Our Commitment - To Building Up

At the end of the Bible we are shown a preview of His finished work—the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21 & 22). Like many other visions in the boo= k of Revelation, this city is a symbol, a sign of spiritual reality (see Rev. 1:1). As a builded city, it represents the sum total of all the transactions between God and m= en throughout the ages. Experien= ces of the Old Testament saints are represented there (Rev. 21:12) and those of the New Testament saints are there (Rev. 21:14).

Down through the ages when the people of God were faithful to Him, they made a contribution to the building work of the New Jerusalem. Noah built an ark; Moses built a tabernacle and Solomon a temple. That does not me= an that those physical items will be there, but the spiritual substance involv= ed in the building effort of their particular time will be there—the transactions, the self-sacrifice, the joy, the tears, the victory, and “thousands of conversations with Him.”

This indicates that the momentum of scripture is toward the New Jerusalem. We ev= en see some expectations of this in the Old Testament (Abraham Heb. 11:10; 16). The question is, what are we New Testament people supposed to be doing?

In this New Testament time period the Lord is building the church (= Mat. 16:18) and the believers do the same (1 Cor. 14= :12; Eph. 4:16). How is this done?= Jude offers a very pragmatic way of looking at it (Jude 20). He t= ells us that the church is “yourselves,” not a physical building. Then he says to build upon the fai= th, “the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (v. 3). It impossi= ble to be built with other believers on the basis of things beyond the faith. Attempting to build upon the basis= of anything other than the common faith always leads to exclusivity and sectarianism.

Building up also includes praying in the Holy Spirit. This refers to the realm, the sphe= re in which we contact God. What ki= nd of prayer, how long, how loud, or for what is not addressed. Jude’s point seems to be sim= ply contact Him from within Him. =

Building up involves “Keeping yourselves in the love of God” (v. 21a) which refers to a healthy relationship with Him. We should continue in the sentimen= t, the affection of God for us, us for God, and us for each other.

Building is connected to “awaiting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (v. 21b).&= nbsp; That means focus, hope, and expectation. We prioritize our lives with a vie= w that there will be a reward, peace, joy and uttermost salvation in the future.