Posts with the tag “eternity”

Everything you can put in a box will eventually rust, break, or belong to someone else. So where are you actually storing your treasure?  Read More

Two others—criminals—were also led away to be executed with him. When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. – Luke 23:32-33In 2009, a man named James Washington was nearing the end of a 15-year prison sentence when he suffered a massive heart attack behind bars. Lying on what he believed was his deathbe...  Read More

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” - Colossians 3:1 Resurrection is not just something Christians believe happened to Jesus. It is something that is meant to show up in the way you live. When God brings someone to life in Christ, the change does not stay hidden. Over time, it begins to surface in how you think, respo...  Read More

“So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” - Colossians 3:1 Sometimes, we can lose sight of life and start living as if this life is all there is. Bills, schedules, pressure, and expectations pull your attention downward every day. Even as a believer, your focus can slowly shrink to what is urgent instead of what is eternal. W...  Read More

"But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." – Matthew 6:3-4 There is a quiet confidence that comes from doing the right thing for the right reason. Jesus never told us to stop giving, serving, or living with purpose. What He warned us about was doing all of t...  Read More

"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." – 2 Corinthians 4:17Life often feels like a daily crawl from one moment to the next. Many of us wake up each day focused only on surviving, meeting our needs, and making it through to tomorrow. It can feel like the here and now is all there is, like the struggles we face are the whole story....  Read More

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." – Philippians 3:20 I once heard a story about two babies, still in the womb, having a conversation. One baby asked the other, “Do you believe in life after birth?” The second baby laughed it off, saying, “Of course not, this is all there is. We live in the dark, we are fed through this cord, and that’s the en...  Read More

"But the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." – Revelation 20:10 There is coming a day when the enemy of your soul will finally be defeated. Not symbolically. Not temporarily. Fully and forever. The Bible tells us how this all ends. After Satan is released for ...  Read More

"Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years." – Revelation 20:4 The Bible gives us an incredible promise. One day, when Jesus returns and establishes His kingdom on earth, the Saints will reign with Him. That means every believer, everyone who belongs to Jesus, will share in His authority. He will ...  Read More

"Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him." – Revelation 1:7 For over 2,000 years, people have been talking, wondering, and waiting for one of the greatest promises in Scripture, the return of Jesus Christ. And in Revelation 19, we’re given a glimpse of what that moment will be like. John writes, “Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white hor...  Read More

"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." - 1 Corinthians 13:12 Not long ago, I found myself driving early one morning through a heavy, blinding fog. I could barely see the road lines, and construction barriers loomed somewhere on both sides. I slowed to a crawl, unsure of where to go, feeling a little s...  Read More

"The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore." - Psalm 121:7-8 When the Bible talks about God as our source of security, it’s not just a temporary promise. It’s a permanent one. God’s protection is both for today and for eternity. That’s what makes His security unending. Let’s break down wha...  Read More

"When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." - Colossians 3:4 If someone asked you to define what it means to be a Christian, what would you say? I think the simplest and most accurate way to put it is this: Christ is your life. That’s real Christianity. It’s not about Jesus being a part of your life or even an important piece of it. It’s not about making Hi...  Read More

"For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." - Colossians 3:3 This verse says something powerful, you’ve died. But wait, we just read that you’ve been raised with Christ. So, what’s going on here? It’s all about identity. When Jesus died, your old self died too. The sinner separated from God is no more. That version of you is dead and gone. But it doesn’t stop there. The new yo...  Read More

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." - Colossians 3:1-2 Real Christianity changes how you see the world. Paul says if you’ve been raised with Christ, your focus should be on things above. It’s not just a suggestion, it’s a reminder that ...  Read More

"The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him." - John 3:36 As a kid, you probably got in trouble at some point. Maybe you got grounded, lost privileges, or had to sit in timeout. Whatever the punishment was, it never lasted forever. No matter how serious it seemed in the moment, eventually, it passed....  Read More

"For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God." – Romans 14:10 As a human being, it is easy to get caught up in what people think about you. The pressure to meet expectations, gain approval, and avoid criticism can feel overwhelming. But at the end of your life, when you stand before God, no one else’s opinion will matter. The only voice that will count is His. Romans 14:10 reminds us tha...  Read More

"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." – Matthew 12:30 There will come a day when people willingly take the mark of the beast. Some will be convinced—believing that one leader, one government, and one system is the best path forward. Some will be careless—not thinking twice about what it means, just wanting to keep their lives comfortable. And some wi...  Read More

"For we walk by faith, not by sight." - 2 Corinthians 5:7 If your mind works anything like mine, you probably take things literally when you read them. That’s why, for years, I imagined Revelation’s description of the beast as some kind of sea monster—something straight out of a sci-fi movie, rising out of the water with multiple heads, horns, crowns, and maybe even some intimidating tattoos. But ...  Read More

"Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." - Matthew 24:44 As we discussed yesterday, we love the idea of status. Whether it’s in life, in church, or even in something as simple as airline boarding, people like knowing where they rank. But when it comes to eternity, there is no ranking system. There’s no first class or economy, no front row or ba...  Read More

"And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life." - 1 John 2:25 Do you remember the joy of anticipation as a child? Whether it was a Christmas gift, a long-awaited vacation, or a surprise from your parents, the build-up to something amazing could feel almost unbearable. It wasn’t just about the gift, it was about the journey to uncover it, the clues along the way, and the realization that...  Read More

"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place." – Revelation 1:1 When we read that the things of Revelation "must soon take place," it's easy to get caught up in the idea of time. After all, this was written 2,000 years ago. So why haven’t all these events already occurred? The answer lies in the word "soon" but not in the way we u...  Read More

"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John." – Revelation 1:1 When you think about the book of Revelation, what comes to mind? Prophecies? Signs and symbols? While those elements are part of this remarkable book, Revelation is so much more. It’s not primarily a book abou...  Read More

"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place." – Revelation 1:1 The word Revelation comes from the Greek word Apokalypsis, which means “the removal of a veil so that something can be seen.” Imagine an artist standing before a captivated crowd, lifting the veil off a masterpiece for the very first time. That unveiling reveals the b...  Read More

"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." – Matthew 9:37-38 The book of Revelation is a vivid reminder of the reality of eternity. It paints a picture of what’s to come, and as you read it, the weight of that reality can’t help but stir something in your heart. For those of us who know Jesus, it...  Read More

"For he says, 'In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." – 2 Corinthians 6:2 The book of Revelation has a way of cutting through the noise of life. It forces you to confront the reality of eternity and the truth that the end times are not a distant possibility but a promise. We don’t...  Read More

“Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." – Matthew 24:42 One of the most common questions people ask me is, “Do you think we’re living in the last days?” Studies show that 63% of Evangelicals and 40% of the general population believe we are. The curiosity about the end times is nothing new; even as a little boy, I remember asking my dad when Jesus would return....  Read More

"Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near." – Revelation 1:3 The book of Revelation is one that many shy away from, often labeled as too mysterious, too controversial, or too complex to tackle. Yet, within its pages lies a promise of blessing unlike any other book in the Bible. When you o...  Read More

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” - John 14:27   When Jesus came, He didn’t just promise peace, nor did He only embody peace. He actively GIVES us peace, an invitation to live with His assurance every single day. In John 14:27, Jesus tells His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my...  Read More

“And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”- 1 Peter 5:4   Jesus is called our Good Shepherd, our Great Shepherd, and our Chief Shepherd. Each of these titles reveals something powerful about Him. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep. His death brought redemption and forgiveness. He’s the Great Shepherd who lives for His sheep, gu...  Read More

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”- John 10:28    One of the most comforting truths about Jesus is that He is fiercely protective of His flock. As the Good Shepherd, He doesn’t just lead you, He guards you. Imagine Him standing at the entrance of a cave, placing Himself in harm’s way to protect you from wandering off or from danger c...  Read More

“And behold, a man came up to him, saying, ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’ And he said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good.’” - Matthew 19:16-17    We often measure goodness by our actions. By what we do or don’t do. Maybe you’ve asked yourself a similar question: “What good must I do to be enough?” It’s easy to fall into the trap ...  Read More

"For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come." – Hebrews 13:14    How many of you would say today that you're living "the good life"? When I think of that phrase, I’m reminded of Robin Leach and his show, "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." I used to watch it and think, "Wow, that's living the good life." For many, 'the good life' conjures images of luxu...  Read More

“The one who conquers will be clothed the same way, in white garments, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.” - Revelation 3:5    Picture the scene: standing before God in heaven, and Jesus Himself speaks your name. This is the third promise Jesus makes to those who remain faithful: “I will acknowledge his name befo...  Read More

“The one who conquers will be clothed the same way, in white garments, and I will never erase his name from the book of life.” - Revelation 3:5    When you are faithful, you hold a secure, permanent spot in a cherished record, where your name is irreversibly written and will never be removed. This is the second part of Jesus’ promise to those who are faithful: “I will never erase his name from the...  Read More

“Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” - Revelation 2:10   In Revelation 2:10, Jesus promises the crown of life to those who are faithful until death. This crown symbolizes eternal life, a promise echoed in James 1:12: “Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who ...  Read More

"When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." - Colossians 3:4   If you were to ask me today what the secrets to sacrifice are, I would start with this: Jesus doesn't want just a part of you; He wants all of you. He doesn't desire a fraction of your life; He wants to be your life. Let that sink in for a moment. Colossians 3:4 declares, "When Christ, who is yo...  Read More

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:18   When making decisions it can be easy to get caught up in the here and now—the temporary concerns and fleeting pleasures that surround us. But as followers of Christ, we're called to a higher perspective, one that prioritizes the eternal over the te...  Read More

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." - John 1:12  In the journey of life, one fundamental truth stands firm: because of Jesus, we have the incredible privilege of belonging to God. Through Jesus Christ, we not only have the opportunity to know God but also to be known by Him, to be forgiven and accepted as His beloved chi...  Read More

"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to." - Luke 13:24   Jesus tells us in Luke 13:24, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to." When Jesus says, "Make every effort," He's talking about your actions and your life decisions. So, here's the...  Read More