Eternity

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There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. --Galatians 3:28 Every now and then, I’ll be asked to officiate at weddings at other churches across town. I remember one time specifically when I walked in and saw the pastor of this particular church who had been faithful in ministry for nearly fifty years. Our church had just recently taken out an ad in the paper congratulating him on his ministry, and he was so grateful for that show of appreciation from another church. There’s a popular misconception among many today that churches are competing for members. Now, I’m not saying it never happens, but I can tell you one thing: that’s not how the Bible calls the body of Christ to act. In fact, churches should be in the business of building up one another because in Christ, we’re all one! As the body of Christ, we need hundreds and thousands of people working together to expand the Kingdom. We need one another. So whether you’re Jew or Greek, male or female, Baptist, Methodist, or whatever denomination, so long as Christ is at the center and you share a common faith in His death, burial, and resurrection, stay united and work together for His glory! RATHER THAN FINDING REASONS TO ARGUE AND COMPETE, BE UNIFIED IN THE BODY OF CHRIST AND WORK WITH OTHERS FOR HIS GLORY. Eternity Friday, March 20, 2020 by Dr. Paul Chappell “And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” Revelation 1:16–18 When John was given his vision of Heaven on the Isle of Patmos, he was terrified. But then Jesus reached out to comfort him. To provide that comfort, He focused John’s gaze on His unending, unfailing and unchanging power that reaches beyond time. Jesus died for us once, but now He is alive forever, and gives the promise of eternal life to all those who trust in Him. Because we live bound by time, it is hard for us to imagine, but eternity will never end. The English Puritan pastor Stephen Charnock wrote, “Time is fluid, but eternity is stable; and after many ages, the joys will be as savory and satisfying as if they had been but that moment first tasted by our hungry appetites. When the glory of the Lord shall rise upon you, it shall be so far from ever setting, that after millions of years are expired, as numerous as the sands on the seashore, the sun, in the light of whose countenance you shall live, shall be as bright as at the first appearance.” Any promise is only as good as the person making it. Our eternity is promised and guaranteed by a God who never fails. Paul wrote, “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). The promise of eternity is good as long as the Lord lives, and He will never die. Today's Growth Principle: When the changes of time are no more, we will spend eternity with the Lord Jesus in Heaven.