Hey Lightbrights, welcome back to the blog!
It's day 3 and today's subject is one of great promise and expectancy! I get excited and joyful thinking about spending eternity with Jesus, and I want you to have that same excitement for the hereafter.
The bible speaks to the believer in a lot of ways and places in regards to eternity. And thought it doesn't go in depth to what exactly what we will be doing it gives us enough nuggets to know our eternity will be grand and blissful forever in communion with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. My mind often thinks of eternity thru out the days and weeks, and I really dwell on those thoughts as the passing of a love one and when I have to attend a funeral. If we're honest, it's in those times that we can't help but think and ponder where our love one is. We see the shell of the body but without a lifeforce dwelling in it, so thoughts of eternity and where they are will definitely seep into your mind. So, let's see what God has revealed in His word on the promise of eternity for all believers.
We can equate the word eternity with the word eternal. The definition of eternal is lasting or existing forever; without end or beginning. Eternity is defined in the bible as timeless existence -being or entity without change. So we conclude that eternity is forever, once there we are there in whatever state we are in. Eternity is great and unbelievable in regards to heaven, and is just as an unbelievable state and thought of terror to be cast into hell for the unbeliever.
John 3:16 tells us "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." This is one of the 1st promises of eternity. This promise to the believer shows us that our belief in Jesus seals us for an eternity with Him. An eternity of life- abundance, happiness and indescribable joy! This is in stark contrast to what we perceive as life on this side. On this side we get both joy and pain, happiness and grief -because of our fallen sin state. But eternity with God is a state without any of those bad things , we will be far removed from what sin brought into the world and how it affected humans. Jesus said in John 5:24 "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." You and I (if we are believers) sin's were judged and dealt with at the cross. We have passed over from death to life ! That awesome news should make you want to praise God and live for Him even more! We have something that can never be taken from us. As Jesus abides in us, and us in Him- this promise of eternity can and should be held on to by every believer!
Our eternal state has been sealed in Christ Jesus, and no one can pluck us out of His hand.
The bible was written for our benefit- to know God and His promises. To know the Son and to know and abide with the Holy Spirit within us. John wrote his gospel so believers then and now could hold onto the promise of God per 1 John 5:13- he wrote " I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."
This hope is what I remind myself of. Those days when I'm tired of life, tired of going to funerals of loved ones and friends, tired of the world and all the sin, tired of things looking like they just will never get better! It's in those times I am reminded most, that this world is not my home. I'm just journeying here. My real eternal home is being prepared by Jesus and someday , according to the Father's will , He will return for me and take not only me, but also those who have died in Him, to our new home, to be with Him forever.
The promise of eternity for us is no more sorrow or pain or hurt or longing. Rev. 21:4 says, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
So what do we do with this information- this promise of eternity? Do we keep it to ourselves, and just ignore the people we see with no hope? Do we put our head in the sand, and not worry about all the unsaved people we know? Those who have no hope, are suicidal, slaves to sin and living without the knowledge of our Lord Jesus? A resounding answer to all those questions is NO!
Jesus told His disciples ( that's also you and me) "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" Matt.28:19
This promise of eternity and forgiveness is one too great to keep to ourselves!
It's our job to witness in whatever way possible. Whether that's thru teaching, preaching, singing, blogging(like me) wearing Christian clothing, doing ministry work--however that looks for you- you should be doing it!
Our job is to make heaven full ! The opposite of that would be hell- the place of eternal punishment to be full, and we certainly don't want to miss any opportunity we get to tell people about Jesus, His death, burial and resurrection. We want them to have their shot of choosing eternity with Jesus also. We know the harvest is plentiful but laborers are few.
We're too obsessed with social media, our bank accounts, our careers and ourselves to be open to allow the Holy Spirit to minister to someone thru us.
Are you available? Are you allowing yourself to reflect on the afterlife, where you're going? If your family and friends are saved? Have you shared your faith with that coworker you know is struggling?
I challenge you to ponder and think about eternity. Then think about what the Savior has done for you to spend it with Him. Then think about others.
Time is short, and we must be witnesses.
Eternity is forever. And that's a too long time to be on the wrong side of it.
Check in for day 4 of this series tomorrow- The Promise of Comfort In Our Trials.
Stay shining!
Kee Isadore
Scripture to mediate on:
Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Galatians 6:8 -Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Matthew 25:46 -Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
1 Timothy - Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
John 17:3 - Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Love this it’s speaking to the of it’s eternity thank you!