For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.Paul sensing that his time is near at hand, can approach death with a clear conscience because he kept the faith. This is a state which all of us desire, to know that we have fulfilled the purposes that God has set out for us and that we shall "love his appearing". And having kept the faith, why shall we love His appearing? Because it is the dream and wish of the faithful to meet Him.
Jesus said: how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served... Implying that when we serve Him, we come to know Him. And John goes further: ...we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. In other words, in serving Him, we not only come to know Him, but to be like Him! This, is a very great blessing indeed.
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