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Living for Eternity

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.”
Luke 17:33
Polycarp was a powerful leader of the early church. It seems that he was a personal disciple of the Apostle John, who ordained Polycarp to be the pastor of the church at Smyrna. After years of faithful service, a great persecution arose against those in the church who refused to offer incense to Caesar. Polycarp was threatened with death if he would not recant his faith in Christ alone. The old Christian replied, “Eighty and six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King and Saviour? You threaten me with a fire that burns for a season, and after a little while is quenched; but you are ignorant of the fire of everlasting punishment that is prepared for the wicked.” The sentence of execution was carried out, but Polycarp’s faith was not extinguished.
While none of us are eager to be martyred for our faith, we should all be willing to give our lives rather than deny the Lord. The real test most of us face is not whether to make the ultimate sacrifice or turn away from God to preserve our lives, but whether or not to make the small sacrifices of doing right when doing wrong would be more convenient or profitable in the short run. If our faith is not strong enough to overcome small temptations and give us the victory over the world that God promises to us, we should not think that it will be strong enough to stand a more serious test. The answer to the question of what we would do if our faith were put to the ultimate test is found in what we love the most—ourselves and our temporary lives or God and His eternal life.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

If our lives are more precious to us than our love of Jesus, we will never serve Him faithfully as we should.

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Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.   --Ephesians 4:26-27 A few years ago, I read an article in the USA Today that talked about the devastating effects of anger. In fact, the article listed hostility and anger (especially in men) as dangerous to our physical health as high cholesterol and obesity! Not only will bitterness chain you to the past, contaminate your personality, and color your relationship with Christ, but it will choke your productivity. This includes your physical productivity, your emotional productivity, and your mental productivity. When you live with bitterness and anger in your life, you can’t be productive in anything you do. Your mind will be distorted and you’ll make all kinds of bad decisions.   What’s funny—and tragic—is that a lot of people call anger and bitterness something else entirely. They call it “righteous indignation” or their “sense of justice.” But I call it something else: sin! When we live with the unrepentant sin of bitterness, it rips us from the inside out. And ultimately, if we don’t root it out of our lives, we become critical and cynical! Take time today to look at your life and see if you are giving place to bitterness and anger.  If so, ask God to help you root it out so that you can live fully for our Lord. If you live with bitterness and anger in your life, you will never be fully productive for Christ.