Pageviews past week

Monday, September 2, 2019

Standing Firm

Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.                                                                                                     - Revelation 20:6

There are a number of thoughts on the meaning of the 'first resurrection'. For some, the first resurrection is the rapture of the church. But not all share in this idea. Other believers think of the first resurrection as their baptism. This is where this writer falls. That doesn't mean other beliefs are wrong, only that my baptism saved me from death; hence a resurrection.

I read that the first resurrection is the heavenly life of souls who have died in Christ before His second coming. That's you and me when we die; it is our loved ones who believed and lived their lives as Children of God.

Luke 21:19 "Stand firm and you will win life."  To me, standing firm is daily living up to my baptism, my resurrection from darkness into light. Recently I have been reading through my journals from the past 20 years. They are quite eye-opening.

At the beginning of this adventure, I was trying to learn more about myself and my faith journey. I can say that this reading material has blessed me with the realization that God has been chasing me down for years. Initially I was under the impression that my relationship with Jesus began to grow in 2008, but in fact it was bubbling way back in 2001.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 
                                                                                                                            (1 Corinthians 15:58)

No comments: