Paul was appointed a preacher, and apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles to bring life and immortality to light through the gospel. 2 Tim. 1:10-11. All human glory withers and passes away; nothing of what man’s nature can accomplish can please God. Here on this earth man glitters in external splendor with adornments and shining garments, but perhaps behind the façade there is an ugly, crippled form that becomes visible when the tent of the body falls away; and this is what will be seen for all eternity. We are only in this body for a short time, and then we will have to face God as we are on the inside, without any external finery and medals. That will be a terrible day for all the ungodly and all the hypocrites that act like Pharisees. However, it will be a glorious day for all the God-fearing who have lived the hidden life with Christ in God. Perhaps their earthly tent was weak and insignificant, but when it falls away they will be presented as radiant and glorious forms and will be clothed by the Lord with correspondingly glorified bodies. It is still the time of grace, and a new life of immortality and glory can be born in us through the gospel. It is exceedingly great to be born of God. Then we have received something from God Himself within us. An incorruptible life of God is born, together with a heavenly citizenship and right of inheritance, that includes all the promises and blessings. Even at its very beginning this life possesses sufficient eternal power to control the body, in spite of all the opposition from the flesh with its passions and desires. It is born to rule, and not be oppressed. It rules with an immortal power of life, and the result of each work becomes immortal—a fruit that remains and follows us into the heavenly habitations. This life of God is born in us by the Word of truth and can grow and be nourished only by this Word. We must understand our high and holy calling and the value of possessing this precious life, so we can cultivate and nourish it by being devoted to God with all our heart. Just think if we should no longer possess this life because of unfaithfulness! Then it would truly be dark and empty. Think to live in this evil, dark world with our hope only in the things that crumble and pass away! It is a great and blessed calling to be along in planting the Word of life into darkened hearts, so that life and immortality can break forth through the gospel. We were not redeemed with corruptible things, but with the precious blood of Christ; and we have been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible seed, through the Word of God, which lives and abides. 1 Pet. 1:18, 23. We have been born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for us (vs. 3-4), and to “eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality.” Rom. 2:7. A curse comes over those who exchange the incorruptible glory of God for corruptible things. In Romans 1:23 and 25 we read that they exchanged God’s truth for a lie. This is how stupid people can be. But think of exchanging these corruptible things for a life of glory and incorruption! That is really great! Think of laying hold of something firm and incorruptible in this world where everything is so unstable and uncertain! If we dispose of all these earthly things according to God’s will, we will have an eternal and glorious treasure to rejoice over in the heavenly dwellings. When we have been born again of incorruptible seed, everything that grows from this seed will be incorruptible. There will also be incorruptible hope and power, peace, joy and rest, and an eternal priesthood and brotherhood, together with an eternal love. The temple of the old covenant passed away, but the temple of the new covenant will shine with an eternal brightness and glory. Paul labored untiringly so that this incorruptible glory could be made manifest in each person’s life. This was his apostleship. “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart,” he says in 2 Corinthians 4:1. It is certain that his was a rich and glorious ministry, and we have received the same ministry. God doesn’t give us just a little bit of power with which to meet the evil. He gives us something of Himself, something of His own nature, and with this divine life we can overcome the world and the things that are in the world. Let us search and test ourselves. What is the state of our inner man, our thought life, and our connection with God? Do we harbor good and noble thoughts about each brother and sister and every other person, and do these thoughts manifest themselves in all kinds of good things? Do we have an inner man that hungers and thirsts for spiritual food and rejoices in the Word of truth? Are we genuinely good in our innermost heart? If we aren’t, it is possible to have it that way from now on. Times of blessing and refreshing have now come from the Lord, with salvation and healing for all those who will receive it. Lay hold of eternal life to which you have been called! “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.” Eph. 6:24. “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Tim. 1:17.Aksel J. Smith

“When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you, likewise, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.” Luke 21:30-31. So summer, in this sense of the word, is God’s kingdom—the Millennium—which Jesus will come to establish. In a manner of speaking, we can say that we are now living in the time of winter—hatred and malice are ruling. We who believe are waiting for summer. There are many indications that it is near. However, Jesus says, “The kingdom of God is within you.” This means that we are going around with summer in our hearts. Now it is our calling to let people who live in this cold winter feel the warm breezes from God’s kingdom, from the summer that is within us. Then a heavenly light will shine, as it says in the Danish Bible. Phil. 2:15. We see the great power that the sun has when it shines in the spring. It melts the ice and the snow, and death has to give way to life. Jesus is called the Sun of Righteousness with healing in His wings. Mal. 4:2. We who have given Jesus supremacy in our hearts have experienced it. Now we who formerly hated each other love one another sincerely from the heart. Just think of when He shall come and assume power over the entire world. We can see how the politicians are trying to heal the ailments of the time and create peace, but it is getting worse and worse. There will be healing and peace only after Jesus has come. Now we have this summer within us—in a manner of speaking, locked up. Just think of when it will break forth in all its power! Then we will be filled with such joy that we will be compared to fatted calves that are let loose in the springtime. That will truly be liberation. Now we see the fig tree blossoming, and Jesus says that then our redemption is near. Dear brother and sister, do not let winter—the coldness around you—overcome the summer in your heart and enter in so that your love becomes cold. Seek God so that the summer in your heart can melt the ice around you. People don’t know anything except coldness and winter. May we let them have a foretaste of summer—may we give them faith.Sigurd Bratlie