1 John 2:28 “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.”
The truth of a changed perspective is not only applicable to those who have died and gone to hell however, it also applies to those who have died and gone to heaven. There are many believers who, although saved and are destined for heaven, will also wish that they had lived their lives as Christians, differently. That is why the above quoted passage of scripture warns that some believers will be ashamed before Him at His coming? The reason they will be ashamed is because they have not lived a life of abiding in Christ. Remember that the Holy Spirit has shown us that one, who abides in Christ, ought to walk even as Jesus walked. Sadly however, many believers walk in this world as if they are still from this world, even though one who has died with Christ has left this world and are therefore no longer part of it. As Christians we are now citizens of heaven, and we need to walk in the reality of that. What do I mean? Think of what is important to those who are currently living in heaven. Nothing in this world impresses anyone in heaven. No amount of wealth or prestige gained, or achievements in this world means anything in heaven and certainly sin committed in this life is something to be ashamed of in heaven, and that fact alone should incentivise believers to stay away from sin. The only thing that counts in heaven is what was done for Christ while in this life. And so, although being baptized into Christ takes place automatically when we are born-again, living and walking in the reality of that truth is something that we do and we can only do that by faith. We do that by acknowledging that it is no longer we who are living, but it is Christ who is living in us. We do that by acknowledging that we have died with Christ, and that the life that we now live we live to the glory of God and not for ourselves any longer.
Michael E.B. Maher
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