The Earth. The World

The Earth. The World. 

Jesus says: “God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.” Matthew 5:5

It can be confusing to a person to read: God will give them the whole earth and then read “And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process?  Is anything worth more than your soul?”   Matthew 16:26

We also read:

John 3:16 "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

1 John 2:15 “Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you.”

Ephesians 5:5 “You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is really an idolater who worships the things of this world.”

Plus why would God give us the world that going to pass away?

“And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:17   

The differences we need to pick up on are the “word” choices.   Jesus and the apostles use the word “ge” for earth and the word “kosmos” for world.  This is also different then the word "owlam" which unending world that we know as eternity. 
 
Example:

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.  Ecclesiastes 3:11

Though the words “world” and “earth” are closely described in some of their biblical definitions and contexts such as the dwelling place of humans and the “inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family”… the word “world” - kosmos also refers to worldly affairs, riches, goods, endowments, advantages, pleasures, etc that which are hollow, unfulfilling, frail, fleeting and stir desire and seduce people from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ.  (Concordance definition.)

The word “earth”, on the other hand, is more specific to make up or building composition of man or the heart of a man. 
  

So when Jesus says, “God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth” he is not referring to the “earth” as worldly things but people. 

Would it not be wonderful to see the people we have come into contact with in this life to be with us in Heaven?  To see the warm light of heaven grace their smiling countenance because you were a ray of light in their life.   To embrace those who were once so harden toward us but were now transformed by God’s amazing power and grace.  
  

Would it not be wonder to know that through the Holy Spirit we were able to touch peoples lives and plant a seed and be a part of them giving their life to Christ or rededicating their life to Christ?
   

That would be a wonderful inheritance to see.  And though this inheritance would be an honor I personally would have to give all recognition to the Lord.   For in Him alone and not in myself would I be able to do such things.  I can not do what the Lord wants me to do unless the Lord is working in me.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
 

To see and hear the Lord’s laughter of joy would be great enough.  Jesus Christ's joy- there is nothing like it. 
 

According to concordance and word of God.  “Gentleness or meekness is the opposite to self assertiveness and self-interest.  It stems from the trust in God’s goodness and control over the situation no matter how good or bad.  

 The gentle person is not occupied with self at all but the with the work of the Holy Spirit.  The human will may push the rudder in the direction of God but from there- nothing can be accomplished in all genuine real sincere goodness without God taking over and blowing in the sails of one’s life.

“But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Here is not conflict with the law.”

Oh how the Holy Spirit plays a wonderful symphony in one’s soul. 
  

The Soul

We know just experiencing this life that this human tent, vessel, body isn’t permanent.   In fact these bodies are fragile.  They bruise, ache, become tired and exhausted, break, get sick, and eventually, if not shortened by incident, shuts down where the soul is carried out of the body to it’s eternal destination- to either doom or glory.  Doom if the soul hasn’t given itself to Jesus Christ or glory if it has trusted and given itself to Jesus Christ.  The soul is eternal… the body is temporary.

God created the soul but if man’s soul doesn’t want God where all life flourishes in and was created by then how can it have life?  “In the beginning the Word [Jesus Christ] already existed.  He was with God, and he was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  He created everything there is.  Nothing exists that he didn’t make.  Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone.  The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:1-5

A person can choose to live in darkness, they can choose to stay in their disbelief and doubt but when Christ is living in a person's life it is evident.   They no longer do they do the same sinful things they used to do or crave the same things they used to crave.  The world is a bitter taste in their mouth and offensive to the mind and heart of Christ - the soul has found Christ Jesus.

The Earth   
The word "ge" for “earth” relates closely to the word "aphar" which means dust or earth.   We see the word "aphar" in the origin or the beginning of man.  

“And the LORD God formed a man’s body from the dust of the ground and breathed into it the breath of life.  And the man became a living person.” Genesis 2:7

“By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made.  For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return." Genesis 3:19

“For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” Ecclesiastes 12:7

Jesus uses these concepts of the “earth” and “world” when he said this:

“The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. The truth is, a kernel of wheat must be planted in the soil.  Unless it dies it will be alone- a single seed.  But its death will produce many new kernels- a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it.  Those who despise their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” John 12:23-25

Jesus came to plant his life saving message in the souls of men (and women) but in order for the 
massage to have power and meaning in men he had die as a pure innocent sacrifice for our sins. For man made of earth was separated from God by sin but Jesus made a way for us to be one with God through his death and resurrection from death by the Spirit of God, who lives in us who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  

And though he took his physical body with him when he ascended into heaven he left, a spiritual body behind, the body of Christ who lives by Spirit of God instead of the understanding of the world.

And through the Spirit of God we would stop living as the world lives and live and become God’s children.   Where our lives of faith in Jesus Christ would bring others to Jesus Christ and those others would bring others to Jesus Christ and so on… but those who love their life in this world will lose it.  Because the things of this world are hollow, unfulfilling, frail, fleeting and stir desire and seduce people from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ.   For Christ is life and eternal life and without him there is no life… only meaninglessness.    

“Everything is meaningless,” says the teacher, “utterly meaningless!” Ecclesiastes 1:2

Jesus said, “The good soil represents the hearts of those who truly accept God’s message and produce a huge harvest-thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted.” Matthew 13:23

Our lives mean something to God and so do the souls who haven’t accepted the life saving message of Jesus Christ.

“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him?  And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him?  And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?  And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?  That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-15

There are people who are looking but are confused and helpless out there in this world. 

I heard a man recently tell a story of a woman, in India, who through her baby into the river to appease the false river god and when the missionary came by moments later to see what was wrong, she told him what she had done.  In sorrow and wishing he had been there sooner, he told her to appease the one true God for our sins we only have to come to Jesus who died for our sins and ask for his forgiveness and make him Lord and Savior our life.  Hearing this news she said to the missionary, "If you had been here to tell me this sooner, I would still have my baby boy."

A man jumps off a bridge and ends his life because he has made money his god and since he lost his god all his hopes are lost.

Jesus traveled through all the cities and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom.  And wherever he went, he healed people of every sort of disease and illness.  He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn't know where to go for help.  They were like sheep without a shepherd.  He said to his disciples, "The harvest is great, but the workers are so few.  So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for the his fields." 

May we see people not as they are or appear to be but in how God sees them and who he created them to be.   We all have a greater potential in God then we see and allow ourselves to live in.  He has plans for them just as he has plans for us.  They are plans for good and not disaster, to give them a future and a hope.  (Reference: Colossians 1:16-17, Jeremiah 29:11)  But again how will they know this unless we show them what is right, and speak up for what is right, and show them they have value in God as well? May we ask God to help us to help those in need. 

“No, O people, the LORD has already told you what is good, this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy and walk humbly with your God,” Micah 6:8

“Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven and earth.  He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see- kings, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities.  Everything has been created through him and for him.  He existed before everything else began, and he holds all creation together.”  Colossians 1:16-17

Only in Him can we do all he has asked of us.

Jesus says: “God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.” Matthew 5:5