the earnest

THE EARNEST

Let me direct your attention to the great Salvation which is to be awarded to God's children shortly.

Comparatively few people realize that such a thing exists in the plan of God. It seems that our eyes have been directed to eternity and the skies whenever we have thought about the future as a Christian.

There are several references to the fact that we posses only a small fraction of what will one day be made available to His chosen ones.

Paul calls it the "earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession". Eph 1:14 He again calls it the "firstfruits of the Spirit" in Rom 8:23

We know that an earnest is a pledge given in leiu of the full amount, and pending further developments. The Holy Ghost Baptism is a wonderful thing, but we must not lose sight of the fact that it is but a small portion of a greater quantity being held in reserve for us.

Firstfruits speaks of some greater amount to follow. It serves as a sample. The firstfruits is but a small token of a vast ingathering. So, when that word is used to denote the Spirit given at our Baptism of the Holy Ghost, we may be sure there is some greater portion of that Holy Spirit being reserved for a time and a people.

1 Pet. 1:1-13 mentions the salvation which is being reserved and is ready to be revealed in the last time.(vs 5) We rejoice in the hope of this greater salvation, even if trials and sorrows be our lot while waiting.

If we hold steady through it all, we shall receive the ultimate end of our faith. It is this COMPLETE SALVATION, which the angels have desired to look into. It puzzled the Prophets who prophesied about it, and they tried hard to understand what they spoke about, but were unable to comprehend the glory which should come to God's elect as a result of Calvary. The glory is still future, and holy men are still grappling with a proper understanding of its meaning. We are admonished to be sober, and hopeful while waiting for it, for it shall come at a time known only to God. I believe it is near at hand.