In a world of resurrection things aren't always as they
seem. Here, the writer says that though
the righteous seem to die, their physical death is not the end of the
story. The writer sees that there will
be a resurrection for the righteous if not for the unrighteous. He speaks of those who have been righteous in
this life being disciplined "a little" and then being raised to
life. In the day of their visitation
they will rule over nations and people and the Lord will reign over them
forever. This is all because grace and
mercy are on them. We are the
righteousness of God. If we are the
elect, if we are His righteousness, then we should set our lives not only to be
that righteousness in word but also in deed, in order that He be revealed as
righteous in our election.
Notice what even Jesus did before calling His
disciples. He continued in prayer all
night. If Jesus needs such prayerful
consideration before taking major actions then what should that tell us about
our own need for prayer? In this shorter
version of the Beatitudes we get the woes pronounced on those who enjoy this
life in contrast to those whom Jesus says are blessed. There is an exact mirror image of each
beatitude found in the woes and all those relate to those whose portion is this
life. Is that the same message preached
in America today? Have we a problem with
understanding blessings? We are called
to have different values and attitudes and yet too often we are affirmed in
earthly blessing.
There is a difference between being created in the image of
God and being the image of God. Jesus is
the image of God, incorruptible and eternal.
We are the stuff that God formed in His image. As such, if we want to know what it means to
be image bearers, we have the icon in Jesus, we should be like Him, same
attitudes, values, and actions. In other
words, we exist to glorify God, nothing else, certainly not the corruptible and
temporality that is our body or this existence.
It is in following Him, believing in Him, that we become like Him and we
who are but dust put on immortality and life.
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