Saturday, May 16, 2009

Spiritual Maturity - Part 3

I mentioned three markers on the road to spiritual maturity that Paul touches in Colossians 1:4-5. They are a familiar three: faith, love, and hope. Previously, I pointed out that verse four reminds us that as believers we need a steadfast faith in Jesus and a sincere love for believers. In verse 5 we read, “because of the hope laid up for you in heaven..” (verse 1:5) According to this, it is our hope that actuates our faith and love. And it says our hope is “laid up or stored up” in heaven. It’s the same word Jesus used when He spoke about “laying up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21).” It’s a word that means “to store in a safe place.”

Over the last forty years a new industry has exploded in America–the self-storage business. As recent as 1995 there were only about 6,000 self-storage outlets in America, but today there are over 45,000. What does that say about our culture? We have so much stuff that we can’t even store it all! Our lust for more has created a $15 billion annual business just to store our stuff.

If you are a Christian, you have something stored up in heaven. It isn’t in a metal building with a garage door. It is the HOPE we have in Jesus Christ. Hope is knowing that Jesus lives in me, because that is the only thing that qualifies me for heaven. Without Jesus I don’t stand a chance, but with him I can’t miss.

As the great hymn says, “My hope is built on nothing less; than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame; But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ the solid rock I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.”

Posted by Jim at 13:17:41
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