life. _Luke 18:8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. *Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?*"_
We are being bombarded with a serious heresy that tells us to come to Jesus and receive all His blessings for this life. We are being encouraged to focus on the temporal things of life and use God as a means to our end. How terrible the end will be? The rich man is screaming his warning to us. At this time of crisis, let us get our priorities right. We are here on earth to focus our eyes on God and on the things of eternity. _Colossians 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God._ We are very quick to say that we have received the gift of salvation by faith, I have been raised with Christ by faith. Very good, but if we are raised with Christ by faith then it is necessary to set our eyes on things above and not on the things of the earth.
_I Peter 1:8-9 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,_ Our life here on earth is about loving God and loving our neighbour. Even though we go through and are going through a severe crisis, yet believing in God, we rejoice with joy inexpressible. God does look after us and He provides for us in wonderful ways but our eyes must be set on Him and not on our comforts and our wellbeing. _(9) receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls._ Till the very end, our life has to be a life of faith and not a life that has shifted focus to the temporal. This is our righteousness before God.
Judgement will begin with the house of God. _I Peter 4:17-19 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? (18) Now "IF THE RIGHTEOUS ONE IS SCARCELY SAVED, WHERE WILL THE UNGODLY AND THE SINNER APPEAR?" (19) Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator._
Will we be in the category of those, who are the righteous ones, who are scarcely saved? Let us commit our lives here to focus our eyes on Him and fulfil all righteousness, which is to love God and love our neighbour.
*Thought to ponder*
```Very soon this time will pass and the judge will be at the door.```