Until I Come

Until I Come

“Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” 1 Tim. 4:13. These simple and clear instructions are more vital today than ever before. Distraction and distortion of the truth are two of the devil’s primary weapons in our time. Therefore, we are utterly dependent on faithfulness to seek God in the furthest corners of our thought life so that we can be preserved on the way. Hunger for greater godly fear makes room for exhortation to work freely in our lives. With this same hunger comes the fulfillment of Paul’s exhortation to give attention to—make a priority of, and see as vital—reading, exhortation and doctrine. It is the implanted word that has power to bring something new in my life, if it is received with faith and a love for the truth about myself.

When I “know” something and there is drive to defend what I know, I prove that I still place value in my own “I.” “I have nothing good besides You.” Ps. 16:2 (NASB). Let us draw near to Him with a true heart as it is written. That is the heart of a disciple with full conviction that a complete transformation will take place by faithful obedience to the truth; having no other motive, no defense, no value in past experiences. Only having a great and singular value in what godly fear will work in me. It is pride that leads me to believe that there is something of value, or that can be built upon, according to the flesh. No! On the contrary. We have the guarantee that godliness is profitable for ALL things, both for this life and for the one to come.

What else, then, has the ability to lead us through the circumstances of daily life? Godly fear and again, godly fear. Fear and reverence for Him who has the power to both raise us up and humble us—God who is rich in mercy and who always looks upon those who are broken and contrite in spirit. The same God who only desires to do good for us and to transform this pitiful creature into a bride that is suitable, has lived His life, and has learned to live like-minded with His Son, Jesus Christ. Then the only fitting thing for us is wholehearted obedience and simple faithfulness to learn what God, in His care, speaks in the constantly changing moments of daily life.