"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost ..."
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (II Corinthians 4:1-6)
The apostles certainly knew the mission for their life. As apostle Paul's states herein. he had a ministry that came about because he had received mercy -- the love and kindness of the Lord. As a consequence, the apostles were quick to renounce the hidden things of dishonesty, walking not in craftiness either. Rather, as Paul states, the apostles were careful to ensure that the Word of God was handled truthfully and without deceit. And, in so doing, the preaching of the good news gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ was so important that the apostles fainted not.
"Therefore, we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord; for we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore, we labour that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him." (II Corinthians 5:6-9)
One might ask -- from whence came their strength? The apostles knew that even though the outward man perishes, the inward heart (in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ) is renewed day by day. The apostles recognized that they were bought with a hefty price that included the costly shedding of Jesus' precious, holy blood on the cross. And the apostles persevered even when the apostles themselves knew that there would be those who would not believe, even with the offer of mercy. Even when he that is called in the Lord, a servant is the Lord's freeman. Likewise, also, he that is called free, is Christ's servant. (I Corinthians 7:22-23)
But the apostles continued steadfastly, even when Paul himself said, "For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven." (II Corinthians 5:2) "And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves grown within ourselves waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body." (Romans 8:23)
Why? Because, as Paul points out, "we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death works in us, but life in you." (II Corinthians 4:7-12)
You see, to others, the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent? Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." (I Corinthians 1:18-21; II Corinthians 2:14-15; Acts 17:8; I Corinthians 15:2; Romans 1:16; Isaiah 29:14; Isaiah 19:12; Isaiah 33:18; Job 12:17; Daniel 2:20)
This is the standing that mattered for life everlasting, and the apostles knew that regardless of the storms and persecution that would come, these were attached to the Rock which was the Christ. These were not going to be shifted by the whims and enticing words of men. The apostles knew the truth, because God had revealed unto them by His Spirit, "for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God." (I Corinthians 2:9-10; Isaiah 64:4; Isaiah 65:17; Matthew 11:25; Matthew 13:11; Matthew 16:17) But I digress.
Continuing in II Corinthians 4: "We having the same Spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
This is why we have come to know that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) But our reason to rejoice goes beyond the faith of those who died, having not received the promises, but having seen them only afar off. Still, as we know from Hebrews, these were persuaded of them and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13)
So, then how much more, we who have received the promise -- "God having provided some better thing for us" -- should be rejoicing, and like the apostles preaching and teaching and sharing with whomever we meet, the good news gospel of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. But even more, we are so privileged to have received the light of the glorious gospel of Christ (who is the image of God) shining in our hearts, not only in this life, but in the next life too.
If you have not asked Jesus to become Lord and Christ in your heart, please do so today. And then find a New Testament, and begin reading Acts 2. Therein, you will learn how those who believed in Jesus gladly received the Word -- repenting, and being water baptized in the precious Name of Jesus, before receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Always lots to learn, but for now, stand in the offering plate.
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