25 November 2007 - Elder Sim Siang Kok
LIFE, RIGHTEOUENESS AND HONOUR
Prov 21:21 states “He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.”
In this materialistic world, man seeks after wealth, position and fame. While these achievements give one a sense of success and accomplishment in this life, it is all vanity when the perspective of eternity is considered. If there was an excellent example of success and accomplishment, the example of King Solomon stood above all. In a dream at Gibeon God gave Solomon a request when He said to him “Ask what I shall give thee” (1 Ki 3:5b ) Instead of asking for riches and fame young Solomon asked for an understanding heart to rule his people righteously, as much as his father King David had walked and ruled before God “in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart" (1 Ki 3:6c ) Because Solomon did not ask for riches and fame, the Lord God gave him “a wise and understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after shall any arise like unto thee” (1 Ki 3:12 ) and “both riches and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days” (1 Ki 3:13 ). With his wisdom, riches and power Solomon set his heart to seek all that the worldly system could offer. As the saying goes, ‘You name it, he has it.’ Wise from his experience of worldly pursuits, Solomon wrote words of wisdom for us to ponder and contemplate: “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.” (Eccl 2:11 ). Against his testimony of the futility of the life under the sun, with its elusive and unsatisfying rewards of riches, worldly accolades and power, Solomon, the principal author of the book of Proverbs writes: “He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour” (Prov 21:21 ). Here are the reasons why Solomon’s edict and its outcome prove to be incomparable to what the world can offer.
Life and Life Eternal
Job 11:7 asks this searching question “Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?” The answer is in the affirmative because God had spoken to us the words of wisdom and of life through his prophets and through his Son (Heb 1:1 ), the living Word. All these had been inscribed in Holy Scripture. Proverbs 8:22-31 personifies Christ as ‘Wisdom’. Hence “For whoso findeth me (i.e. Wisdom) findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD” (emphasis added) (Prov 8:35 ).
Earthly life is precious. Those with means would spare no effort and expense to extend this life. But the lease of life is not controlled by man but by the Giver of life, the Creator of heaven and earth. In fact, God has extended the short lease of life from threescore years and ten to eternity through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. For the Lord Jesus said in John 10:28a “And I give unto them eternal life: and they shall never perish”. The obstacle is whether you believe the offer given by Jesus Christ, the Son of God who demonstrated His life giving power by dying on the cross at Calvary and rising on the third day. His resurrection is witnessed by more than 500 individuals. This is an irrefutable historical record.
Imputed Righteousness
The prerequisite to enter heaven is righteousness. Can righteousness be achieved by keeping the law of God? Yes. But no man had succeeded except the Son of man. For Isaiah 64:6a proclaimed “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Only the incarnate Son of God, Jesus Christ by his righteous life kept the law of God completely and absolutely. The great apostle of the Christian faith, Paul states “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Rom 5:12 ). “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Rom 5:17-19 ). “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness:” (James 2:23a ). Like Abraham, we can receive the free gift of imputed righteousness by believing in Jesus Christ.
Honour
Honour is accorded to a person for his/her outstanding service to society, scholastic, athletic or business achievement, or simply due to one’s position in society. None of us can disagree with the statement of Psalm 49:17 “For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.” Worldly accolades do not feature in heaven, but the worthy commendation from the Lord matters.
All who have received the blessing of life eternal and imputed righteousness will be invited to the marriage of the Lamb in heaven (Rev 19:7-10 ). John had a preview of that great convocation and was instructed to record in Rev 19:9 “Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” At the convocation, every believer will testify as prophet Isaiah wrote “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels” (Isa 61: 10 ). Only the words of the Saviour matters when he says “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matt 25:21 ).
The invitation to the free offer
The gift of life eternal, righteousness and honour is given graciously and freely to all who are willing to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God for only “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life” (John 3:36a ).
The prophet Isaiah says “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” (Isaiah 55:1-3 ). Will you accept the gift of life eternal, righteousness and honour through the only Saviour, Jesus Christ, the Son of God?