Super Bowl Sunday has just passed, and soon the Olympics will take place. The victors will be rewarded with medals, rings, and a trophy, and billions of dollars will be spent on commercials, entertainment, and even illegal gambling. All of our attention will be focused on these events, and athletes will become heroes. Even these greatest sporting events though will fade from memory, and pass away into history, as is the manner of all natural things in the world. The trophies will rust, and the medals will be lost to time. We, however, are called, not to works that will pass away and be forgotten, but to works that last throughout eternity.
In a poem written by C.T. Studd, there is a line that reads:
"Only one life, twill soon be past.
Only what's done for Christ will last."
The thought that the author conveyed is scriptural, and is especially important for us to know in these end times.
Apostle Peter makes a point about the fate of the natural world, and asks an important question:
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God..." 2 Pet. 3:10-12
Our lives, our actions and words, should be shaped by the knowledge that natural, or temporal, things that occupy so much of the world's focus, ought not to be our focus, as these very things are destined to be destroyed. Not only that, but the eternally minded believer, actually hastens the return of Christ.
Jesus told a parable of a very wealthy man, who had been blessed with land that had brought forth plenty. He thought about the problem of how to store all of this increased abundance, so he spent his time pulling down his old barns, and building greater barns to store all his bounty (Lk. 12:16-18). The man counted on satisfying his soul with the fact that, by storing all his goods, he would be set for years, and could then relax and enjoy life. "But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" Lk. 12:20
After spending so much time and effort on his goods, the wealthy man wasn't going to live to enjoy them after all. Jesus warned about the idea of laying up treasure for ourselves, instead of for God (v. 21). We spend a great deal of our time every day concerned with the things that will only pass away.
Jesus cautioned that our attitudes and conduct should be like that of a watching servant waiting for the return of his master. Our loins are to be girded, and the lights in our lamps burning. He concluded by saying, "Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." (Lk. 12:35-40). The world may scoff (2 Pet. 3:3) at the idea of the imminent return of Christ, caring only about life's current pleasures, but we, who know better, are to be awake, dressed, with our light shining. Those wise servants who are doing the work will be blessed by their returning master:
"Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath". Lk. 12:43-44
What is the work that should have us awake, dressed in truth, and holding lighted lamps? The prophets spoke of building the LORD's house. While God's people had the desire to build and re-build their own houses, the LORD's house laid in ruins. The prophet warned them to "consider their ways" (Hag. 1:3-5). Even as the people spent time, money and effort upon their own houses, they were not prospering in any way. As long as the LORD's house remained unbuilt, all the land would suffer lack of every kind (v. 9-11). However, the establishing of the LORD's house, would not only powerfully impact Israel in every way, but all the nations of the world (Isa. 2:1-3).
In the same manner, the building of the LORD's spiritual house is to be our purpose and priority. We build His house out of living stones, like ourselves. Though the world may find this of no value, we are the chosen and precious in God's sight as we bring to others what we have received(1 Pet. 2:3-5). This is the acceptable spiritual sacrifice which we offer as the holy priesthood of His House. We build the spiritual house by teaching and living the Word and character of the Lord before others, showing them by word and deed the way to salvation, making disciples, whom He teaches from His House. We bring them into the House, and the House is enlarged and completed with these souls, these living stones.
C.T. Studd, the writer mentioned above, also gave us this quote:
"If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him."
Let us be about doing the works that are eternal.
To Contact/Submit Prayer Request/To Support the Ministry:
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
http://endtimeschool.com/
PayPal Available
To hear the complete message from Dr. Stevenson:
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
Dr. Stevenson's newest book, "NAZAH", is now available. To order, please visit the above links.
Complete poem by C.T. Studd:
Only One Life Twill Soon Be Past
Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:
Jesus, I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, and also fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.
Apostle Peter makes a point about the fate of the natural world, and asks an important question:
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God..." 2 Pet. 3:10-12
Our lives, our actions and words, should be shaped by the knowledge that natural, or temporal, things that occupy so much of the world's focus, ought not to be our focus, as these very things are destined to be destroyed. Not only that, but the eternally minded believer, actually hastens the return of Christ.
Jesus told a parable of a very wealthy man, who had been blessed with land that had brought forth plenty. He thought about the problem of how to store all of this increased abundance, so he spent his time pulling down his old barns, and building greater barns to store all his bounty (Lk. 12:16-18). The man counted on satisfying his soul with the fact that, by storing all his goods, he would be set for years, and could then relax and enjoy life. "But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" Lk. 12:20
After spending so much time and effort on his goods, the wealthy man wasn't going to live to enjoy them after all. Jesus warned about the idea of laying up treasure for ourselves, instead of for God (v. 21). We spend a great deal of our time every day concerned with the things that will only pass away.
Jesus cautioned that our attitudes and conduct should be like that of a watching servant waiting for the return of his master. Our loins are to be girded, and the lights in our lamps burning. He concluded by saying, "Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." (Lk. 12:35-40). The world may scoff (2 Pet. 3:3) at the idea of the imminent return of Christ, caring only about life's current pleasures, but we, who know better, are to be awake, dressed, with our light shining. Those wise servants who are doing the work will be blessed by their returning master:
"Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath". Lk. 12:43-44
What is the work that should have us awake, dressed in truth, and holding lighted lamps? The prophets spoke of building the LORD's house. While God's people had the desire to build and re-build their own houses, the LORD's house laid in ruins. The prophet warned them to "consider their ways" (Hag. 1:3-5). Even as the people spent time, money and effort upon their own houses, they were not prospering in any way. As long as the LORD's house remained unbuilt, all the land would suffer lack of every kind (v. 9-11). However, the establishing of the LORD's house, would not only powerfully impact Israel in every way, but all the nations of the world (Isa. 2:1-3).
In the same manner, the building of the LORD's spiritual house is to be our purpose and priority. We build His house out of living stones, like ourselves. Though the world may find this of no value, we are the chosen and precious in God's sight as we bring to others what we have received(1 Pet. 2:3-5). This is the acceptable spiritual sacrifice which we offer as the holy priesthood of His House. We build the spiritual house by teaching and living the Word and character of the Lord before others, showing them by word and deed the way to salvation, making disciples, whom He teaches from His House. We bring them into the House, and the House is enlarged and completed with these souls, these living stones.
C.T. Studd, the writer mentioned above, also gave us this quote:
"If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him."
Let us be about doing the works that are eternal.
To Contact/Submit Prayer Request/To Support the Ministry:
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
http://endtimeschool.com/
PayPal Available
To hear the complete message from Dr. Stevenson:
https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8
Dr. Stevenson's newest book, "NAZAH", is now available. To order, please visit the above links.
Complete poem by C.T. Studd:
Only One Life Twill Soon Be Past
Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:
Jesus, I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, and also fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.
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