Dec 08

Towards the end, the matter of where our affections lie will become a matter of utmost importance. Those who find their life in this world will declare their loyalty to it by taking the mark of the beast described in Revelation 13, without which no one will be able to buy or sell, and which also will be a mark upon them as belonging to this world.

By contrast, Scripture declares that those who belong to the Lord Jesus also have a mark upon them signifying this ownership of the Lord. God has "set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come" (2 Cor. 1:22).

What is to come is the end of the world and the ushering in of the fullness of God's kingdom to replace it. The Holy Spirit within us is God's mark upon us that we will be part of this coming kingdom.

But those who choose to receive the mark of this world will likewise have to go where their mark takes them. Scripture says that the form of this world is passing away (1 Cor. 7:31).

Those who set their lives upon things that are temporary will find, in the end, that, having sealed their souls to those temporary things, they must suffer the horrible consequences of such binding to that which must pass away to make way for that which lasts.

Oh, yes, the matter of who our friends are is a matter of utmost importance.

Scripture for today: 1 Cor. 7:29-31
Thought for today: Those who are friends with the world will pass away when this world passes away.
Prayer for today: Lord, keep me ever faithful to you, the only One who can keep me from passing away with this world.

DEC 08