Life. It is amazing. A miracle, really, that we should find ourselves here and now upon planet earth. And it is even more amazing when we realize that we are the generations now living in the final stages—or, “last days”—of this world, as we know it.
But how should we survive this present age that we now live within—a world increasingly more bent on blaspheme than worship?
It is a world that is spiraling out of control, with every passing day.
Thankfully, God knew very well what our generation of time would be facing, here among the rising ideas and attitudes toward a “one world” scenario.
Now, try to imagine what those first followers of Christ must have faced, during the infancy of the church—surrounded by a world of paganism, and constantly pressed upon to concede their faith by the religious zealots of the day.
There, under the mighty Holy Spirit’s leadership, they composed their epistles (letters) to a future world of Christ-followers. Their words were words of grace, hope and comfort for all believers. But just as real and rational were their warnings, to the masses not yet born.
We are the recipients of their Godly wealth of wisdom. And we need their words now, more than ever.
I like to call these epistles “letters to the living.” They are the signposts for every serious path of life. They are the flashing lights of warning which tell us, “do not enter.” They are the kind and caring directions—given by a fellow traveler—to the worn and weary ones who have somehow lost their way.
Letters to the living. They were lovingly written to us, and for us. They are the survivors guide for every true Christian life. So to neglect reading them is like racing down a crowded highway with our eyes closed.
It’s that important.
The New Testament of our Bible is filled with these important and amazing letters. In fact, practically all of the New Testament are letters, written to every Christ follower that would ever live from that day forward.
Let’s have a look at just a few of these letters.
Paul’s Letter to the Romans
It was huge. Both for his own present day, and now—nearly two millennia later. Paul so poignantly laid out the basic gospel truths to his own generation of time, while laying the framework of thought for every generation to come.
Romans is packed with spiritual insight, as only God’s servant, Paul, could express them. Here are just a few.
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope” (Romans 5:1-4)
Paul, under the divine leadership of the Holy Spirit, defines the patient and passionate inner workings of that same Holy Spirit—who lives within the being of every true believer, throughout all generations.
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:1-4)
These gracious words of brother Paul helped lay the foundations of every Christian’s Godly character. Listen to this precious promise from God:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2)
Words of freedom to live by—even die by, if necessary. Look at the insight here, as Paul explains:
“Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:2-4)
Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians
The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is a practical, yet powerful example of the mercies expressed to believers everywhere. Feel the power and comfort of these beautiful words to us:
“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
But God, 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 us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:1-2, 4-6)
Think about this compelling explanation of why we walk in love:
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.” (Ephesians 5:1-2)
When I read these words, it causes me to follow our Lord and Savior as a child, the way they follow a loving parent. And speaking of children, here are these practical promises for close, Godly relationships:
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:1-4)
Paul’s Letter to the Philippians
Again, Paul’s letter to the Philippians is essential for every born again believer. In today’s world, we are bombarded with lies from the enemy. They tell us we should be high minded, and full of ourselves. But catch the stark contrast of this true and faithful word from God:
“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:4-9)
Truly, this kind of wisdom from above is priceless, healing, and worthy of our best attention.
The Letter by James
This letter is attributed to James, the brother of Jesus Christ. It is another priceless treasure in God’s word. Often stern in his delivery, James leaves little for us to wonder about when it comes to the human condition, and the struggles we, as believers, must all deal with.
“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:13-17)
James powerfully and nobly brings the wisdom of God’s truth, and challenges each one of us to carefully watch our own personal walk of faith.
The First Letter by Peter
I am constantly astounded by the Apostle Peter—once the simple fisherman of the gospels, now fully moving in the authority of the humble Christ he serves. Capture a glimpse of the glory he spells out here:
“Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:1-5)
“Laying aside all malice”—these are especially wise words for us to live by today. And here is another sober warning for all fellow travelers along life’s road:
“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:1-2)
John’s Letters
John, referred to as “the beloved” in the gospels, gave us the book of Revelation, foretelling of future events to come. But this same John also left us very important words to live by. I am deeply moved by these words of promise, as I know you are.
“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-7)
And again:
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth 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 purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” (1 John 3:1-3)
Now, listen to this warning:
“And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.” (2 John 1:6-8)
And again:
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil (continuous, unrepentant sin) hath not seen God.” (3 John 1:2, 11, parenthesis mine)
Ken’s Conclusion
Of course, I have given just a few of the many examples of the wealth contained in the letters, written for the church of Jesus Christ. But my hope is that I have encouraged you to find all of the wondrous truths of your faith, for yourself.
If you aren’t already doing so, dive in and discover all that the Holy Spirit has provided for you—for strength, encouragement, warning, and stability among our own unstable world.
You’ll recall that I named these letters, “letters to the living”—and rightly so. They were written for us to read, and to follow. We who live, move, and have our being, right now.
But these letters are much more than some great reading material for Christian encouragement. By their very existence, these letters hold a precious promise for all believers in Christ.
You see, through these letters, the writers of the New Testament live on. They were all personally acquainted with Jesus Christ, and believed in every wise and wonderful word He said. They lived and died by those words, and they believed in the promises He gave.
Should we—the living—do any less? Should we be any less, as we are faced with the world we live in today?
Friend, devour these letters—your letters. Read them while you can—while you live. And while it is your time to be all you can be, for Christ.
For great is your reward, if you do.
And keep in mind the reason why I have written this “letter” to you. It’s to remind you that the “letters to the living” were all written by the living. They were just like you!
All of them, just people—purposed by God to live and walk among their world—for their appointed time.
All of them, eternal—trusting their Living Redeemer to catch them away one day, in the blink of an eye.
All of them, fellow travelers—just as we are—from the beginning of the church age, to the opposite end of time.
“Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” (2 Corinthians 3:1-3)
One day, we will be with them—in eternity. They did their part, in their time.
And so must we, my friend—while we live.