There is Laid Up For Me A Crown of Righteousness - Part 971

"For since the beginning of the world, [men] have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside Thee, [what] He hath prepared for him that waits for Him. Thou meets him that rejoices and works righteousness -- remember Thee in Thy ways. Behold, Thou are wroth for we have sinned: in those is continuance and we shall be saved." (Isaiah 64:4-5)

"Eye hath not see nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." (I Corinthians 2:9)

Indeed, "behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifies himself, even as He is pure." (I John 3:1-3)

These are not only promises that have stood the test of time (from the beginning of time) but should reflect the everlasting hope that we as believers have every day in Christ Jesus ... "for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven (whereof ye heard before in the Word of the truth of the gospel) which is come unto you, as in all the world, and brings forth fruit, as also in you since the day ye heard the grace of God in truth." (Colossians 1:5-6)

Throughout the scriptures (as evidenced herein) our Lord God and Saviour has and is reaffirming His Word to each and every one of us, declaring His powerful love and mercy unto us so that we might walk worthy of the Lord, "unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:10)

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ explained it this way: "For this cause -- we also, since the day we heard, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." (Colossians 1:9)

The question is -- how do we get there? How can we be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding? What can we do so that we understand the manifold wisdom of God -- "according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Ephesians 3:11)

First and foremost, we need to seek Jesus, and His righteousness in everything that we do, praising Him continually for His goodness. 

"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. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them ..." (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Second, we need to recognize that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (II Timothy 3:16-17)

Why do I say this? Because God is NOT the author of confusion, but rather, of peace, and He wants to hide His Word in our hearts. (I Corinthians 14:33) This is why Paul charged Timothy to "preach the Word, be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine ..." (II Timothy 4:1-3)

Third, we need to understand that "when He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come." (John 16:13) And His Word will align with the Word that was with God, and was God, who willingly became flesh so that we might know Him. (John 1:1-18)

And then know, beyond a shadow of  a doubt that "God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God ... which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." (I Corinthians 2:11-13)

No longer walking according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience ... but instead, reaching out to our Lord God and Saviour, "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 up together and made us sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-5)

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." (I John 3:2) Stand in the offering plate.