Ready for the Master’s good work
God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.” In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:19-21
From the text, though error is being taught and propagated in today’s church, and people’s faith is being seriously challenged, the body of Christ, the church, will ultimately prevail. Real and authentic body of Christ will remain for they have a solid foundation. They consists of all those who confess the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and have turned from wickedness to pursue a godly and holy life. The church to whom Paul was writing to that was led by Timothy was plagued by the poisonous teaching of men like Hymenaeus and Philetus (see 2 Timothy 2:17). That church will stand and be triumphant as Jesus promised. ‘I will build my church, and the gates of Hades [hell] will not overcome it’ (Matthew 16:18). We must imagine the gates of hell being thrown wide open and all the demonic forces led by Satan himself rushing out to destroy and hammer down the witness of the true church, only to fail because it is built on the solid foundation of God’s truth. In the final analysis, the Lord alone knows the state of the heart, and can tell who truly belongs to Him and those who hold a questionable confession. “'Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter’” (Matthew 7:21). The body of Christ, His church as Paul described using metaphors, is a mixed company of true believers, comparable to gold and silver, and nominal believers, comparable to wood and earthenware. God wants to use us as His instruments for noble purposes in God’s household. Therefore, we must keep ourselves from the infecting influences that can pollute the church through false teaching. Instead of being influenced by those who are taking lightly their relationship with God, we should encourage them to value their relationship with God and their salvation in Christ. Let us desire to be ‘made holy’, to love God’s word and prayer, and to be useful in the Master’s every good work.
Blessings
