The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Romans 12:21,
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
This verse pretty well summarizes what Paul presents us with in Romans
12. In a letter that outlines his understanding of the offer of God
through the gospel message, Paul presses his case that a man is not
saved by his efforts at keeping the law given to Moses, but by faith.
"For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing
the law." Romans 3:28. Having made his case for faith, he now provides
a blueprint for believers as to how to live their lives here in this
life as family members in the kingdom of God.
The gospel, a message that Paul claims, "it is the power of God for
the salvation of everyone who believes..." Romans 1:16, presents us
with the purpose of this life here on planet Earth, what Solomon
called "under the sun" in Ecclesiastes. That purpose is clearly stated
by Jesus in his conversation with Nicodemus, "I tell you the truth, no
one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again... no one can
enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit."
John 3:3, 5.
Life here can be likened to that of a big maternity ward. A place
where people are born physically into life and then, hopefully, born
again spiritually. Physical birth takes place through procreation
designed by God and spiritual birth takes place through the gospel
enterprise, also designed by God. Of all those born physically into
this life, God has chosen for himself those who embrace him in faith
through the gospel message. This world, a big maternity ward, has its
purpose as being the arena in which God fills his kingdom.
Although physical life may begin in the maternity ward in a hospital,
as for so many of us, it is only a temporary stay. Once the purpose of
the maternity ward has been fulfilled, we leave it to enter into the
real life this world has to offer. Likewise, the sum total of life
should not be thought to exist in this life "under the sun", in this
big cosmic maternity ward, but beyond it. Beyond it lays either God's
kingdom or an eternity spent in a fiery lake of burning sulfur. At
some point we will all be thrust from the maternity ward of this life
into life eternal.
Here is the purpose of Romans 12. How do we live our lives while still
here in this "maternity ward"? As we know, God has determined that
those born into his kingdom in this life will participate in bringing
others to spiritual birth through the gospel enterprise. He has chosen
to include us in his activities of bringing others to spiritual birth.
This is why we don't sail off directly to heaven when we embrace him
in faith. He has a purpose for us here while we remain in this life.
We are to participate in his plan of redemption. It is how to live our
lives, while here, following our own spiritual birth, Paul addresses
in this chapter.
Some have mistaken this chapter for Paul's guidance on how to enter
into God's kingdom. This is a misunderstanding. Spiritual birth is a
matter of faith. Offering our lives as living sacrifices to God is how
we participate in God's maternity ward to be effective for him as he
builds his kingdom.
That is what this life is all about: God is building his kingdom.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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