A week ago I was in Ohio in the Eastern Time zone. On Monday, I was back home in the Central Time zone. Yesterday, I traveled once again into the Eastern Time zone. When planning a trip to another time zone I make decisions for travel according to the loss or gain of an hour. I get ready for departure based on my current time zone while anticipating my arrival in the next.
As Christians, we live in different time zones as well: Now we live in the visible world; however, one day in the future, when the Son of God returns, this world will be recreated and reconciled to its original condition. Until that day, Christians live with the current condition of this world while anticipating the arrival of the heavenly kingdom. So, we have to make decisions by taking both worlds into account.
To make sound decisions for this life, we must be obedient to the Spirit of God. The work that He accomplishes through us in this world will continue in the realm of God through Him. All the work that we do in this world in cooperation with the Spirit is part of the reconciling work of God in Christ. Our work with the Spirit will bring change to this world and will ultimately be completed when the kingdom of God is revealed in all its fullness on the day of Christ’s return.
James wrote, “Someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (2:18 ESV). James reminds us that the work we do here with the Spirit reveals our belief in Christ’s promise to return and demonstrates our faith in the reality of God’s eternal kingdom.
Denise Larson Cooper has a passion for Christ and sharing His Word. A wife and mother of two daughters, Denise currently works as a gymnastic coach.
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Godnesia: Keeping God in Mind Each Day http://amzn.to/2GSquOD
Ordinary Days With an Extraordinary Savior – http://amzn.to/2mFGASB
Life Is a Metaphor: Recognizing God in the Everyday – http://amzn.to/2De1rU2