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2018-10-29


瞭解未來Understanding the Future

 [每日靈修10/27/2018, 駱鴻銘編譯   

當我們問一些關於我們無法完全理解之事物的問題時,我們傾向於從我們確知之事物中尋找類似的模型或模式。我們尋找的線索是新的、不同的範式。從思想塵世轉變到思想天堂,是一個巨大的範式轉移。

要談論神秘的未來,就是要去尋找一些類比,這些類比可以給我們該期待些什麼的暗示。我們不能說天堂具體是什麼,但聖經確實給了我們一些暗示,說明它像什麼樣子。我們試圖根據已知的事物來想像未知。約翰告訴我們:「將來如何,還未顯明;但我們知道,主若顯現,我們必要像祂、因為必得見祂的真體。」(約翰壹書三2)。

我們不確定「祂」和「祂」是指誰。他們是指父神還是基督?父神是前面經文的主題,但接下來的內容似乎表明是基督。

當我們意識到像基督就是像上帝的時候,指涉的難題就會被平息了。基督復活是「初熟果子」的圖景表明,我們最終會像基督一樣。當基督以榮耀的身體復活時,我們也要在最後的復活中享受榮耀的身體。

活在神的面光中(在神面前禱告):
暫停一下,思考你在天堂的永恆未來。

進一步研讀:
約壹三2 親愛的弟兄啊,我們現在是神的兒女,將來如何,還未顯明;但我們知道,主若顯現,我們必要像祂、因為必得見祂的真體。
詩十七15 至於我,我必在義中見你的面;我醒了的時候,得見你的形像就心滿意足了。
林前十五51 我如今把一件奧秘的事告訴你們:我們不是都要睡覺,乃是都要改變,

Understanding the Future

When we ask questions about matters that elude our full understanding, we tend to look for models or patterns that are similar to what we do understand. We seek for clues to a new and different paradigm. The shift from earthbound thinking to conceiving of heaven is a massive paradigm shift.

To speak of our mysterious future is to search for analogies that will give us a hint about what to expect. We cannot say what heaven is, but the Bible does give us hints as to what it is like. We try to imagine the unknown in the light of what is known. John tells us: “It has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).

We do not know for sure to whom the “He” and the “Him” refer. Do they refer to God the Father or to Christ? God the Father is the subject of the preceding verses, but what follows seems to indicate Christ.

The difficulty of the reference is mollified when we realize that to be Christ-like is to be God-like. The firstfruits image of Christ in His resurrection indicates that, ultimately, we shall be like Christ. As Christ rose with a glorified body, we too will enjoy glorified bodies at the final resurrection.

Coram Deo
Pause a few moments to think about your eternal future in heaven.

Passages for Further Study
1 John 3:2
Psalm 17:15
1 Corinthians 15:51