PROMISE OF THE NOW LIFE.

“But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” (1Ti 4:7-8).

I once asked my church family while preaching to tell me what they would pick up if they found a one hundred dollar note and a fifty dollar note on the floor. The majority shouted “hundred dollars” and after a while I heard a voice that shouted “both”. Many laughed when they realized that he was right. You pick both. We are tempted to have binary thinking of “either or” in our Christian faith when we can have both; the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

God promised us the life that now is and of that which is to come. I have been around many Christians who only possess the promise of the life to come but neglect the promise of the life that now is. They willfully forget that Jesus’ work on the cross was timeless. His death is efficacious now and always. His blood saves now and always. In this life you can live a healthy and prosperous life.

I had a conversation with a Reverent (pastor) who did not believe that supernatural healing of the body was necessary in this life. He said people will be fully healed in the life to come. He was not bothered by scriptures that say that we are healed by His stripes (1 Peter 2:24). For him the promises of this life are not to be received because they are less in value. Well I will take both the “hundred” and the “fifty” granted. If Jesus paid for it, I will enjoy it.

I will take advantage of God’s promise of health and wealth, life and immortality, peace and joy in the here and now. I will live a fruitful and fulfilled life in this life. Exclusionary theology does not represent the gospel of Christ. You can be rich and still go to heaven. You can go to heaven without dying. You can be healthy and still have a place in the new heaven and new earth. You can have peace and joy here now and forever. The blessings of the cross are not time constricted.

SPEAK LIFE

The work of Christ has delivered good life for me in this life and in that which is to come. I choose life now and hereafter, health now and hereafter, prosperity now and hereafter.