…and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b
At the end of the ‘great commission’ Jesus gave to His disciples at the end of Matthew’s gospel this promise. So exactly how IS Jesus with us now? What IS the ‘end of the age’? How can we experience this promise in our lives now? How can we know beyond ALL doubt what Jesus has promised us here… is true?
There can only be one way … the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit within the ‘temple’ / our bodies, the great Seal of His promise.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
So now … we must submit our complete and total remaining life, our will (choices and decisions), our mind (thoughts), our soul (heart / emotions and feelings), 100% to Him. This IS our sign …of our real worship of God.
Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Romans 12:1
So if we know this to be true… then we should be pressing in to understand the very Presence of the Holy Spirit within us. How does the Holy Spirit move within us? How does He speak to me? How does He bring His will to me? How do I experience Him? We have been given physical senses to interact and learn about this physical dimension – but what have we been given to understand the spiritual dimension(s)? Because obviously there is A LOT going on in the spiritual dimension.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12
Are you being taught by the Holy Spirit? Is He guiding you through the scriptures? Is He highlighting things that you need to learn? Are you pressing in to know Him intimately … in prayer? Does He guide your prayer? Does He show you who to pray for and how? Does He point out the stories of Jesus that you are experiencing in like scenarios in your day-to-day life? Does He bring scripture to your mind to … ponder and think about? Do you ask Him to explain it to you?
The ‘job’ of a real spiritual leader is to continually point you back to Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The Source of everything you NEED is found in the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We need to be connected to the Vine (Jesus) for without Him we can do … NOTHING! The Holy Spirit IS your Teacher! He IS the very Presence of Jesus in our lives.
What is the end of the age? That is a mystery held within spiritual realms, and the exact time of Jesus’ triumphant return is held by the Father’s heart.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
“Watch out, stay alert; for you do not know when the appointed time is. Mark 13:31-33
So we press into the Holy Spirit to KNOW Jesus for ourselves! We learn the Word (logos and rhema). We work together in community …the Body of Christ… bringing the ‘Good News’ by the direction and inspiration of the Holy Spirit to all those we meet …each day, working to be obedient to the ‘divine appointments’ He has prepared for us.
Is your mind filled and consumed with thoughts of Him?
Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3