THE AGES TO COME

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of
works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:4-9)

Devotion 7 of 17

FORGIVENESS IN THE COMING WORLD

The quest of every serious soul must be forgiveness in this world--but what of the world to come? There is a condition into which the soul can drift that excludes the possibility of forgiveness in that world. "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. And whoever says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age (world, KJV) or in the age (world, KJV) to come" (Matt 12:31-32, NKJV). Whatever you may think of this expression, do not overlook your own readiness for "the world to come." Forgiveness there requires the appropriation of reconciliation here, as well as a lively sense of "the time to come" (1 Tim 6:19).

There is a sin that excludes one from entrance into the world to come. The very contemplation of such a transgression occasions the greatest sobriety and solemnity among those living by faith. Here is an area where theological speculation will yield no benefit (in fact, I am not sure such conjecture is ever profitable). When our soul is in the balance, we want to be sure we have a firm grip upon the truth as it is in Jesus.

Men have pondered this sin--i.e., blaspheming against the Spirit, or speaking against the Holy Spirit. The complicating factor is that speaking against the Son of man "will be forgiven." Yet speaking against the Holy Spirit will NOT be forgiven, either in this world (now), or the world to come (then). This does not mean the Son of man is less important than the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the Administrator of enlightenment, the new birth, and Divine fruitage in the individual. Everything we possess from God is by faith, and through the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:13; 14:17; 15:13,16; Gal 5:5; Eph 2:22; 1 Thess 1:5; 2 Tim 1:14; 1 Pet 1:22; Jude 20). To blaspheme Him, or "speak against" Him is to repudiate Him, hardening the heart against His influence. A heart so calloused is not capable of repentance, and has fallen into such depths the Spirit of God Himself can no longer reach them. This irremediable condition is mentioned elsewhere in Scripture (Heb 6:4-6; 2 Pet 2:20; Heb 10:29).

The one to whom our lord spoke these words had said He cast out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of demons (Matt 12:24). In so speaking, they were flirting with "eternal condemnation" (Mk 3:29). Those who think and speak in such a manner are growing more hard hearted. Steeling themselves against Divine influence, they are descending into a pit from which they cannot be extricated. Should they continue in such a state, their conscience will become seared, being insensitive to any Divine wooing.

It is possible for unstable souls to be "chastened by the Lord, that [they] may not be condemned with the world" (1 Cor 11:32). But for those who despise the chastening of the Lord, resist and grieve the Spirit, and quench His yearnings, forgiveness is forfeited. Such hard hearted individuals will not be forgiven in this world, not in the one to come.

To be forgiven in the world to come, one must experience forgiveness in this world. Sin must be abandoned here, and the Savior embraced now. Today is the day of salvation, and this is the acceptable year (2 Cor 6:2; Isa 61:2). Those who avail themselves of this great salvation will have nothing to fear in the world to come.

The point of our Lord's word is to develop an acute awareness of the world to come–to remind us that this world is temporary, and it not to be the center of our attention. Those who have a mind to experience an abundant entrance into the "everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet 1:11) will set themselves to appropriate mercy now. They will seek forgiveness in this world, and devote themselves to the resistance of the devil and not quenching or grieving the Spirit of God. Those who live in this manner will experience forgiveness in the world to come – that is, they will enter it in a forgiven state, never to wrestle with sin again.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You for the blessed working of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name, I ask for grace to walk in the Spirit, never grieving or resisting Him.

-- TOMORROW: ETERNAL LIFE IN THE COMING WORLD --