Paul K.

I got your letter this weekend. Thanks for writing! It’s an encouragement to continue to hear from brethren from the Rapture Ready forum. I read with many nods of the head your descriptions of life in jail. I especially agree with you on keeping patience amid the swearing.

Yet, I have to remember that these men swear out of empty hearts. They don’t yet know the Savior. They’re speaking out of their old nature; they need the new nature, as the Scripture says:

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

I like what you wrote: “When I was of the world, all the newest latest gadgets, music, cars, etc., seemed like it was so important; now I have little to no interest at all.”

Time in prison (without those things) helps purge a person who has Christ, because as I find myself stripped of every material possession I once found delight in, I more and more am finding Christ to be of surpassing value than any of those things. Sure, there’s nothing wrong in music, movies, gadgets, etc. But as we grow spiritually, our values change.

When we first are saved, we learn to choose good over evil. But as we grow, we learn to choose that which is better over that which is merely good. As we grow still further, we learn to choose that which is best over that which is only better.

Let me illustrate.

You get saved. You learn to avoid sin and do good. So you avoid sex, drugs and rock ’n roll and choose cleaner stuff and good music.

But as you grow, you discover that those things which are good are not as important as learning the Word of God. So you put aside TV, movies, music, and spend time reading the Bible.

That is where you have chosen what is better over that which is merely good.

Suppose a Christian friend comes to you with a deep need, and you can minister to them. Now you choose that which is best over that which is merely better by helping one of the brethren.

Does that make sense?

There really is a progression of spiritual growth. It is described in the Scriptures in 1 John 2:12-14:

“Little children” are spiritual babies or toddlers or “kids.”

“Young men” are teenagers.

“Fathers” are adults.

This sense of spiritual growth is also found in Hebrews 5:13:

“For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.”

Compare this verse to 1 John 2:14b:

“I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abideth in you...”

Continuing in Hebrews 5:14:

“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

So-o-o, here I am in prison, and God is refining me like a goldsmith refines gold ore. He puts it in a pot and heats it. As the gold melts, the gold, being so dense and heavy, sinks to the bottom, and the dirt in the ore—the dross—being relatively lighter, floats to the surface. The goldsmith scoops off the dross and continues to heat it. A man observing a goldsmith in the Middle East asked him, “How do you know when it’s finished?” The goldsmith told him, “When I can see my reflection in it.”

So it is that God turns up the heat in our lives. The dross, meaning the sinful “dirt” in our lives, comes to the surface. Like the skilled goldsmith, God scoops away the dross and continues to pour on the heat of our lives: tribulation, distress, persecution, etc. The stress brings the dirt to the surface. But God faithfully keeps at it. He, too, will know the gold of our lives is ready when He can see His reflection in us.

Yet, we are vastly more important to Him than mere gold or silver. It only gets better from here!

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; (1 John 3:1a)

Brother Jon, thanks for your prayers! It does my heart good to know you are praying for me and the brethren. I hope you would write to them, too, so that they can be encouraged also.

Alas.

I’m afraid I have to tell you that the visitor approval for you has been rejected. No reason was given, but it probably was the fact that you have previous infraction records.

Still, God is in control of His universe, despite what man may say or do. Our God reigns, and someday, we will see Him with our own eyes, and fall before Him in utter awe, joy and adoration. The disappointments of this life will be swept away like when we wake from a dream and its illusions, and in our awakening see the beauty of a sunrise and sunshine. Then the dream won’t matter by comparison with the beauty of reality.

The Day is coming when the skies will part, and the archangel will sound his trumpet, and the Son of Man will descend into our sky and shout—not “Lazarus, come forth!”—but “COME FORTH” to all His saints! The dead will quicken and burst forth into resurrected life. Then we, who are alive and remain, will experience the inexpressible joy of being transformed from mortal to immortal, never having to experience death first!

I long for That Day, when I will see Him as He is:

“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” (1 John 3:2)

“For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21)

Well, even if you aren’t visitor approved, “nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.” (Philippians 4:14)

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

Like you, I’m praying for our Savior to return. May that blessed day of our blessed hope be even today as you read these words I have written!

Maranatha!

Paul