You Will Shine Like the Sun
May 28, 2018 4025
I was recently looking at some photos of my children when they were little. Now they are all grown up! While I looked at their childhood photos, I was struck by how much they had changed, and how I could never have known how they would turn out. It’s the same with us as Christians. How we see ourselves today does not predict what we will be in Christ in the future.
In explaining the Parable of the Weeds (Matt 13:24–30), Jesus tells us that God sowed good seed, but that an enemy came and sowed weeds among it. Both the good and bad grew up together, until the end of the world. Then, all that is evil will be weeded out (Matt 13:36–42). Jesus’ explanation ends with the beautiful promise that the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom (Matt 13:43).
The reason for this promise is clear if you understand the meaning of the parable. In this life, it isn’t easy to distinguish the righteous from the unrighteous. Not all who are in church are righteous, and perhaps not all who are outside of church are unrighteous. There is deception on every side. The good and the bad seed grow up together. But,
The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Matt 13:43, NIV).
You may be called a fool, and you may be laughed at, but one day you will shine like the sun.
In the age to come, says Jesus, the righteous will shine like the sun. No one who sees the righteous will ever doubt that they belong to God. What is not always evident to others today will be forever made clear. When Jesus said this, he was thinking of these words of the prophet Daniel:
Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever (Daniel 12:2–3).
The righteous are those who are not only righteous, but those who lead others to righteousness. They have discovered the source of righteousness, Jesus Christ the Righteous (1 John 2:1), and they point others to him. Today we may be called fools and laughed at, but God calls us wise, and we will never be ashamed. As the apostle John says:
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2, NIV).
So, be strong and be encouraged! Hold on to Jesus! What you see around you today is not the way that things will be forever. If you are a child of God, his destiny for you is so glorious, that when Jesus thought of you, there was only one way he could describe it. You will shine like the sun! – Eliezer Gonzalez
Ellen Henricksen
Jun 6, 2018
Thank you for your encouraging words Eliezer. A great reminder that there is so much to look forward to. Easy to forget when troubles strike. Blessings on you and all at GNU
Eliezer Gonzalez
Jun 4, 2018
Thank you for your beautiful comment. Grace and peace, Eliezer
janet
Jun 4, 2018
Follow Jesus's straight path to His righteousness and love Him with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength and you will find the kingdom of heaven in your heart, be more like Jesus, have a relationship with Him, lean and depend on Him, make Him your purpose for living so then you will find love, joy, peace and comfort on this world even through the sufferings of storms we will have through this life, and after you leave here on this temporary world, you will join the Lord in heaven and your loved ones with for eternal life Amen
Beth Bernotas
Jun 4, 2018
Thank you, once again, for a message that is so meaningful.
Jacob Mahama
Jun 3, 2018
MAY WE BE WORTHY AMBASSADORS OF GOD!
Eliezer Gonzalez
Jun 6, 2018
Thank you for your encouragement in the Lord. Grace and peace, Eliezer