1 Corinthians 15:45-49

⁴⁵So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. ⁴⁷The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. ⁴⁸As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. ⁴⁹And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.

Heavenly Man

The book, Heavenly Man is a true story of believer who was detained because of his faith in Christ. Accordingly, the Heavenly Man fasted in jail for 74 days without food and water. So, he was very thin when he walked out from jail without being noticed. He also flew out of the country with no hassle.

His escape from jail was compared to what happened in Acts 12:7-10,

⁷An angel of the Lord struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. ⁸Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. ⁹Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it.

An angel helped Peter got out of the prison. Similarly, the Heavenly Man got out of prison, and nobody noticed him also. Anyway, after I read the terrible persecution of the Heavenly Man, I told my family to read the book also. I wanted them to sense if they were scared of persecution when we go to the mission field. Our mission experience in East Asia as a family was most memorable adventure.

Together, let’s reflect on what Christ warned in Mark 10:29-30, ²⁹Truly I tell you, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel ³⁰will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.

It is true that government authorities somewhere in Asia forbid proselyting or converting their people into Christianity. We were not trapped by undercover authorities because we avoided evangelism in public. But there were moments when authorities came knocking at our apartment doors to check if we’ve legal papers.

Persecution is real but the Lord filled our heart with confidence in him. He took care even for our safety. He never let us worry of dangerous predicaments.

You may have heard of missionaries who were detained by authorities. But we trusted the grace of God for us is sufficient; we had great mission adventure.

The story of Adam and Eve is very appropriate topic to start a conversation with people who have no idea of God or have never heard of the gospel of Christ.

I hope that some of you who are listening will prayerfully consider and explore to become missionaries one day. Certainly, it will forever change your perspective about the gospel of Christ after you explored your mission calling. Prayerfully consider becoming a missionary sometime in your lifetime.

1.  Become

⁴⁵So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 

The Hebrew name “Adam” refers to human beings with earthly nature. The first man Adam exemplified practically an instinctive nature of humanity. He was easily attracted to sin. He disregarded the command of God. All human beings can be tempted to sin, and we committed sin again the Lord.

Recognizing our sinful nature, that we can be easily attracted to sin, should cause us realize our need of a powerful Savior. And, Jesus Christ the last Adam sacrificially died on the cross. He gives eternal life to anyone who believes in him. Christ gives us spiritual life so that we can enter heaven when he returns.

Let’s reflect on what Christ declares in John 3:16-18, ¹⁶For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Faith is gift from God. We believe the word of God by faith. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we understand and follow his instruction. Did you ask God to give you his gift of faith? Have you received the gift of faith from God? Seriously, how can we practically prove that we received the gift of faith from God? Seriously, if we prioritize and prepare for our eternal destiny, it practically show active faith.

 Christian

A Christian couple were very much involved in church planting. Wherever their employment situated them, they participated particularly in church planting. Similar to children who are still dependent to their Christian parents, their children were also active in ministry involvement. Sadly, after their children got married and have their own families also, not all of them get involved in church activities.

Some of their married children were either busy in their careers or just totally did not want to attend church anymore. This very sad reality of confused married children has almost become common circumstance among many Christian homes. Nevertheless, the Christian couple keep on serving the Lord despite the sad personal choices of their confused children.

Perseverance despite sad circumstances reveals genuine faith in Christ.

Trivia: Who led Israel the longest? Probably, Prophet Samuel because he led Israel from his youth until he grew very old. Yet, it narrated in 1 Samuel 8:1-3,

¹When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders. ²The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. ³But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.

Prophet Samuel faithfully devoted all his life serving the Lord, but his children were never inspired to follow his footsteps. Instead, his children became abusive which may have triggered the Israelites to ask for a king. Many Christian parents faithfully serve the Lord but their children have different priorities.

Communally as church family, we also encourage each other. Faith in God is personal preference. Everyone is warned to persevere in  2 Timothy 2:12-13.

¹²If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; ¹³if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

Believer or not yet, everyone can be confused by concerns of life. The Lord Jesus Christ came to give life with gladness to believers who belong to him. We can persevere despite all challenges of life, if we’re heaven bound. If you have the Holy Spirit in your heart, you are guaranteed that you belong to the Lord.

2.  Belong

⁴⁷The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. ⁴⁸As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. 

Mankind belongs to this earth. We are created out of the dust of the earth.

When our time on earth ends, our mortal body returns to dust of the earth where it belongs. Earthly adventure ends at death but death opens a portal that leads to eternal adventure. But which eternal adventure will you explore?

Seriously, how do you interpret what it declares in 1 Corinthians 1:21-22?

²¹It is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.  He anointed us, ²²set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

It’s not by human effort to stand firm in our faith in Christ. It’s not by human activity that we are assured to enter heaven. Do not simply claim that you have faith in Christ. Let our priorities prove, if we received from God the gift of faith. God makes us stand firm in Christ, and he seals our heart with the Holy Spirit.

How can we practically know that the Holy Spirit dwells in our heart?

Terminate

Young people: If you were earning a your good salary, how did you spend your first salary? Maybe, you’ve purchased your dream car or ate in a prestigious restaurant. You purchased the best cellphone in the market or just have a good time and enjoy the fruit of your labor. Those are very common choices of anyone.

If ever the economy becomes unstable, your company is affected, and your boss has to terminate some employees. And you feel so nervous because you have heard the company policy, “Last person in, first person out.”

How do we behave as Christian when our career is shaken and we’ve got many bills to pay? Can you sense peace and gladness of heart? Do you question the fairness of God? Should you evaluate if you really are a genuine believer?

Christians who prioritize the Lord have proven the faithfulness of God in their life. How? When they received their first monthly salary, the first thing they did was to give all their first month salary to the Lord. Then, they regularly return the tithes of God. God blessed them abundantly, and they’re not confused by recession, finances or termination of employment. Can you believe it?

Certainly, if you belong to the Lord, you can personally trust his promise in 2 Corinthians 9:8, ⁸And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Someone said, “We can give without loving, but we cannot love without giving.” Giving back the tithes of God practically proves our love for God. We return in full the tithes of God because we trust that he fulfills his promises in full.

Personally, what’s the most precious thing in your life? Money, time or life?

Christ gave up his life so that whoever believes in him will explore life in its fullness. If we say we belong to Christ, we also bear an image of heavenly man.

3.  Bear

⁴⁹And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.

When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, God sent the Holy Spirit into our heart. We are born in the Spirit. We are given spiritual life. If you have the Holy Spirit of God, you’re spiritually alive. A spiritually alive person can see, hear and understand spiritual truth. A dead person cannot hear, cannot see and cannot understand. Yet, many Christians are very slow to respond when the Lord speaks or gives instruction of which ministry to participate, why?

Seriously, reflect on what Christ warned in Matthew 13:15, ¹⁵For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

Dwight L. Moody

Dwight L. Moody the great evangelist testified of a man who always said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God!” Accordingly, the man heard a sermon, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God!” But he ignored it. Each Sunday, he went to different churches and heard, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God!” The man suspected that those preachers agreed to preach, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God!” He heard it not just 3X but multiple times. So, he stopped going to church. But the sermon, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God!” keep ringing in his mind, and he recited it. 

Listen: Preachers preach the word of God no matter what listeners may think. Why? On Judgment Day, we will give an account to the mission purposes that God gave to each of us. And God rewards us according to what we have done and not according to what listeners have complained about.

But if ever the word of God offends you, it only validates Isaiah 55:11.

¹¹My word that goes out from my mouth will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Medicines are beneficial to health. Children can’t appreciate medicines but mature adult can. The word of God is spiritual medicine and hard to swallow but it is refreshing to obedient believers. Believers with callous heart or immature may avoid spiritual pills but heavenly citizens obediently cherish the word of God. God disciplines the one he loves, and discipline is painful and not very pleasant.

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