The Bible Lifestyle with Shincheonji Church (4)

We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. (Hebrews 6:11-12)

After Jesus’ ascension to heaven, the early church experienced much persecution. In the letter to the Hebrews, the early followers of Christ, who were Jewish Christians, were encouraged to be 'diligent' and run hard towards the hope that had been promised to them. In our careers or personal lives, we may run for a specific purpose or goal (a promotion or improved relationships), but God’s hope for mankind is far greater.💓

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16)

During part of Jesus’ three years of ministry, he delivered instructions on moral living, often contained within Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7). Jesus called his disciples the 'salt' and ‘light’ of the earth. Were they literal grains of salt or physical lights? Of course not - Jesus was using the physical to explain the spiritual. Just as light shines in the darkness, the truth of the Word of God that the disciples possessed after being taught by Jesus could bring light to the darkened religious world at that time. It is because of their spreading of the Gospel that we can know this today. Ultimately, God's will in doing all this is to give eternal life to all people and show His glory😊