Whereunto He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:14
What a difference between the first and the second parts of this verse! The difference is an eternity’s destination. The calling of the gospel does not guarantee the obtaining of the glory, although we cannot experience the glory without the gospel. Only a few will heed the calling, and it is the few who will enter the glory.
We remember the calling of the gospel, and those who brought it to us. And we are so thankful today that they did. Without their labours, we might have missed the calling. But God was faithful in granting us the opportunity to hear and heed the message. Did you notice how Paul referred to it as ‘our gospel’? In reality, it is God’s gospel, but He allows humble Christians like us to pass it on. ‘But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us’ – 2 Corinthians 4:7.
Consider the words of our Lord as He prayed in John 17: ‘Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me’ – John 17:24. This tells us one of the main reasons why the Lord Jesus wants us in Heaven with Him is to behold His glory. And this fits nicely with the words of 1 John 3:2 – ‘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’. Can we describe the glory of the Lord Jesus? Impossible! But you and I are going to share it. Amazing!
Thank the Lord that He called us in the Gospel, and that He is obtaining for us a share of glory. -Jim MacIntosh
Here is the link to the video of this message: https://youtu.be/bsBqBBxlLGg