For the Glory and the Kingdom of God!

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12 NIV

Physical life is short, even though it seems long enough. Because of this, we should live our lives utmost for the glory and the kingdom of God, for there is another life ahead of us, which we could spend it ETERNALLY; since our citizenship is in heaven –

As I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. (Philippians 3:18-21, 2 Corinthians 5:1, 1 John 5:19)

But why the whole world is under the control of the evil one who is Satan, the enemy of God? Isn’t the whole world part of God’s creation? Yes, but we are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) to do His will and to be ambassador of Christ –

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who DOES the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 28:18-20, 7:21-23)

 In Romans 5:12-17, we can see that we became sinners through Adam, the first man, created by God; but through Jesus Christ, we are made to become the righteousness of God:

Sin came into the world because of what one man did. And with sin came death. So this is why all people must die—because all people have sinned. Sin was in the world before the Law of Moses. But God does not consider people guilty of sin if there is no law. But from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, everyone had to die. Adam died because he sinned by not obeying God’s command. But even those who did not sin that same way had to die. That one man, Adam, can be compared to Christ, the one who was coming in the future. But God’s free gift is NOT like Adam’s sin. Many people died because of the sin of that one man. But the grace that people received from God was much greater. Many received God’s gift of life by the grace of this other man, Jesus Christ. After Adam sinned once, he was judged guilty. But the gift of God is different. His free gift came after many sins, and it makes people right with him. One man sinned, and so death ruled all people because of that one man. But now some people accept God’s full grace and his great gift of being made right. Surely they will have true life and rule through the one man, Jesus Christ.

 This means that due to God’s mercy and grace, we are forgiven even though we are sinners:

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. (Colossians 2:13-15)

This is because of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ – ‘“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed”’ (1 Peter 2:24)

All of these happened, because of God’s steadfast love:

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10)

But why? Well, John 3:16-18 answers this question:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall NOT perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

This means that He desperately wants us to enter His kingdom to live with us ETERNALLY.

Therefore, since Psalm 90:12 states: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom,” let’s REALLY live our lives utmost for the glory and the kingdom of God by abiding in the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God; whom He poured into us due to His steadfast love (Romans 5:5) as our guidance/advocate/friend to help us in the walk with God, our heavenly Father!

If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do NOT give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:15-17,26-27)