Here And Hereafter

Eternity is man’s destiny.
 
You and I should remember that all of us have a date with eternity.
 
Solomon says so in our word for your week. “God has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart….” Ecclesiastes 3:11a
 
·      God has set eternity in our hearts. Our Creator created us to be eternal. Because everything is appropriate in its time (God’s time and timing), we have an appointment with eternity that is scheduled on God’s cosmic calendar.  
 
I serve and minister to people who often have lost sight of the big picture of life. Struggling with their current situation their perspective is short-sighted. They are overwhelmed and consumed with here and not concerned about the hereafter.
 
Isn’t it interesting that we human beings who are eternal get so hung up on the temporal? Honestly, sometimes you and I are so earthly minded that we are not much heavenly good!
 

• Life is not all about here….it is all about the hereafter.

 
For believers in Christ, this earthly life is not our destiny or final destination. Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:20 that a Christian’s home is in heaven. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
 
If you think about it, a Christian, living in a fallen, hostile, anti-Christ world, is in reality, homeless. Our real residence, our spiritual home, is heavenly, not earthly. Jesus is preparing our home for us right now (John 14:1-6). I imagine that our residences in heaven will be awesome to say the least!
 

• Christians should consider life here and now in light of the hereafter.

 
According to S cripture, each of us chooses our eternal destiny. Resurrection to eternal death in hell or eternal life in heaven are the options (John 5:25-29, Romans 6:23, John 14:6, John 3:16). Eternity is never ending. Earthly life has an end line. How we live here and cross that line determines how we live hereafter.
 

• Life is too short and eternity is too long to not live right.

 
When I meet with precious people who are hurting, I direct them to look to the Lord for the healing, restoration and renewal they need. Our earthly lives are important. God put us here for a purpose. Living our lives in a holy, wholesome, healthy, righteous manner, for our Creator’s glory, is God’s will for each of us. Jesus came to give “abundant life” (John 10:10).
 
 In addition to abundant life on earth, Jesus sacrificed His life so we could live with Him in heaven for eternity.  Abundant, eternal life in Christ should cause us to pause and look at our here and now lives in light of the hereafter.    
 
Life Is Too Short And Eternity Is Too Long….
 

• To reject Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.
• To not allow the Lord to heal your broken heart and bind up your wounds.
• To live a selfish, self-centered, self-absorbed,” it’s all about me” lifestyle.
• To suck your thumb, drag around your woe is me blankie, throw temper tantrums, and wallow in the pit of self pity.
• To keep beating yourself up over past mistakes and failings.
• To hold a grudge, to nurse a hurt, to curse someone.
• To not release anger, resentment, bitterness and other ugly stuff from your heart.
• To not ask forgiveness of people you have wronged.
• To withhold forgiveness from people who have hurt you.
• To not reconcile an estranged relationship that matters to you.
• To withhold blessing when it is in your power to bless others.
• To not give thanks and praise to God for giving you life and all the blessings you experience everyday.  

 
Important question to answer: Do you have an eternal perspective while you live your earthly life? Do you desire to live right here and now? Right living (righteousness in Christ) is laid out in God’s Word, the Bible. If you want to live life right for time and eternity, pattern your life after the truth, principles, promises and the person of Jesus Christ revealed in the Word of God.
 

• My friend, eternity is just around the bend. Around the bend is not the end. It is the beginning of all that matters. Eternal life in glory with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I just shouted HALLELUJAH!!!!!!

 

• Get your life in order. Then keep it in order while you have opportunity.

 
“According to my earnest expectation and hope, that I shall not be put to shame in anything but that with all boldness, Christ shall even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or death.”                                           Philippians 1:20
 
A Word For Your Week: Live your life in the light of eternity