First Timothy 6:6-16
‘We brought nothing into this world; and it is certain we can carry nothing out!… Lay hold on eternal life!… Keep this…, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ — Whom…He shall show Who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords — Who alone has immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach…, Whom no man has seen nor can see, to Whom be honour and power everlasting!’ First Timothy 6:7-16.
Calvin comments: “Godliness is a great and most abundant gain…. Through it, we become not only the heirs of the world — but are enabled to enjoy Christ and all His riches…. They that seek the Lord, shall not want any good thing!… True blessedness consists in godliness, and this sufficiency is as good as an increase of gain…
“We brought nothing into the world…. This…define(s) the limit of what is sufficient for us…. To ensure that a sufficiency will satisfy us, let us learn to control our desires so that we may want no more than is necessary to support or life…. Nature is content with a little; and all that goes beyond natural usage, is superfluous!….
“‘Lay hold on the life eternal!’… God calls you to life eternal — therefore, despise the world — and strive to obtain it!… Nothing can fill us with courage, more than the knowledge that we have been called by God…. From that, we may infer that our labour — which is under God’s direction and in which He stretches out His hand to us — will not be in vain!… Whenever our hearts waver, let us remember immediately to look to the death of Christ for strength!…
“‘Keep the Commandment…until the appearing of our Lord!’… Godly men (are) to have their minds fixed entirely upon the day of Christ…. We know that a time of Christ’s appearing has been appointed, and we ought patiently to wait for it….. Paul ascribes to God alone blessing, principality and kingly power…. The powers of this world are subject to His supreme dominion; depend upon Him; and stand or fall at His will. God’s authority is beyond all comparison, because all the rest are nothing before His glory…. They fade, and quickly perish. His authority will endure for ever!
“‘(The blessed and only Potentate) only, has immortality!’… There is…no life apart from God…. God alone is immortal…. We and all His creatures do not live of ourselves, but only borrow life from Him…. When we look up to God as the Source of immortality, we should hail this present life as of no worth…. God confers immortality on whatever of His creatures He chooses, but it is still true that only He possesses it (absolutely)…. Immortality…does not belong to creatures, except
insofar as He imparts to them strength and power….
“‘(God keeps on) dwelling in light!’… God’s light is unapproachable to anyone who tries to approach it in his own strength…. By faith we do enter into God’s light, but only in part. So that it is still rightly said to be a light unapproachable to man…. ‘(God,) Whom no man has seen!’…. Men may learn to look in faith to Him, Whose face they cannot see with their eyes.”
We can carry nothing with us out of this world to the King of kings! Are you ready to go?
