Which Is More Important To You?

The other night just before I was about to fall asleep a thought started to circulate in my mind and soon I was tossing about pondering it. There are times I truly believe that God wants me to listen and the only time I can truly be still is just as I lay my head on the pillow. I know I was not dreaming this because I could hear the dog snoring at the end of the bed.

The question was this: Which is more important to you, the thought of living an eternal life or the idea of being with Jesus in Glory?

John 3:16 states “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.”

Yes, eternal life is the promise of God that, by His Son and through His sacrifice on the cross we can know eternity with God but too many seek eternity by their own means and have lost sight of the true victory; life eternal WITH God. There have been quests be many an explorer throughout history. Juan Ponce de León sought out the Fountain of Youth in a hopes to live forever. There are some who believe that drinking from the Chalice of Christ, the Holy Grail, will grant the eternal life to the person who drinks from the cup. There are some religions that even teach that we live, die and are reincarnated into another life or life form and thus are living forever. Is mankind fixated on living forever and therefore lost sight of the true treasure?

Jesus said to the disciples in Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” The key for me in this passage the last line, “and surely I am with you always”.

We live our lives looking to Jesus, celebrating His life and death for us and many preach and teach the life eternal in Heaven but last night my mind was awash thinking that it is not the eternal aspect that is important but rather the promise of being with Jesus always. In that promise lies the victory.

This Sunday we look at the victorious return of the King of kings into the city where the seat of the Father resides.

Shalom

Pastor Todd