1 Timothy 6:14-16, The Glorious appearing

I can remember 20 years ago standing at an altar waiting for something to appear. It was our wedding day and as I stood at the front of the church nervously waiting to get the wedding over with and begin our new adventure, I couldn’t help but to keep staring to the rear of the church. My attention was to this location because I knew that this is where the bride would soon appear. She would make her entrance from the rear of the church and be escorted to the altar where we would unite for eternity. I didn’t know exactly when she would appear, but I remember thinking that it couldn’t have soon enough as the day I had dreamed for was here. Paul tells up Timothy in verse 14-16 that he must hold the course and stay in line spiritually until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. As Christians we must be steadfast and persevere until our Lord and Savior returns.

Paul make clear that Jesus is the only Ruler, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who is alone immortal. Jesus lives in unapproachable light and deserves all honor and glory. Now that is an appearance to get excited about. In Matthew 25 Jesus tells the parable of the ten virgins. In this parable there are five wise virgins prepared and awaiting the appearing of the bride groom and five foolish virgins who are unprepared and not ready for the appearing. The five wise virgins are welcomed into the marriage ceremony while the 5 foolish where locked out of it. The moral of the story is that you must be prepared whenever the groom appears for His bride and this is what Paul was telling Timothy. When Christ appears, you want to be found walking in line with His will for your life. You don’t want to be numbered among the foolish who miss out on His eternal kingdom because you were unprepared.

1 Timothy 6:17-19, Lay up your treasures in heaven

Have you ever made and investment in something, but you must wait to enjoy it? Take retirement for instance most people spend their entire lives investing in their retirement so that when it comes that they be able to enjoy their golden years in peace. Perhaps you invest in your vacation every year, you put back money so that when the time hits you can just relax and enjoy a week away from the norm. As humans we tend to invest in things that are important to us, in verse 17-19 Paul tells Timothy that we should first and foremost be investing in our eternal destination. He tells him to instruct individual to not invest in their personal possession and finances but instead to invest in the coming age, eternity.

In Luke chapter 12 Jesus tells the parable of a rich man who had decided he was going to spend all his time accumulating wealth so they could retire and enjoy it. He built big barns worked hard for a while and filled them with a huge amount of grain, so much that he would never have to work gain. The very day that he had deemed he had enough life threw a wrench in his plans. He died that night and didn’t get to enjoy anything that he labored so hard for and to make it worse now he had to stand before God and answer for his life. It is good to take stewardship over your finances and future, but we as believe must remember that our reward is not in this life. If God blesses us with much, then we should use it to bless others and expand His Kingdom. We must make sure that we are building for eternity and not some temporary satisfaction that may never come.