This morning, we're gonna kind of finish up where I, what I started last week and kind of tie up a little loose ends with the conclusion that I have prepared last week, which will probably take the whole time, the rest of our time today. So we were in Colossians. I had Colossians on my mind, you know. But Romans chapter two, We looked into verse four last week. We only, we got through two thirds of verse four, but why don't we read verses one through four to get us started today. It says, therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art. that judgest, for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself, for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance." And we pray that you would add your blessing to your word this morning. We looked at, last week, we looked at The goodness, or the riches of His goodness, we looked at just some of the riches that we have in Christ Jesus in Romans chapter 5. Just the tip of the iceberg of how many spiritual blessings we have because of what Jesus did. So think of that for a second, how rich He is. God has more riches, more spiritual blessings for us than even Elon Musk has dollars. Think of that, think of that concept for a second. The richest man physically in the world has nothing compared with the child of God who is blessed with heavenly riches. Amen? We have something that even, I almost put, even an Elon together. We have something that Elon's money cannot buy. It's the precious salvation that we have through the blood of Jesus Christ. We didn't do anything to receive that. We only believed. I say only. We simply believe the gospel, and from there, everything that we have is front-loaded unto us. Amen? What a joy that is right there. So the end of verse four says, not knowing the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance. God is, excuse the expression, is gooder than anything else in the world. God is so great, he's so good, he's beyond all comprehension, but yet he's shown us enough of his attributes that we can learn and grow. Now, how do we realize that goodness of God? Number one, the obvious answer is it's in the Bible, dummy. Right? If I were to answer that question or ask that question, I'd expect that answer. It's in the Scriptures. We have everything that we need in the Scriptures. And by the way, if there's something in the Scriptures we don't understand, you know, the best place to do is find it when you're not actually looking for it. Isn't it great to find hidden treasure when you're not looking for it? That's why it's important that we take those things we don't understand and the first thing we do is we look and see what 10 people have had to say about it. That's fine, but yet when we take those things we don't understand and kind of shelve them, when we're reading and studying elsewhere, we'll come into the truth about that. It might not be the same exact words, but it will be the concepts will be there. So we have the scriptures. Also, what we have is a couple different things. I like to call this, and this will be click bait online, I'm sure, we have true replacement theology. I'm not talking about replacing Israel with the church, putting the church into the kingdom that belongs to Israel, et cetera. I'm talking replacement. I always used to hear this one thing, An old pastor used to say this all the time. He'd say, I have seen whiskey changed into milk. And we'd go like, what? Yes, I've seen a drunk with whiskey replacing it with milk. We have something that I like to call as the replacement, replacement theology. It's we put off certain things and we put on certain things. Put off, put on, there's a balance. How many of you ever known anybody that smokes or still smokes? You don't have to say admit it but. you find out what happens. Every person I've known that smoked, they say, I need to replace it with something. Because you need, something has to occupy your hand, something has to occupy your body. So what usually happens, somebody replaces smoking with eating chips. And they balloon up to a size and they say, ah, forget it. I'm not gonna do that, I'm gonna go back to smoking because then I weighed 120 pounds, not 220 that I weigh now. This is a reality that happens. But what happens is with God, with the Lord, there are certain things we put off, or lay aside. Hebrews 12, verse two, it says, lay aside that weight that so easily besets you. It didn't say take it and find a home for it because you might need it sometime. You're in a race. You're overburdened. That's why runners don't typically run around with armor on when they run a race. They run with the bare minimal of what they can legally wear to cut down the coefficient of drag so that they can run faster. It's the same thing with the Christian walk. Or I should say the Christian race. is that there are so many things that befall us or beset us that get in the way of running that race. So I'm gonna look at that for a little bit today. That was how I was gonna finish last week. The reality is that most Christians don't grow because they don't replace their old ways with new. Amen? I think we could all agree to some sort of something like that, is something that bogs us down. Something that keeps us from growing. And why is that? He said, because the flesh tends to dwell on itself. And that's evidenced. I haven't been to a Barnes and Noble or a bookshop since I think Paperback Booksmith in the mall was opened. because the reality is we have everything that we need online nowadays. But if you open up the Kindle store or whatever, or one of the online stores, you'll find the first thing that usually comes up is something about how to help yourself. You go through the grocery store and what's looking at you? Self Magazine. All these, it's me, me, me, me, me. And that itself is a hindrance to our growth, because where should our affection be? On Jesus. In heavenly places where Christ sits, right? In Colossians chapter three, verses one and two. Set your affection on things above where Christ sits. That is the biggest problem that believers have, is being fixed on that because they're usually fixed here. They're usually fixed on something that I need to do, something that I must take part in. That's why there's so many different books on self-help, so many different seven steps to achieving the best life now, all these different things. when the answers are all right in the Scriptures. We're gonna look at a few of those. Let's go over to Philippians 3. Philippians 3. Of course, I have to start with verse number one, with Philippians chapter three. I think I covered verse one not too long ago. Finally, my brother, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me, indeed, is not grievous, but for you, it is safe. That's the starting point with a Christian life, is rejoicing in the Lord. Notice Paul said it's not grievous. After all, he was what he would call a helper of their joy. So what do you do when you have joy? You rejoice. You share that joy with yourself and with others because of what Christ did. Says to write the same things to you, to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Try this sometime. If anybody you know is ever going through a tough time, here's a good place to go. Finally, my brother or sister, rejoice in the Lord. Why can the person rejoice in the Lord? It's because of what Jesus did. His complete salvation, he's given. Verse two, beware of dogs. Beware of evil workers. Beware of the concision. Another point, when you're focused and not rejoicing, you're not gonna notice those that are against you, against the faith. Beware of the dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision, for we are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh. Nothing physical to do to get favor with the Lord. In verse number four, he gives his history. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh, if any other man thinketh that he hath whereof, he might trust in the flesh I more. Here's Paul in his fleshly boasting of what he used to be like. Circumcised the eighth day. This is the real thing. This wasn't spiritual circumcision. Circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews as touching the law, a Pharisee. Concerning zeal, persecuting the church, touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. Look at me. What a great Pharisee I was. I was the model religious knight. Was that a word, religious knight? Religious person there was. But, oh there's that great word right there. But, the things which were gained to me, those I counted loss for Christ. No gain, no pain, no pain, no gain. They were loss for Christ. All those physical things added up to nothing when it came to Paul's position in Jesus Christ and the salvation that was in Jesus Christ. Yea, doubtless. I know what doubtless means, without a doubt. Without a doubt. And I count all things but loss. for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them, but dung that I may win Christ. Amen. All his human accomplishments, nothing but scuba line, not worth anything compared with the riches of Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them, but done that I may win Christ and be found in him. It's not that I can be found just in him. You can, hey, if you're looking for Paul, he's in Christ. but it may be found not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Amen, the faith of Christ. It was Christ's faithfulness to do the will of his Father to go to that cross. and we're in Him because of that. Verse number 10, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings be made conformable unto His death. I just remember hearing a song, the simple title of it was, that I may know Him. The words I can't think of right now, but the words are just amazing. about just that being the number one thing we can do as believers. You know what still blows my mind, and I see it every time I open up the Facebook, I see these Christmas movie messages. We're gonna look at movie number one and movie number two and see how it applies to the Christian life. How about the Bible? That's where we know him. That's where we understand the power of his resurrection and his sufferings. And yes, believers will suffer. Is there anybody that's, anybody that's never had to suffer at all, whatever the cause, there's been suffering, mental suffering, physical suffering, no matter what, there's suffering in this life. And the amazing part about that is that Christ is with us. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead, there is no other mean except through what Jesus did. One day we will be raised, this mortal, will put on immortality because of what Jesus Christ did. And I won't go to 1 Corinthians 15, because that would take us the next several weeks right there. Look at verse 12. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect. I mean, that sounds like a contradiction, doesn't it? Because we're complete in Christ. We're perfect in position in Christ Jesus. But our physical walk comes up short, does it not? Can anybody say they're perfect? Position, amen, you got that, right? Somebody asks the question, are you perfect or is there still work to be done on you? The answer is yes, amen? We're perfect in Christ. He hadn't attained to that. That's where biblical predestination comes from. You're predestined to be glorified with Christ. Predestined unto the adoption as children. Predestined to the adoption which to wit is the redemption of the body. Amen? One day, it's guaranteed that we'll have those things. But in the meantime, we're here living this life now. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, but I follow after. That's the same word as you see in the scripture as put on. You'll see that in verse 14 coming up. Follow after and put on. Followed after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ. We've been apprehended by Christ. We can apprehend what Christ did, yet somehow we can't really comprehend it in our minds. There's a difference. We've grabbed hold of what Jesus did in the same way we've been apprehended by Jesus Christ. So we understand that. We can't comprehend why. That's why we can all ask the question, why did God send his son to die for the sins of all human beings? And the reality that we have is you'll hear critics saying, well, if God is just and holy and sovereign above all, there would be no sin in the world. I believe sin in the world shows more about God's sovereignty through the vessels of humans that have made imperfect. It says God did something in his sovereignty that we can't understand. He's given us the will. We can believe or not believe. Say, oh no, that's impossible. God makes his elect believe. It's like, no, he doesn't. depends on how you qualify elect in different places, to which I'll give a little homework verse later. It's one I haven't had, still aren't totally clear about, but it's something we can look at. Brethren, verse number 13. Brethren, I count not myself to apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. Like a good race, verse number 14, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. The press is the same as follow after. In a race, you press forward. We know in sports that you go in one direction to get a touchdown in football. You go in one direction to get a basket in basketball. That is the goal. The goal in sports is to score a goal. Simple, a mark. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Think for yourself, if a runner would win the race every single time if he ran backwards, he'd be ahead of the pack, going the wrong direction, but yet he'd be that far ahead of everybody else, until when? Until he runs into the entire pack. I pressed toward the mark. for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. What is that prize? It's already attained eternal life in Jesus Christ. That prize would have to be the redemption of the body. That's an incorruptible thing that we strive for. One day, could be today, one day that will be realized in us. We press or follow after. And that same word, by the way, is why context is context. It needs to have context. Context, context, context. The same word for press. Dioco can be translated also for pursue, chasing after. It can also be used to persecute. Think of Jesus or Paul being in the press, right? The mob was around him seeking to kill him. It could be used in that same way, but, In this case, it's like a race pressing on to win that race toward the high calling of Christ Jesus. And that mark, I like it, another word that can go two different ways in the Greek, in the Greek it's skopos, right? The most obvious one is like a scope, a mark, a target. This also can be used as a route to that of being a skeptic as well. But here, it's definitely a watch or a goal. To mark that, to have that mark. What's our mark today? Four years of prosperity in the United States? Or maybe five? Or maybe a month? but our goal, the mark, is being with the Lord, the redemption of the body. That's far greater than anything. I was thinking of, I was thinking about just offhand, thinking about those people you've run into that love their country, You're like, why would they love that country they're from? That's a horrible country. Well, that's because they were born there. They have allegiance. Jingoism, they love their country no matter what. We suffer from that as well. Our country could be the worst country in the world and we could love it just because that's how we've learned. We've been no other place. And like those, the patriarchs, they were looking for another country, amen? We're looking for a place that has no, doesn't have the capital city as Washington D.C. or Boston or anything else, but we're looking for that mark. We're following after that that we have. So the mark. Keeping up with the target. Knowing the goal. Knowing that we've already received eternal life, that goal is then eternal redemption of the body. So let's go to a few other places, some other places. So we have keeping after that mark, right, in the race. There's something we do. I mentioned already the putting off of things. Let's go through a few different things. Put off. The Greek word is apotithomai. Tithomai is a separation. Some places it's translated as ordained. It's separating unto the things, unto different things. And apo means off. We think of apostasy. The off with. Going against the world, going against things in the system. So the casting off or laying apart or putting away is put off. Let's go over to Romans 13. Romans 13. Verse 12, we'll look at it a couple times here. It's because it's got putting off and putting on. That's two things going together. Just as somebody that has a habit has to take off that habit and put something else in its place, right? Verse number 12 says, the night is far spent, the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light. I think of this as casting off. Try to have this mental picture, especially if you were a child at one time or have children presently. They come in after a cold winter's day. What's the first thing they do? They cast off the wet winter gear, and where does it go? All over the place. It's like a hurricane just happened. So we have to tell them, Though, listen dear, the coat and the boots belong in a certain place. But they did the correct thing is they cast them off. Go into any kid's bedroom, not only kids by the way, and the dirty clothes are strewn about everywhere. Because they're told when they come in, take off those dirty clothes. Same thing with us. Just cast off those works of darkness. Gone, right? Then put on here in verse 12, put on the armor of light. There's the replacement right there. Let's go over to, let's go over to Ephesians chapter four. Ephesians chapter four. Let's go to verse 17. This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart, who, being past feeling, have given themselves over unto lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness." So we see the same thing here in verse number 18. We catch the same thing that's happening in Romans 1. Gentiles had this knowledge of God, I forgot about it. They cast it off. They cast off the knowledge of God. Their understanding darkened through the ignorance that is in them. Think of that. I know God has shown everything through his creation, through the things that are seen and not seen, but I'll remain ignorant. No. You ever run into somebody, you have absolute truth you want to share with them, and they, no, no, no, no, no, no, I don't want to hear it. That's how the Gentiles walked. Having that understanding darkened. Verse number 19, who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness. And look at verse 20. It's that first three letter word, but. But ye have not so learned Christ, if so be that ye have heard him and have been taught by him, as the truth is where? In Jesus. You've learned by Jesus, through Jesus himself. Look at verse 22. That ye put off. Cast it off. Put off. Concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. Think of that old man. I don't know if, I've never seen the whole movie, but all I can picture is the beginning of it. The weekend at Bernie's. They carried around a dead guy and they prop him up like he was alive. That's what we do so often. We carry around this carcass and we try to get him to life, but he's not, he's dead. He was crucified with Christ. I always use this analogy. If you're in the Kentucky Derby and you put a dead horse in the race, by the way, you might have heard of Dead Horse Hill in Worcester, because usually the horses died by the time they got to the top. So it was named Dead Horse Hill. I can always picture somebody in the Kentucky Derby, and they have how many, what is it, 12 horses in the race or whatever, and you have the one guy that's there, and he doesn't have a horse that's even moving. It's a dead horse. And what he tries to do, the trumpet sounds, the gate's open, and he's there kicking the thing, beating it, punching it, and guess what that horse does? Does he go ahead and run the race? No, he's dead. Like our old man is dead. We keep on trying to feed him, but yet he can't respond because he's dead. Now this isn't dead before the foundation of the world, it's just the fact that salvation has taken the old man out of the way and we have the new man in its place. So that you put off concerning the former conversation, the old man, the former conversation being way of life, the old man which is corrupt according to deceitful lust, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Well, you might have to know how you're renewed in the spirit of your mind. The Bible, how's that? That's a good start. We have the Spirit in us as well. So it's about being focused on who Christ is, right? And be renewed in the Spirit of your mind and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore, putting away, again, is the same as putting off, putting away, Lying, speak every man truth with its neighbor, for we are members of one another. So instead of lying, speak truth. That sounds simple, doesn't it? Try it. The only way that you can do it is through Jesus Christ and that death of the old man. I was with my brother-in-law the other day, and he was talking about sharing the gospel with somebody, and this guy was totally a hard-headed guy. And then he was talking to him a couple weeks later, and the guy says this. He says, he says, Paul, I was at work and I heard somebody curse, use the Lord's name in vain, and I felt it go through me like it hurt. Here's the part of putting on the new man, the old man, those things that were pleasant. As you grow in grace and now less pleasant day by day, some people instantly, some people it takes a while. Let me continue on these. Be angry and sin not. So just don't sin when you're angry. Anger is okay. Amen? But don't sin. Don't cause your anger to cause you to sin. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Neither give place to the devil. After all, we think of one of the attributes of God. Yes, God is love, but he's also angry with sin. So we can be angry and sin not. We can get angry with the things that are going on in life. We can get angry even with God, but don't sin not. God understands. Anybody ever been angry with God? I think it's something that happens. God, why am I in this predicament? God, you did this to me. All those different things. God understands that anger that we have. But when it goes out of control and it turns to the wrath and malice and all these things, then it's out of check. Another put off and put on, let him that stole steal no longer, steal no more, but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edification, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Don't doubt the work of God and the work of the Holy Spirit in the application of these things to your life. Then of course, let all bitterness, wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speak, and be put away from you, and by the way, with all malice. I always think of this, Paul must also, oh yeah, I can't forget about malice. And be, instead of all that bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, and malice, be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you. is that life of grace and forgiveness. God has forgiven us of all things. How can we be unforgiving to a brother or sister in the Lord? Sounds like the parable of the man that had lots of debt, and he went and extracted it all from others, even though he was totally, completely forgiven of that debt. Let's go to Colossians chapter three. Colossians chapter three. I gotta do it, I gotta order verse one. I wasn't going to, but how can you not here with this verse? Because this is the foundation of where we started here. If ye then be risen with Christ, that's our position. Dead, buried, we're risen with Christ. Seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set that mark, that's the prize. Set that mark, your affection upon Christ. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth, for ye are dead. And your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, believe it or not, he is your life today, right? We have the life of Christ in this physical body. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Oh, I can't wait for that appearing of the Lord. We'll be with him in glory. No more pain, no more crying, no more sorrows. but will be with him in glory." Now, in English, verse number five, we would put the therefore first, right? Therefore, mortify your members which are upon the earth. Put those to death. We're already dead. Our old man is dead, but our flesh is still alive. Mortify it. Mortify, therefore, your members which are upon the earth, namely, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil compusence, and covetousness, which is idolatry." That's a pretty strong statement. I want, I want, I want idolatry. Covetousness. For which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience, in the which ye also walked some time when you lived in them. You had your conversation in those things in Ephesians chapter four. It says, but now, ye also put off these. Remember, he's talking to believers here. Believers have issues. Amen? We all have issues. We all have the flesh. But now we also put off all these. Anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds. It's cast off, but you still do those same things. The old man is dead, but you still have the flesh there that's working in you. and have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. It's exactly what Paul, well not exactly, but it's what Lord he wrote in Philippians chapter three. All those old things that he did are done. They're waste. The new man is renewed in knowledge. The knowledge of the Son of God. Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Verse 12, right? We had some put offs, now let's put on. Put on therefore as the elect of God. Here's the homework question. Who is the elect of God in this verse? I have my idea of who it is. I think I gave it away, it's a singular, but who? Is it the believer? That could fit. See, I'm doing your homework for you. I'm trying to rationalize it here. But who is the elect of God, holy and beloved? Who is holy and beloved? bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, mirroring the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians chapter 5. I'm giving it away again. I can't do that. Meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another. We just looked at forbearing in Romans chapter two. Forbearing one another and forgiving one another. If any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. I gotta cut it off someplace here. I don't really have to though, do I? And above all these things, here's the put on. See, I'm glad I'm getting to a lot of put ons right along with the put offs. Put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Put on charity, that's love. It's a love of the brethren. A special love that only a believer can have with other believers. Put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. That great love, the bond of perfectness. The super glue of perfectness. The ligaments and muscles that hold a body together. The bond of perfectness. and let the peace of God rule in your hearts. To the witch also you're called in one body and be ye thankful. And I can't stop there either. I'll stop after verse 17, how's that? Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. I always think of that. Me singing out loud doesn't do much for anybody, but when you sing with grace in your hearts, it's about, it's medicating. That along with laughter being strong medication, having grace in your hearts is so much more soothing than having wrath in your hearts. You ever been mad at somebody and can't let go of it for days or weeks? I've never had that happen so I don't know. You're mad and you just can't let it go, it holds on. We should be like that with grace, right? Grace in our hearts. that won't let us go. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, that kind of covers everything, what you do and what you say. Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, given thanks to God and the Father by Him. Won't be a, wives submit yourselves unto your husbands. We'll stop right there. No, we'll stop at verse 17 there in that case. Let's go a couple more places. Let's go over James chapter one. James chapter number one. Boy, this is another one. How do you not read the whole thing, but... If we were, when I start this, where I want to start, there's a wherefore or a for. Yeah, let's go down to verse 19. Even though it does start with a wherefore, you can see what the wherefore is there for after. Wherefore, lay apart. Same as casting off. Lay apart. Did I say chapter one, verse 21? Wherefore, lay apart all filthiness. Just cast it off. Lay it apart. and superfluity of naughtiness. Being really naughty. And receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save your souls. The engrafted word. The word just dwelling richly in the world, the word and the word being in you. Mm. Let's go, while we're... All right, do I wanna go further? I'm gonna leave it there and go to 1 Peter 2. 1 Peter 2. And we'll wrap things up here. Yeah, I think this is where I was gonna close anyways, even though I didn't get to all of the put-ons, but enough of them. Wherefore, laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings. I've never made this connection before as newborn babes. What do newborn babes do? Besides, they go to the bathroom, they cry. They're not responsible enough to put away their stuff or clean up after themselves. They just lay it aside, right? And as newborn babes, same as the newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby. If so be ye have tasted the word, that the Lord is gracious. I remember I made a graphic before when I was in First and Second Peter several years ago. I made a graphic of a suit. It was like a full-size men's suit, but I put a little baby inside the suit. The suit was obviously too big for the baby. Is that the way we usually buy baby clothes anyways? You get a six-month-old, let's buy something that'll last him till he's 12, because he's going to grow into it. Right? That's our mentality. Our mentality is, well, he or she takes three to six months, but after you get a year to two years, that'll be good. That'll last them a while. After all, children's clothes are pretty expensive. So you want to get the most mileage you can. And then when they're that big, you can hand them down a lot easier when they're little tiny things. So it works. We, part of all those spiritual blessings we have, right? A big part of it is that we're already predestined to have a glorified body, right? Titus chapter three, chapter two. We already have our focus in heaven. We already have that new suit. So our life that we have today is realizing we have that new suit, those new baby clothes, our desire is to grow into that, right? The rapture takes care of it, boom, done, you're in the suit. But while we live on this earth, our goal is to fit that suit, to be more Christ-like as we go. I know it's a long, strange trip, but We will get there. It's guaranteed for the believer through predestination. But while we're here, on this earth, the greatest thing we can do is to set our affection on things above, is to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Second Peter 3.18, the very last words of that epistle, grow. You know, the Lord's coming. Judgment's coming, but what can you do? Grow in that grace and knowledge of Him.