Eternity

“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor 

      and gave him the name above all other names, 

 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 

      in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 

 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, 

      to the glory of God the Father.”

Philippians 2:9-11

There is a place that was never designed for human inhabitants... where there is no joy... no light... and no friends.  It’s name?  Gehenna.  Hell.   What’s there?  Separation of Creator from creation... A division between humanity and hope... an eternity where all is lost forever. 

If you are reading this post today... there’s still hope.  And that hope has a name.  Look at today’s passage.  Paul tells us that God called His Son Jesus... “name above all other names” and that when we hear it... “every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”   Scripture tells us in Romans 10 that all who call out this Name and believe that He is Lord will be spared the eternal separation and pain of hell.  When we call out and confess Jesus Christ as Lord... name above all names... we are saved forever.

What does eternity look like for you?  Take some time to think about that.  We have a lot riding on what side we take.   I urge you to investigate the claims of Jesus... and it is my prayer that one day you might confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and spend eternity with Him.  

It’s the best and most important decision you will ever make

No Power

I read a post on Facebook from a man who’s wife had just passed away after a long battle with cancer.  Here’s what he said: “When people say she lost a battle with cancer, I disagree... My wife didn’t lose a battle with cancer, cancer lost the battle with my wife.  When the body dies, cancer can’t live anymore... but my wife had the greatest victory of all and that’s to walk with the Lord... Cancer died...my wife lived.”

The book of 1 Corinthians tells us that death has no power over those that know Jesus as Lord.   No matter what a Christian may face, battle through, or deal with... the end result will be spending eternity in Heaven with God.  I want to encourage you today... if someone you love has passed and they knew Jesus as Savior... they won.  Death was not the end for them.  They are eternally living... and will spend their forever in the arms of the One who created them and loves them deeply.  Death is painful to those that remain... but to those Christ followers headed to Heaven... it’s a victorious and healthy homecoming.

Christmas Celebration

I remember growing up in Arkansas… Christmas morning was an event at our house.  We would get up early and open some presents… and it never failed.  The one toy that I wanted to play with most had to wait because it was missing batteries.  Those three words:  “batteries not included” were so heartbreaking.  We’d dig through the junk drawer and would inevitably come up empty.  The disappointment was very real… after all, a toy with no power is just a piece of plastic.  But put those cells in… and you’ve got a remote controlled car that could race down the driveway!     

As I sit and think about Christmas… and more specifically, Christ as a baby… I wonder how many thought that God’s plan didn’t include batteries.  After all, how could the Savior of the world be so meek… so tiny… so seemingly powerless?  How would this little baby rise up to be king?  How could this small boy from this tiny insignificant city overthrow the Roman government and restore God’s people?  But the people missed it.  God’s Christmas plan… His rescue mission… was powerful beyond measure.  Jesus Christ, the most significant human being to ever walk this planet… was mighty.  Even as a tiny baby, His mere presence changed the course of history.  At the mention of His name, kings kneeled… wise men gathered gifts… and prophecies were fulfilled.   God knew exactly what His earth needed… a Savior… a loving, serving, giving, sustaining, providing, merciful, power source that would allow repentant people to have a relationship with their Creator. 

So spend part of your Christmas season thanking God for the majesty and power of His Son… thank Him for His provision and His presence in your life.    He is all that you need… all you could ever want… all powerful… all-knowing… and everywhere at one time.  He is the Alpha and Omega… the Beginning and the End… He is Almighty Lord and Everlasting Savior.  Jesus is glorious… and His love for you knows no bounds.  You are His masterpiece… and your presence on this planet is purposeful and specific.  Never forget that.  You matter.  How do you know?  Because over two-thousand years ago, God sent His Son… as a baby.    And that baby would one day grow up to sacrifice Himself on a cross and be resurrected three days later…  

For you.   For your eternity.   

Christ did that so you could live power-filled lives… confident that you don’t have to do it all on your own.   Hold your heads up … pray and give thanks… and this Christmas, celebrate the greatest gift this world has ever known.   

Investing

Below the Federal Reserve Bank in New York City sits five stories of priceless gold.  Locked behind a 90 ton steel door… in a maze of over 100 vaults… the precious metal sits protected and safe.  It is said that each vault can house 100,000 bricks of gold… and the total value of the stash?  Tens of billions of dollars per compartment… several hundred billion overall.

It would seem to most people that this gold is very safe.  After all, who could get down there let alone get anything back up.  But no matter how many steel doors you put on a structure, there is still a chance of something turning up missing or stolen.  The Bible talks about our inability to protect our treasure in Matthew 6:19-20 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”  Truth is… no matter how secure, put away, taken care of, or protected our stuff on this planet is… it’s still isn’t 100% theft-proof.  Want to have eternal treasure?  Something that lasts forever?  Start building a stockpile in Heaven!  Talk to others about Jesus… invest your resources in the local church…. spend time serving others and taking care of those in need.  It is then that you are generating eternal wealth.  And while it may not glimmer like gold… it is far more valuable.  

Temporary

C.S. Lewis once wrote "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."

We often forget that we are temporary residents here on Earth... and for the brief time we are here, we have a purpose and a goal:  to share the great news of Christ with the world!   But ultimately, God has created us for much longer than that!  Ecclesiastes 3 tells us that God has set “eternity in the hearts of men.”  If you are a Christ-follower, you will live forever... and all the stresses, strains, and sadness you may be feeling as a part    this planet will eventually give way to everlasting peace.   Until we return home, let’s commit to living every day as effectively as we can... to change this world for Christ so that many more will spend their forever in the presence of the One that created them for greatness.  

Living With Purpose

62 year old John Brandrick was given a grim diagnosis.... pancreatic cancer... 6 months to live.  John decided that he was going to go out in style!  He quit his job, stopped paying his mortgage, emptied his savings accounts and sold all that he had.  He lived lavishly... enjoying expensive dining, entertainment, and travel.  Problem is... 6 months passed and Mr. Brandrick’s health remained the same.  No deterioration.  No pain.  A follow-up scan revealed that he didn’t have cancer at all.  He never did.  He had been misdiagnosed.  And while relieved, John now faced financial ruin due to the error.  

John lived carelessly because he feared that he was dying.  Some of us live exactly the opposite... we live carelessly because we feel we’re going to live on earth forever.  We build wealth without being generous... avoid a relationship with God because we think we’ll have the chance later... and spend a majority of our time on things that won’t come with us when our life is over.  If this is you... it’s not too late.   Ask yourself... How would life change if tomorrow were my last day of breath?   What would I tell the people in my life that I hold most dear?  What would I do about my eternity?  Scripture tells us in James 4 that we shouldn’t think we know what tomorrow holds... So why not do those things now?  Today.  Secure your place in Heaven by allowing Christ to lead your life.  Tell those around you how you feel about them.  Invest your money in eternal things through the local church.  Make the choice to live with purpose and intentionality... knowing that life truly begins when we prepare ourselves for what happens when it ends.  

Temporary

C.S. Lewis once wrote "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."

We often forget that we are temporary residents here on Earth... and for the brief time we are here, we have a purpose and a goal:  to share the great news of Christ with the world!   But ultimately, God has created us for much longer than that!  Ecclesiastes 3 tells us that God has set “eternity in the hearts of men.”  If you are a Christ-follower, you will live forever... and all the stresses, strains, and sadness you may be feeling as a part    this planet will eventually give way to everlasting peace.   Until we return home, let’s commit to living every day as effectively as we can... to change this world for Christ so that many more will spend their forever in the presence of the One that created them for greatness.  

Another World

C.S. Lewis once wrote "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."

We often forget that we are temporary residents here on Earth... and for the brief time we are here, we have a purpose and a goal:  to share the great news of Christ with the world!   But ultimately, God has created us for much longer than that!  Ecclesiastes 3 tells us that God has set “eternity in the hearts of men.”  If you are a Christ-follower, you will live forever... and all the stresses, strains, and sadness you may be feeling as a part    this planet will eventually give way to everlasting peace.   Until we return home, let’s commit to living every day as effectively as we can... to change this world for Christ so that many more will spend their forever in the presence of the One that created them for greatness.