The song goes: When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be,
When we all see Jesus, we will sing and shout the victory!
However, the Supreme joy of that “eternal” future is treasured in a lingering and finite present day earthen vessel. In our current “body of death” we may become apprehensive, worrisome, even fearful of the future. Martyn Lloyd-Jones reminds us of a natural “temperament” which makes us all unique. He says:
“The human person is very delicately and finely balanced. Fundamentally, we all have the same general characteristics, but the relative proportions vary tremendously from case to case.”
“…we have our own particular characteristics:
- Our virtues,
- Our failures,
- Our weaknesses,
- Our blemishes.
Lloyd-Jones goes on to say, “The fact that you have become a Christian, does not mean that you cease to have to live with yourself.”
In keeping with these observations, Jones sees the Apostle Paul as a “timorous” man. He went to Corinth in “weakness, and fear and much trembling.” “Without were fighting, within were fears.”
In contrast, some tempermentally are self-confident and assured, they fear nothing. “…they do not know the meaning of nerves.”
Dr. Carl H. Stevens defines, “My temperament is determined by the mixture of my past and present circumstances, genetics, and the decisions I have made in my life. Temperament is revealed by tendencies in response patterns. Some people tend to be happy, others tend to be passive, and so on.
Beloved,
our natural temperaments can lead us to “one of four kinds of depressions:”
- melancholic: self-dis-satisfaction — has too high standards for self.
- aggressive: blaming others.
- passive: stays in bed all day.
- mood swings: circumstances dictate behavior.
With these tendencies trying to dominate, many “labor in vain because they are trying to implement programs in a natural temperament.”
But, the Christian doesn’t step back and say, “This is the way I am.” No, this one goes to the Cross and says,
“This is the way God is.” C.H.S.
Brothers and Sisters, this day we cannot afford to live in our natural temperaments. If the standard for our lives is “grace,” we have no need to be dissatisfied, to blame other people, to stay in bed all day, or to be controlled by circumstances.
Grace gives us a constant victory!
Perhaps your virtue cannot compete with that of a friend, your failures have been numerous. You feel always weak, and you bear the scars of many wrong decisions.
“Let’s allow our heavenly Daddy to draw out of our hearts the new creation temperament that He has put there.”
from “Experience the Finished Work.” CHS
I fear that many of us have no experiential cross operation in our souls. By this I mean that some cannot obey Christ when He said, “Deny self, take up your cross, and follow me.”
First, “deny” is “to forget one’s self, lose sight of one’s self and one’s own interests,” “disown.” I disown all my weakness, blemishes, tendencies in the flesh, etc. I cease to preserve and defend these.
Next, “take up my cross. “let a person be retroactively crucified with Christ and take up their cross and follow Him for that day….” Simply take up your co-crucifixion with Him, see Roman’s 6:1-6. Friends, reckon on the fact of your crucifixion with Him. See Galatians 2:20
Follow this Word all day. 1Corinthians14:1 “Follow after charity” 1Thessalonians 5:15 “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good.” ” follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” “Follow peace with all men, and holiness” Hebrews 13:7 teaches,
“Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God:
whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.”
Christians, Paul made it clear, “but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:11-12
Yes, heaven awaits us,. But, let’s bring a measure of heaven into our present time. We can have the same joy. There shall be a reward. Love ya
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