|
THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD FIDELITY.
"As for your question about
those
who survive, this is the answer: the very person from whom the danger
will then come will protect in danger those who have works and
fidelity laid up to their credit with the Most High. You may be
assured that those who survive are more highly blessed that those who die."
(2 Esdras 13:22 24 NEB).
|
Fidelity: |
The quality
of being faithful; loyalty to a person etc; strict
conformity to truth or fact; veracity; exact correspondence. |
LOYAL ADHERENCE TO ONE'S
SPIRIT CREATION WHILE IN THE FLESH.
Regarding the
very important spirit quality of fidelity, there are so many people calling
themselves Christians today who sadly are such merely in name. The faithfulness
they exercise is to ignorance and error, for they believe in doctrines that
actually conflict with the Holy Word of God. Being without accurate knowledge of
the Scriptures, they fail to adhere to its Spirit principles. Hence, because
their spirits are not being formed, they are not putting on the new nature of
God's creating through The Christ, and so are not walking on the Way that leads
to spirit incorruptibility and immortality. (Eph 4:17-24
NEB).
Jehovah refers to certain ones as those He has "formed".
(Isaiah 43:1-7. 44:1,2. 44:21). This means that although the first
man Adam was created perfect in flesh, he was not at the same time
created perfect in spirit. The creation of a man is to form his spirit in
subjection to the Will of God. This development is by the power of God in the
lives of spiritually obedient ones, progressively forming them into the
"image" and "likeness" of God and His Son. (Gen
1:26).
By contrast, blind ignorance,
stubborn adherence to futile ritualistic observances and meaningless self-denial
all in the name of so-called 'religious faith', still persists among those who
are perishing.
Only
by the authority of a Spirit anointing from God are His Spirit communications
channelled through members of the "body" of The Christ. (Eph 4:11 13). These Spirit instructions are vital for one's personal
spirit growth, as through them one acquires accurate Spirit knowledge for one's
salvation.
Remaining loyal to Spirit
principles received from our Heavenly Father, and showing one's fidelity by
holding firm to them through periods of trial, is the requirement for mankind,
that we may inherit spirit immortality in the everlasting paradise of God.
(James 1:12). This is how one's spirit is "formed". In the
Judgement, each one will stand or fall according to whether or not they had
"works and fidelity laid up to their credit with the Most High." (2 Esdras 13:23 NEB).
Those who truly worship God in deed and truth, and those that in error are not
worshipping Him, are each judged according to their spirit disposition. (1
John 3:18).
STORING UP WORKS AND FIDELITY WITH THE MOST HIGH.
How does one have
"works and fidelity" laid up to one's credit with the Most High,
so that one is protected from the dangers described in 2 Esdras 13:25-38?
Well, as the "works" to be stored up with God are spiritual, we
must find out what these "works" are in which one may show good
fidelity. Organized study and meditation upon the Holy Word of God, along with
humble supplications to Him, are a prerequisite for acquiring accurate knowledge
of the Will of God for us. Honest self-scrutiny while doing so is the beginning
of the creation of one's spirit by God. As this becomes part of our nature, our
works serve as proof of our faith and fidelity to God. (James 2:14-18).
Acquiring accurate knowledge of spiritual things and exercising faith takes time
and personal effort. Only then may one achieve peace with God and inherit the
everlasting reward guaranteed to those that are His servants. So begin.
15/1/89.
|