The Prize of Eternal Value

As we journey through the highs and lows of this life, in this world damaged by evil, there is competition for success. That is success as defined by humanity’s selfish desires. The Apostle Paul is urging all those who have received Jesus, received God, to run the race of this life, with the purpose of God. As you listen be blessed, empowered and transformed in Jesus name.

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Transcript

00:00 Intro music and voice over.

Welcome to jesus loves the world podcast. For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name! 

00:21 Speaker

As the empires of humanity come and go, the history of time proves that the things of this world are temporary. Everything has been corrupted by the lusts of humanity. As a result the whole earth groans for the day of reconciliation and renewal. That moment in time when the Eternal One steps down from eternity into our finite world once again. When Jesus returns in all His glory and victory, He will judge the living and the dead. In that moment of time, evil will be totally eliminated. As a result, peace and harmony will be restored to the entire cosmos. 

Until then, we live in these temporary tents of our human skin, in this world damaged by evil.

This life journey has been likened to a sporting event or competition. Such as a marathon race. It can be long and difficult, as we journey over emotional rugged mountain ranges and through valleys deep and low. 

As we journey through the highs and lows of this life, in this world damaged by evil, there is competition for success. That is success in this world as defined by humanity’s selfish desires. 

The selfish desires of humanity are never satisfied. If success in this world is ever attained, it passes quickly. There is a continual striving and competition for power and glory. Whether power to do what self wants or glory in own name and reputation. This quest is demanding, burdensome and exhausting. 

As it is defined by humanity’s selfish desires, success in this world has no eternal value. 

In complete contrast, success in this life as defined by God has eternal value. Success in this life as defined by God, is being set free from the endless quest for power and glory. Free from the negative destructive forces of evil and our selfish desires.

So to a prideful people caught up in the endless cycle of their selfish desires, the Apostle Paul writes a letter to them.

Let us read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

The Apostle Paul is urging all those who have received Jesus, received God dwelling in Corinth at the time of writing, to run the race of this life, with the purpose of God. Not with the purpose of their selfish desires. 

To live with the purpose of God, is to live in the fullness of the victory that Jesus lived, died, ascended on high to give. Where we are free from the destructive, negative forces of our selfish desires and the lies of the evil one. 

Living not only in the hope of eternity with God, but in the reality of all God has gifted to us. 

The Apostle Paul likens the discipline and dedication of an athlete to that of how someone who receives God should be. To a prideful people, Paul reveals the secret of success as defined by God, in a way they would understand. As even though they have received Jesus, received God and their eternal destiny with Him is secure, they are still trapped in their selfish desires. Striving and competing against each other for the power and self glory. 

So Paul reasons. Given that an athlete only receives a temporary crown, how much more should those who receive an imperishable crown, be disciplined and dedicated to the cause. God’s cause and His eternal salvation. 

The temporary crown that Paul refers to is success as defined by this world. A success that has the sole purpose of satisfying the selfish desires of humanity. A quest that can never be achieved.

In complete contrast to self and this world, success as defined by God is eternal. A success that has the sole purpose of being set free from the selfish desires of humanity. A quest that cannot be achieved in oneself but is a gift from God to receive. A gift of God Himself. His crown of eternal life and victory. 

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To receive Jesus, receive God, is to receive everything associated with Him including His eternal life. 

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Eternal life is our future hope.

But we also have in part in this life His present hope and victory. Where each day we can know and experience God more and more. Opening up our hearts to Him. In His presence surrendering our self will, to that of the Father’s will and receiving more of Him. More of His love, His joy, His peace, His patience, His kindness, His faithfulness, His gentleness, His goodness and His self control. Being transformed by Him, into His character, desire and mind. For a greater revelation of this please listen to our podcast series titled, Come Up Higher. 

So the Apostle Paul urges those who have received Jesus, received God living in Corinth, to be more disciplined in the body than any athlete. Being more disciplined in God’s kingdom is to surrender the selfish desires to God. Surrender of selfish desires in the language of this text is bringing the body into subjection. Which is surrendering the selfish desires to God, bringing  them into submission to God’s will. Selfish desires in submission to God’s will, no longer have power to them to control, manipulate and destroy.

As living in the freedom and victory over our selfish desires is God’s will, being in a heart mind condition of surrender to His will, we are guaranteed He will transform and renew. Even if you don’t feel anything in that moment of surrender, we can know and trust God is working. As that is His will.

When Jesus returns, those who have received Jesus, received God and His right to rule and reign, will judged by Jesus as innocent, clean and good. They will enter into Jesus’ destiny. That is an eternity of intimacy with God the Father, filled with awe and wonder. Where there is no more evil, no more sickness, no more sorrow and no more pain. 

To all those who rejected Jesus, rejected God and His right to rule and reign, will judged by Jesus as guilty, unclean and evil. They will enter into the evil one’s destiny of whom they have aligned themselves with. That is an eternity of isolation from God, filled with torment, fear and indifference.

So to all those who have received Jesus, received God and His right to rule and reign, whatever we do in this life will assessed or judged by Jesus. That is whether it was led by His Spirit,  surrendered to the Father’s will, or led by the selfish desires and will of humanity.

Again the Apostle Paul in this letter speaks in a way the first hearers can understand. Using a building word picture, Paul continues to reveal God’s wisdom and measure of success.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Salvation is saying yes to Jesus, yes to God. The recipients of this letter have already received Jesus, received God and His right to rule and reign. That in this text is what Paul is referring to as the solid foundation. That is Jesus Christ Himself. 

Upon this eternal foundation, Paul talks about the materials used to build. These materials are divided into two distinct groups. The first group consist of gold, silver and precious stones. All three materials are highly valued and non combustible. 

In complete contrast the second group consist of wood, hay and straw. All three materials in this group are of little value and highly combustible.  

The fire in this building word picture represents the presence of God and His judgement. In this instance, anything led by His Spirit according to the Father’s will, endures. 

This word that has been translated as endures, means to stay, abide, continue, remain, dwell or stand. It is the exact same word that Jesus uses in John 15:5 when He refers to Himself as the vine and all those who have received Him as the branches and the eternal fruit God produces in us. 

So what we do in this life matters.

At that moment, in a twinkling of an eye, when Jesus returns, what we have done in this life shall be assessed. Whether have received Jesus, received God or rejected Jesus and thus  rejected God.

To all those who have received Jesus, whether what we have done is led by the Spirit of God or led by ones selfish desires will be assessed. 

If led by the Spirit of God, being a work of God to produce the fruit, then it will have eternal value. This is what Paul is refering to as building with gold, silver and precious stones. Through the fire of God’s presence and judgement, it will endure. Not only endure but have the highest value in God’s kingdom. 

The work of God is perfect, pure and of the highest vale. God placed the highest value on our salvation. He gave us Jesus. He became human and paid the cost. It is the heart’s desire of God that all people of every language, people group and nation receive His salvation. Yet in His pure love, God gives each individual free choice. God desires that all who have received Him, received Jesus, live not only in the hope of His future eternity, but also in the deliverance from selfish desires and evil one. 

Paul continues on and links the work of God with His temple.

So all who have received Jesus, received God in this life are the temple of God. That is individually and collectively are the dwelling place of God, as we live in this world damaged by evil. Anywhere God dwells is a sanctuary. His presence, His fire - brings peace and harmony, restoration and renewal. We simply be willing to surrender.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Paul states that anyone who defiles the temple of God that God will destroy them. This destruction of God comes under the judgement and elimination of evil. Defiles is to corrupt and ruin. It is not someone who has received Jesus, received God and still a slave to their selfish desires. This is someone who has rejected God and His right to rule and reign, As a result have chosen to align themselves with evil and actively have declared war on God.

Their attempts to corrupt and ruin God’s people, God will expose and condemn them.

So when Jesus returns, we inherit our future hope. That is the fullness of our salvation. Which includes a new earth and a new heaven. A new beginning, when evil being totally eliminated and destroyed for all eternity. 

God will judge the motives of our heart and mind. In surrender of self will, to that of the Father’s will, being led by His Spirit, what we have done will have eternal value. The highest of value defined by God. 

As Jesus said when He walked the earth as a man He will build His church. As He only builds with gold, silver and precious stones, considering each individual throughout the ages of the highest of value, God’s work is precious, pure and holy. 

For as the Apostle Paul urges, let us not only look forward to receiving our imperishable crown of eternal life. But also live in the daily reality of a heart mind condition of surrender. Surrender of selfish desires and let us expose the lies of the evil one.

Letting God build His church by His eternal Spirit, productions His eternal fruit in us. So that the world may see His transformation in us. It is His work and HIs glory. Where the world will see and know, the one true God and Jesus whom He sent. Seeing and knowing that God has placed the highest value on humanity’s freedom. 

19:40 Outro music and voice over. 

For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name!