About The “Here” And The “Hereafter”
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles
The Bible is a very practical guidebook which contains principles that will improve our moral standards, bring joy to the sorrowful, and strengthen us in times of severe trial (cf. Philippians 4:8; James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:3-9). However, experiencing the thrill of God’s help with our trials and tribulations, sometimes causes us to forget the future. Some folks have even gone so far as to say that they don’t care about the hereafter. It is the “here and now” that involves their total concern.
There’s no question that our Lord wants us to be concerned with what is happening now, but He also wants us to look ahead. There are over three hundred New Testament references that remind us of the second coming of our Lord. That’s boils down to one verse out of every twenty-five, having something to say about the second coming.
Additionally, there are the parables our Lord recorded, which tell about future punishment, rewards, and glowing statements regarding the eternal blessings of the faithful (Matthew 13; Matthew 18-22; Matthew 25; cf. Romans 2:1-11; Revelation 2:10).
Paul was very much aware of the future when he stated:
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but on thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you” (Philippians 3:13-15).
Brethren and friends, let us be concerned, not only of the “here,” but of the “hereafter” as well. Let us never forget that Christ is one day coming again (Mathew 24:36-51; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2 Peter 3:10-14; Revelation 1:7).
Knowing this event is a certainty, let’s get (and keep) our house in order (cf. 2 Kings 20:1; Isaiah 38:1), and live each day as if it were our last day on earth — it might just very well be (James 4:13-14; cf. Luke 12:16-21; Job 7:6-8; Job 20:4-9).