October 4: IMMORTALITY BROUGHT TO LIGHT!
… not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:9-10
The ministry of Jesus on this earth brought with it a brighter light than before… light that continues to shine upon the Christian’s greatest hope: eternal life with our beloved Savior. This is the very same plan divinely agreed upon before time began. It has never changed or altered. With our spiritual eyes focused on the Lamb of God and the study of His word—under the Holy Spirit’s guidance—every deceptive idea planted by Satan will be dissolved and replaced by the truth of God. A young pastor who had escaped his former sinful lifestyle by coming to Christ was accused by his unconverted friends of being “brainwashed.” His reply: “My brain needed a good washing!” Beloved, you can be confident today that your journey toward truth followed by obedience to each truth as it is revealed (Hebrews 5:9), will bring a miraculous cleansing (Luke 17:14) accompanied by incomparable joy and gratitude.
The Scriptures state that when David died, he slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David (1 Kings 2:10). The apostle Peter made reference: “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day… For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make your enemies Your footstool.”’” (Acts 2:29, 34-35)
That Day is soon to come, but for the moment Jesus is still seated at the right hand of His Father. His enemies (Satan and his demons) are not yet His footstool. They are frenetically at work to deceive all who lack the love of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; see also Ephesians 6:14,17). Christ’s earthly ministry led directly to His heavenly ministry as our Great High Priest. He is fulfilling the prophecy of the activity symbolically depicted in the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27-29; Matthew 25:32-33): distinguishing between the saved and the lost. This initial stage of judgement is called the pre-advent judgement. Before His second coming, He will know exactly who He is coming to collect! Beloved, beware of false prophets.
“Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.* For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory [at His baptism when] a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.** And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation.” 2 Peter 1:15-20
*History records that Peter was crucified upside-down
**Mark 9:1-7