For the Crown of Never-Ending Glory and Honor in Christ Jesus!

“When the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.” – 1 Peter 5:4 NLT

What are you living for? For the world, or for the kingdom of God?

Because of this world, we are sinners, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) This is because the word of God declares, “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.” (Romans 5:12) Just like this verse states, the end result of sin is death. “For the wages of sin is death...” (Romans 6:23) Nevertheless, people often believe that God has provided all wordly materials for them to enjoy. This is true, but we must not abide in them and ought to use them for the glory (Colossians 3:4) and the kingdom of God (Matthew 7:21)—espcially if we know that we are going to go to the kingdom of God at end of the age. (Philippians 3:20-21, 2 Corinthians 5:1) For this reason, the word of God declares:

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. (1 John 2:15-17)

Furthermore, since Jesus proclaims, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)—we ought to live through Jesus Christ by putting faith in Him and surrender our lives before Him. (Galatians 2:19-20) This is because Jesus says:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. (Matthew 16:24-27)

Hence, we must overcome the world. (1 John 5:19; 1 John 5:1-5) Instead of abiding into the world—we ought to abide in the Holy Spirit to do the will of God (John 14:15-17,26-27) and to produce godly life. (2 Peter 1:3-11) For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. (1 Timothy 4:8)

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Colossians 3:1-4, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Romans 14:17)

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. (Galatians 6:7-10)

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:28, Philippians 1:6)