In 2 Timothy 02:19-21 we read, “19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.”20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” In verse 19, it says clearly that “The Lord knows those who are His”. In the Bible we know Jesus says, “On the judgment day, I will tell to the large group of Christians, “I never knew you”.” Most Christians think that they are known by God because they do many Christian activities to please God. But the Bible says to those people, “I never knew you”. God isn’t pleased with the life of these people.
We read in Mathew 07:22,23 “22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’” Here we see these people are performing so many miracles in the name of Jesus and the response of Jesus is, “I never knew you”. In 1 John 3:4 we read about lawlessness being sin. On one hand these people perform miracles, but on the other hand they are practicing sin. These people don’t know if they belong to God. They are like bad trees producing bad fruit. In Cain & Abel’s life, we see how God was pleased in the life first and then in the offering. God is more interested in our life & the fruits we produce than the activities. In 1 John 03:9,10 we see how the children of God and the children of God can be identified. Those who practice righteousness belong to God.
“God is more interested in our life & the fruits we produce than the activities”
In the same chapter that we read first, Paul says to Timothy that there are people circulating false doctrine and some people trying to destroy the faith of the believers. Then he encourages Timothy that the firm foundation of God stands forever. There is a seal on the children of God, ie; “The Lord knows who are His” and “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness”. This is an identification mark, a seal or stamp. In Revelation 07:03, we clearly read about the seal of God on His bond servants. We are His children. He has put a seal on us. In John 06:27, we see how Jesus bore the seal of God. The Father had set a seal on Jesus. In Ephesians 01:13,14 also we see that we are sealed in God with the Holy Spirit. In 2 Corinthians 01:22, we see that God has sealed us and given us the spirit in our hearts as a pledge. It is a privilege of God’s children that we have His seal upon us. This seal indicates God’s protection and security in our Christian life and also shows that we are His own children known by God.
In the second part of verse 19, we see what we have to do on our part. This is a very important thing in our Christian life, that we have to abstain from wickedness and shun evil. That is the way that we can be a useful vessel. The vessel needs to be cleaned & protected every day. In Galatians 05:24, we see those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions & desires. In 2 Corinthians 07:01, we see how we can cleanse ourselves daily and thus keep the vessel protected daily. In John 13:08, Jesus shows how daily cleansing is needed if we need to have fellowship with Jesus. The seal that God has put upon us is on one side, but we need to do our part of cleansing ourselves daily and have fellowship with the Lord. We have to keep our conscience clear always and be vessels of honor.
May God bless all of us.
