23
In the World But Not of It
| Bro Isidore Mwibeleca (Kakuma, Kenya)
T
he God of power and mercy through His
holy word, the Bible, wholly inspired and
infallible, spoke of the great divine purpose
from the creation of this planet, He chose
to reveal many details of His wonderful
programme, the picture of His glorious
kingdom to be set up on the whole earth soon
at Christ’s appearing. He warns (encourages)
every individual to believe, work, watch, and
pray for its fulfilment. However, He did not
create the earth and man upon it that sin and
death might reign thereon but that it might
reflect to his glory (Numbers 14:21).
God invited Israel to enter into covenant rela-
tionship with Him, and He promised that if
they did so, He would establish them as His
nation upon the earth (Exodus 19:5-6;
Deuteronomy 10:15; 14:2). We read of the
generation of Israelites that left Egypt who
proved faithless, and were not permitted to
enter the promised land because of disobedi-
ence toward God. They were opportunists, not
men committed to the mission. They involved
themselves in the things of the world which
were their idols, stumbling blocks to them in
the fellowship with God and the cause of their
destruction.
That evil, adulterous, violent, godless age
became a type of that which Christ warned
would exist at the epoch of his coming,
evidence of what is happening today, “Every
man did that which is right in his own eyes”.
People no longer fear God but enjoy happily
doing beastly acts, eg sexual immorality and
violence, without shame. They do not want to
recognise “God created man in His own image.
In God’s image He created him: male and
female He created them” (Genesis 1:26-27),
so that they should reflect Him. But man and
woman have made themselves beasts mentally,
burned in their lust, professing themselves to
be wise they became fools (Rom 1:22).
It is important for us to show by word and
deed that we belong to Christ, a spiritual
Israel- a lovely family of God, cemented by
mutual loyalty to Christ, a separate people, or
as the apostle said, “Ye are a chosen genera-
tion, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a
peculiar people that we should show forth
praises of Him who has called us out of dark-
ness into His marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9),
chasing away lusts and whatever form of
fleshly desires in our hearts and minds which
are a snare, a trap to us, a scourge in our sides
and thorns in our eyes that are the spiritual
destruction that might stop us inheriting God’s
glorious kingdom at Christ’s coming.
Like Jesus Christ, we must fix our mind to the
goal. By meditating upon the joy set before
us, we are able to endure the trials that come
our way through prayer and daily reading of
God’s word - pressing on toward the mark for
the prize (Philippians 3:14).
More about Jesus would I know,
More about his grace to others show,
More about his saving fullness see,
More his love who died for me.
More about Jesus let me learn,
More of his holy will discern,
Spirit of God my teacher be,
Showing the things of Christ to me.
More about Jesus in his word,
Holding communion with my Lord,
Hearing his voice in every line,
Making each faithful saying mine.
More about Jesus on his throne,
Riches in glory all his own,
More of his kingdom, soon to be,
More of his coming, Prince of peace.
CBM Hymn Book, No 129