Will you turn with me to Luke,
Luke's gospel chapter 10. Luke chapter 10. My subject tonight
is some things believers know. Some things that believers know. Faith in Christ is not a leap
in the dark. It's trusting him, trusting him
as we just sang, to whom God has been pleased to reveal him
to every child of God. So let's look at a few verses
to lay a little scriptural groundwork for that statement concerning
a few things that believers know, the foundation for that statement. Here in Luke chapter 10 verse
21, our Lord's praying to his heavenly Father. And he says,
In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said, I thank thee,
O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these
things from the wise and prudent and has revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed
good in thy sight. All things are delivered to me
of my Father, and no man knoweth who the Son is. but the Father,
and who the Father is but the Son, and he to whom the Son will
reveal him. And he turned him unto his disciples
and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things
that you see, for I tell you that many prophets and kings
have desired to see those things which you see and have not seen
them, and to hear those things which you hear and have not heard
them. God has revealed some things
to his people. And he does so affectionately.
Everything that God does, he does affectionately. Concerning
his righteous servant, Jehovah's righteous servant, concerning
his coming into this world, the prophet said, he shall not fail. That applied especially to his
work of redemption, saving his people from their sins, but it
applies to everything that he does. Everything that God wills
to do, he accomplishes it. He does it effectually, and that
concerns the revelation of his son to the hearts and minds of
his people. Turn, if you will, to John chapter
10. We're told much the same thing here. Our Lord again speaking
in John's gospel chapter 10. concerning his sheep. The great and faithful shepherd
says this in verse 2 of John 10. But he that entereth in by
the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth,
and the sheep hear his voice. And he calleth his own sheep
by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his
own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow him, for
they know. They know his voice. And a stranger
will they not follow, but will flee from him, for they know
not the voice of strangers. And then down in verse 14, I
am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine."
Yes, He knows us. He's loved us, we're told in
Scripture in many places. God's loved His people. Christ
loved His sheep with an everlasting love. But what we read here is
the sheep know Him too. In that time of love, as the
scriptures describe it, when he comes to his chosen and reveals
himself to them, they know him. Look down here again in John
10, verse 24. Then came the Jews round about
him and said unto him, How long do you make us doubt? If thou
be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them. I told you
and you believed not. The works that I do in my Father's
name, they bear witness of me. But you believe not. Why? Because you are not of my sheep
as I said unto you. I've not done for you what I've
done for my sheep. I've not given you the revelation
of who I truly am. My sheep, he says. Notice this
blessed distinction of grace. My sheep, unlike them that believe
not because they weren't his sheep, he says, my sheep hear
my voice and I know them and they follow me. And I give them,
my sheep. The great shepherd does everything
for his sheep. Oh, how blessed is that person
who can sing with the psalmist, the Lord is my shepherd. He's
my shepherd. and the great shepherd says to
his sheep, I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which
gave them to me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck
them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." This
distinguishing knowledge, like his love, the result is we love
him because he first loved us. Likewise, we know him because
he knows us. He reveals himself to us. That's exactly what he told Simon,
didn't he? Concerning his question to his
disciples on that occasion, whom do men say that I, the son of
man, am? And there were various opinions.
And then he said, who am I to you? Who do you say that I am? And Peter said, I know. I know. You're the Christ, the Son of
the Living God. And you remember what the Lord
said to him? Peter, you're smarter than these other fellas. No. He said, Peter, blessed art thou,
Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood didn't reveal this to you,
didn't teach you this. You do know it. It's been revealed
to you, but it was by my Father, which is in heaven. Let's look
at another place in John's Gospel, chapter 17, concerning this knowledge
of God's people of our Lord Jesus Christ. Again, he says the same
thing here in his high priestly prayer. Just before he goes to
the garden where Judas brings the mob, he prays this, John
chapter 17, verse 1. These words spake Jesus and lifted
up his eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come. Glorify
thy son, that thy son also may glorify thee, as thou hast given
him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to
as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that
they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom
thou did sin or has sinned. We can't know God apart from
the Lord Jesus Christ. Just like all the planets in
our solar system revolve around the sun, Everything. Everything
in God's purpose of grace revolves around his Son, the Lord Jesus
Christ. Paul said, Christ is all. Christ is everything. And without
him, without Christ, if Christ is all, then to not have him,
then we could have no grace, no mercy, no knowledge of God,
nothing at all. Oh, but if Christ is all, as
Paul went on to say, then you're complete in him. You can lack
nothing at all. You're complete in him. Now,
let's look at a few places, a few things where we're told in scriptures
God's people know. First, look at one in Job, Job
chapter 19. You're familiar with the story
of Job. He had lost everything. He lost
his property. He lost his servants. More than
that, he lost his seven sons and daughters, one messenger
after another, four times, one right on the heels of another,
all in the same day, brought worse news. And Job sits down
in sackcloth and ashes, emblems of his suffering, his heartache
and sorrow. But here in Job chapter 19, look
what he says. Now Job was a man, just like
you and I. He was hurting. He was hurting. He was suffering. The best advice
his wife could give him was to curse God and die. But look what
Job says in verse 25 of chapter 19. For I know that my Redeemer liveth,
and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth." Job
says, I know that. It's not presumption on my part. I know that so. I believe God. And though after my skin worms
destroy this body, yet, just as God has promised, in my flesh
shall I see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall
behold, and not another, though my reins be consumed within me. I know, Job said. that my Redeemer
liveth. There's much Job didn't know.
Now you and I Reading chapters 1 and 2, we
know about the challenge of Satan to God concerning his servant
Job. He said, the only reason he serves
you is because you blessed him. You've blessed everything he's
touched. You take away your... Allow me to touch him. Allow
me to take that away and you'll find out why he serves you. Job
wasn't aware of that. He didn't know the why of what
was going on. Oh, but he knew something better,
didn't he? Job didn't know the why, but
he knew this. I know that my Redeemer liveth. He knew his God. What a testimony. Let's look
back in chapter 1. Look what Job says and does after
this fourth messenger comes to him concerning the death of all
of his children, his sons, seven of them, and three daughters. Look what Job does in verse 20.
Now remember when we read this, Job was flesh and bone just like
you and I. He was no different than you
and I. He had a fallen nature just like
you and I, but he was one of God's chosen. He was one of God's
redeemed. Look in verse 20. Then Job arose
and ran his mantle. and shaved his head and fell
down upon the ground and worshipped and said, naked came I out of
my mother's womb and naked shall I return thither. The Lord gave
and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. What a testimony that is to the
reality of God's grace. The reality of God's grace. God's grace is not a word. God's
grace is what He does in the hearts of His people, what He
gives His people, what Job himself had experienced, and what a testimony
it is. to the sufficiency and reality
of what a miracle God's mighty grace is. I know that my Redeemer
liveth, Job said. Every believer, every child of
God in this world, regardless of when they may live, is a standing
testimony of miracle of God's mighty grace. This is what our
Lord said again to Peter on that occasion. Upon this rock I will
build my church and the gates of hell." Job is an example of
that. Every believer is an example
of that. The gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I've prayed for you. Isn't that
a comforting thought? What our Lord said to Peter that
night, Peter, I have prayed for you that your faith fail not. perfectual, merciful, high priest
in the heavens, interceding for all of his people. I pray for
you. I know that my Redeemer liveth. Job had a certainty in an uncertain
world, didn't he? He had a certainty in an uncertain
world. Our Lord told his disciples that
night of his arrest, these things I've spoken unto you that you
might have peace. You won't have that in the world.
He said, in the world you'll have tribulation. But be of good
cheer, I have overcome the world. Peace in the midst of sorrow. Job had that, didn't he? He says,
I know. He didn't know the why. He didn't
know the wherefores, he didn't know the reason for this, but
he knew this. His Redeemer was yet alive. Christ was still up on the throne.
A true friend, Job had among many false friends, didn't he?
Those miserable comforters. They came and after a while,
after sitting for several days in silence, they began to accuse
Job. Miserable comforters. Job, you've
done something wrong. You've sinned. This wouldn't
be happening to you if you hadn't sinned. Oh, but Job had one friend
that sticketh closer than a brother, didn't he? He says, I have my
Redeemer. Underline that. My. He's my Redeemer. I still have
him. He's not been taken away. Nothing
can take him from me. I can't lose my Redeemer. And Job had the promise of life
in Christ, didn't he? He says, I know that my Redeemer
liveth. Christ was living then, and he
lives now. I am he that liveth, he told
John on the Isle of Patmos when he appeared to him. I am he that
liveth. and was dead, and behold, I am
alive forevermore." Paul in Hebrews 4 wrote, we don't have a high
priest that can't be touched. What's that mean? We don't have
a high priest that cannot identify with the sufferings of his people.
We don't have a high priest that cannot sympathize with the sufferings
of his people because Paul went on to say he was tempted in all
points just as we are. He was made like unto his brethren
for that reason, that he might be a merciful and faithful high
priest in things pertaining to God. What should we do? What
should we do? He says, come to Him. Make use
of Him. Come boldly to the throne of
grace. There's your faithful, merciful,
interceding high priest setting upon the throne of sovereign
grace. With all the grace needed, All
the grace necessary, just come to him. Don't try so foolishly
to pull yourself up by some so-called bootstraps. Oh, no. Come to him. Confess your weakness. Confess
your hurtings. Don't pretend you're not hurting.
Job didn't. Oh, confess to him that you might
find mercy and help in time of need. What a comfort it must
have been to Job in the midst of his sorrow, his hurting, his
pain, his anguish, to know this, I know that my Redeemer liveth. And Job had the promise of victory
after the grave, didn't he? Look again in chapter 19, verse
26, this is what he says, and though after my skin worms destroyed
this body, after I'm gone, After I die, that's not the end. That's not all. Yet, yet, in
my flesh shall I see God. Job says, I know that my Redeemer
liveth. The word he uses for Redeemer
is that one which speaks of a kinsman Redeemer. You remember that. The book of Ruth, that's what
it's all about. The nearest kin willing to redeem
and able to redeem. Does that not describe Christ?
Does that not describe him? Who else could redeem his people
from their sins? Who else could accomplish the
redemption of his people? He's near kin. He's able to redeem
and willing to redeem. Turn if you will to Hebrews chapter
2. We quoted just a verse or two from it a moment ago. This
is exactly what we read in Hebrews chapter 2 concerning our great
kinsman redeemer. His willingness plus his ability
to redeem. Oh yes, he is near kin. Though
he was rich, for our sakes he became poor. He was made like
unto his brethren. The word, the eternal word that
was with God and was God became flesh, John said, my soul, became
flesh and dwelt among us. If you saw him, he didn't look
any different than any other man. There was no halo over his
head. No, he was made like unto his
brethren. Here in Hebrews chapter 2 verse
10. For it became him, that is, it
was necessary for him, for whom are all things and by whom are
all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the
captain of their salvation, perfect through sufferings. For both
he that sanctifyeth and they who are sanctified are all of
one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren."
My brethren. Saying, I will declare thy name
unto my brethren. In the midst of the church will
I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust
in him. And again, behold I and the children
which God hath given me. For as much then as the children
are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took
part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that
had the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver them."
Deliver them. What did God say? Deliver his
soul from going down to the pit. I found a ransom. I found a ransom,
an atonement that's sufficient, that satisfies, that pays the
price, and deliver them who through fear of death were all their
lifetime subject to bondage. For verily, he took not on him
the nature of angels." He didn't take hold of the word, the nature
of angels, but he took hold of the seed of Abraham. wherefore
in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things
pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people."
Oh yes, he's an able kinsman-redeemer and willing. Turn, if you will,
to Hebrews chapter 10. Hebrews 10, verse 5. When he cometh into
the world, that is, Christ, he saith, speaking to God the Father,
Sacrifice an offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared
me. And in that body he lived a life
of perfect obedience to God's holy law, fulfilling every precept
of God's holy law that was necessary to our salvation. Verse 6, in
burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin there was had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come, in the
volume of the book it is written of me, to do thy will, O God. And when he said, Sacrifice and
offering, and burnt offerings, and offering for sin, thou wouldst
not, neither had pleasure therein, which are offered by the law.
Then said he, Lo, I come. Oh, what a glorious person this
must be that makes this claim. I come to do thy will, O God. God's will? That involves perfection. That involves the perfect keeping
of every jot and tittle of his holy law. That involves keeping
it in thought, in motive, in action, in word, perfectly. And he says, I've come to do
that. I've come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first
that he may establish the second. Now, what's the result of that?
By the witch will, we are sanctified through the offering of the body
of Jesus Christ once for all. Not once for everybody, but once
is enough. Once is enough. My Redeemer,
Job said, liveth. All the sweetness lies there,
does it not? He's my Redeemer. He's my Redeemer. I know that
my Redeemer liveth. I am His and He is mine. Turn if you will to John's Gospel
chapter 10. Again in John, John chapter 10. I am His and He is mine. Nothing
can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Verse 24 of John's Gospel, chapter
5. Verily, verily, I say unto you,
he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting
life and shall not come into condemnation. Shall not come
into condemnation. I like that. But it's passed
from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you,
the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the
voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live. For
as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to
have life in himself, and hath given him authority to execute
judgment also, because he is the Son of Man. Turn over to
John's Gospel, chapter 11. Now, in this passage, it's a
part of the conversation he's having with Martha. Remember
what he said to her? Martha, if you'll believe, if
you'll believe, you'll see the glory of God. The glory of God. Verse 23, Jesus said unto her,
thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know
that he shall rise again. in the resurrection at the last
day. Jesus said unto her, I am the
resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though
he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever, whosoever liveth
and believeth in me shall never die, shall never die. Believest thou this? Job said, this is not presumption,
this is not speculation, this is not a leap in the dark. I
know that my Redeemer liveth. Now turn with me to another place,
2 Timothy chapter 1. 2 Timothy chapter 1. A second thing we're told concerning
that which believers know. Now, you know the circumstances
here as well. Another suffering believer, Paul,
these are his last recorded words. He's done went before Nero, and
he knows when he goes before him a second time, he won't be
released. That's why he tells Timothy in chapter 4, the time
of my departure is at hand. Let's go to chapter 4 first.
Look at that for just a moment. The time of my departure is at
hand. Timothy, try to come before winter. What a faithful, faithful man. He writes to his beloved Timothy
exhorting him to preach the word. Be instant in season and out
of season. And he sets without even a cloak
to warm himself in this dungeon cell. In verse 16 he says, at
my first answer, no man stood with me. No man stood with me. Nobody wanted to be identified
with me. But all men pursued me. I pray
God that it might not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding,
notwithstanding the Lord stood with me. Well, he promised he'd
never leave nor forsake one of his own. He promised that he'd
be with us always, even into the end of the world. Notwithstanding,
Paul said, although all men forsook me, the Lord stood with me. He
strengthened me, that by me the preaching might be fully known,
and that all the Gentiles might hear, and I was delivered out
of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me
from every evil work, and will preserve me into his heavenly
kingdom, to whom be glory forever Now look at chapter 1, what Paul
says at verse 12. You've probably already guessed
the verse I was going to. Verse 12. Remember Paul's circumstances. He's not sitting in his lazy
boy in his living room. No, no, no. He's in a dungeon
cell. He's awaiting execution. And
he says, for which cause also suffer these things? Because
of preaching the gospel. Nevertheless, I am not ashamed,
don't have any regrets, don't have any doubts, not ready to
recant, for I know, I know, there's the word again, I know whom I
have believed and I'm persuaded that he is able. Oh, the more
we know of him, The more we see Him, or the more faith given
to believe Him, likewise we can say too, we're persuaded. He's able. Oh, behold Him. Why wouldn't He be? Look at Him. He's the mighty God. Look what
He's already done. Look what He's already done for
His people. He came to save them from their
sins. He came to bring in an everlasting
righteousness. He came to obtain their eternal
redemption. Was He successful? Did He accomplish
all those things? Yes, He did. And everything else
that He's determined for His people shall be realized as well. Paul said, yes, I think I can
trust Him, knowing who He is. I know whom I have believed and
am persuaded that he's able to keep that which I've committed
unto him against that day. I know whom. Someone said Paul was like a
spiritual porcupine. pull a quill, and it was Christ
and Christ alone. Pull another, I don't want to
know anything save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. It wasn't
always so. Turn if you will to Philippians
chapter 3. When Paul was yet in darkness,
when Paul was Saul of Tarsus, asked him what his trust was,
asked him why he felt like he was recommended to God, that
he had a foundation of acceptance before the Holy God, and Paul
would roll out a scroll and have a who's who. on there, who he
was. Look what he says in chapter
3 of Philippians at verse 4. Though I might have also confidence
in the flesh, if anybody thinks they've got a reason to trust
in the flesh, to trust in their own doings, their own works,
they had nothing on me. If any other man thinketh that
he had whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more. Listen
to this, he says. circumcised the eighth day of
the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, and Hebrew of the
Hebrews as touching the law of Pharisee, concerning zeal, persecuting
the church, touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless,
blameless. But, verse 7, but, but something happened that made
me see all those things that I was once trusted in in their
true light. I now consider them all to be
dung. That's what they're worth. They're
dung. But what things were gained to
me, those I count a loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless I count
all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge. the knowledge
of Christ. That's what Paul said, didn't
he, in his last words. I know whom? Christ. Oh, for the excellency, there's
nothing better to know, nothing more for a man to know in this
world, nothing better, oh, than to know Christ Jesus, my Lord,
for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count
them but done that I may win Christ and be found in him. I love that expression, don't
you? Found in him, not having my own righteousness which is
of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ,
the righteousness which is of God by faith, that I may know
him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings
being made conformable unto his death. Paul said, I know whom
and he is able. He is able, child of God. In
Romans chapter 4, we're told he's able to perform all that
he promised. God is able to perform everything
he promised. In Hebrews chapter 7, he's able
to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him. And in 2 Timothy, we read it,
that he's able to keep that which I've committed unto him against
that day. Jude 24 and 25, he's able to
keep you from falling and to present you faultless before
the throne, before the presence of his glory. And look here in
Philippians chapter 3, verse 20. For our conversation is in
heaven. This world's not our home. It's
not our home. We're just passing through. Just
be here for a little while. For our conversation, our citizenship
is in heaven. from whence also we look for
the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body,
that it might be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according
to the working whereby he is able, He is able even to subdue
all things unto himself. As our head arose, so all his
members must follow him. Turn, if you will, to 1 Corinthians
chapter 15. That's exactly what Paul's saying
here. Christ arose, and his resurrection
is the guarantee of the resurrection of all of his people. Where I
am, he said, there ye shall be also. 1 Corinthians 15 verse
49. Paul says, as we have borne the
image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. That's good news, isn't it? Now
this I say, brethren, flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom
of God. Neither doth corruption inherit
incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery.
We shall not all sleep. But we should all be changed.
We shall be changed. It's not always going to be like
this. We shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of
an eye, at the last trump. For the trumpet shall sound,
and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed. For this corruptible must put
on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality. So when this
corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal
shall have put on immortality, Then shall be brought to pass
the saying that is written, death is swallowed up, swallowed up
in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and
the strength of sin is the law, but thanks be unto God, which
giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore,
my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in
the work of the Lord, for as much as you know that your labor
is not in vain, The Lord. Yes, Christ is able. One hymn writer expressed it
like this. His honor is engaged to keep
the weakest of his sheep. All that his heavenly Father
gave, his hands securely keep. Isn't that comforting? His honor
is at stake. On whom would it reflect? if
one of his sheep should perish. On whom would be the dishonor?
It would be the great shepherd of the sheep because he said,
none shall perish, none shall pluck them out of my hand. Let's
turn to one more where it speaks of something that believers know.
Romans. Romans chapter 8. Romans 8 verse 28. Those verses often, often God's
people look to for comfort in times of trials, sorrow. Verse 28 of Romans 8, and we
know, we know, that all things work together for good to them
that love God, to them who are thee called according to his
purpose. We know. How do we know? How do we know that? How do we
know that all things work together for good? Remember when our Lord
was washing the disciples' feet that night? And Peter said, oh
no, no, I can't allow that. And he said, Peter, what I do
thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter. How do
we know that all things work together for good? Because it's
God that's doing the work. That's how we know, because we're
his workmanship. This is exactly what Paul says
in verses 29 and 30. For, or because, we know all
things work together for good because whom he did foreknow,
he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his
Son. that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover,
whom he did predestinate, them he also called. And whom he called,
them he also justified. And whom he justified, them he
also glorified. Now what conclusion should we
make of this blessed truth? Paul says, what should we then
say to these things? What use should we make of it?
All this, this. If God be for us, in all those
ways that he mentioned, if God be for us, who can be against
us? God, like a pharmacist. You go
to the pharmacy, give him a prescription. And he has knowledge to mix certain
medicines. He better or he might kill you.
But he knows what he's doing. And he mixes so much of one,
so much of another, just as the doctor prescribed. The great
physician, our great physician knows exactly what he's doing.
He mixes so much sorrow, so much joy, so much of trial, so much
of victory, but he does it all for his glory and for the everlasting,
eternal salvation of his people. He worketh all things together
for our good. So in that day, we'll look back.
We'll look back, being able to see as we can't now because we
look through a glass darkly, but we'll know that he doeth
all things well. Look at verse 32 in Romans 8. He that spared not his own son
for you, will he not work all things together for you good?
But delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? It's God that justifies. Who
is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea,
rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand
of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us
from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress,
or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long.
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these
things we are more than conquerors, more than conquerors through
Him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither
death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor
things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the
love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Let's look at another
one, 2 Corinthians chapter 4. Another blessed truth that the
Apostle says we know, 2 Corinthians 4, verse 16. For all things are
for yours, or I'm sorry, I read this, verse 16, for which cause
we faint not. But though our outward man perish,
yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction,"
remember who's writing this? Paul. He knew something about
suffering, but compared to glory, he says there's a light affliction.
Which is, but for a moment, worketh for us. That's what we read in
Romans 8 and 28. All things work together. for
us, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight
of glory. While we look not at the things
which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things
which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not
seen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly
house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building
of God. A house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens. Job said, when a few days are
come, I shall go the way from whence I shall not return, but
I know that my Redeemer liveth, and Paul says, we know. We have
a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. We know
we shall be with Christ. He shall have the travail of
his soul. He'll have everyone for whom
he shed his blood, everyone that he redeemed will be with him
in glory. Paul says, we know, we know. Dark, dark had been the midnight.
But day's spring is at hand, and glory, glory dwelleth in
Emmanuel's land." I just wonder what a serene, quiet life we
would lead, I would lead, to the honor of God if I simply
trusted him more. All for grace to trust Him more. Let's look at one more and we'll
be done. 1 John chapter 3. The first epistle
of John chapter 3. We'll just read it. But I want you to notice the
three shells in verse 2. I love God's shells, don't you?
So much more comforting than man's maybes and hopes, sows,
and pre-chances. 1 John chapter 3, he writes,
Behold, Behold, verse 1 of chapter 3, behold what manner of love
the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called
the sons of God. That is a wonder, isn't it? Sons
of God. Therefore the world knoweth us
not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons
of God. And it doth not appear what we
shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, We shall be
like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. What love, what love. Thank God
for those blessed promises of God's grace and purpose concerning
His people, some things we know. Amen, amen.