WHAT IS ETERNAL LIFE?

Many people do not know what Eternal Life is. Someone say, “Eternal life is living forever.” But that’s not it. No one ceases to exist when they die. We all live forever in either heaven or hell. Others say: “Eternal life is living forever in heaven instead of hell.” It is not. Many people wait to die before they think they will experience Eternal Life. But that is also a mistake. A Christian is defined as a person who has Eternal Life. We are all born sinners. Therefore, we totally lack the knowledge of Eternal Life. The ultimate purpose of Salvation is that we might have Eternal Life. It is the life of God, the highest quality of life, full of grace and glory. It is a knowing type of life. You know God the Father and God the Son. Eternal Life is a free gift of Grace, from God the Father and God the Son, given to those sinners who are justified by faith. Justification is not the same as eternal Life. Justification is like the clearing of the ground before you build your “house” called Eternal Life. It is a present possession. You don’t have to wait to die. You start to experience it immediately. It is perpetual. It goes on and on and on. It lasts forever. It reproduces itself with never-ending growth, power and beauty. It is totally resistant to sin and death. Nothing quenches it. Even when the Christian falls into sin and backslides, the Eternal Life in him goes on. It is Resurrection Life.

Eternal Life is synonymous with Jesus Christ. It is found only in Jesus Christ. It cannot be produced by men, bought or earned. Like any gift, it is wrapped in the Word of God. Faith in Jesus is the only key that opens this treasure. It is independent of time. It works both within time and outside time. Like Faith, it manifests thru the preaching of God’s Word. Like Agape Love, it manifests in total and joyful obedience to God’s commands. Eternal Life is free for us but very expensive to God, because Jesus paid for it with His precious Blood. It is the only Life that satisfies the thirsty soul. Eternal Life means going to heaven! Amen! In Greek, the word “eternal” life is “aionios”. It carries the idea of quality as well as quantity. It is a special life, a different quality of life, the life of God who is eternal. It’s an overflowing life, spiritually rich and satisfying, so great that it is more than you can possibly use. It is a life of “Fulness and Grace upon Grace” (Jn 1:16). This Eternal Life reproduces itself with a never-ending growth, power, beauty and variety. It is totally resistant to death. It has the highest glory. It begins now and continues forever. God gave us Eternal Life to share His Love. We said: “Go, we hate You!”, God said: “I love you!” Eternal Life is the greatest Gift given to man. Christ spoke easily about Eternal Life but did not try to define it. It means that His disciples knew already what Eternal Life is. The power, confidence, satisfaction, peace, joy and hope found in Eternal Life can’t be compared with any other.

“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Jn 6:66-69). Here we see that some people do not receive the words of Eternal Life. They love the miracles of Jesus but not His words. But others, like Peter love and receive the words of Eternal Life given by Jesus Christ. At that time, there were many teachers. But none spoke with the authority of Jesus. None could give them words that have eternal impact. Peter knows that Jesus is unique. He is the Living Word, the Way, the Truth and the Eternal Life! To forsake Jesus means spiritual suicide. Like Peter, we too must be committed and follow Jesus to the end of life!

“Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (Jn 17:1-3). We now study at “the gain” we have at the Cross. The Hour has come for Jesus to die, to pay with His Blood for our sins. A door of salvation has been opened for us to be saved by grace and through faith in Christ. This salvation comes as Eternal Life. Once a sinner is justified by faith, he receives Eternal Life.  

The devil does not want men to know about the great transaction that has happened at the Cross. Many Christians are looking depressed because they have not seen the value of this Eternal Life they have received. If Christians are looking sad, it means that the glory of God in salvation is reduced. “A growing population is a king’s glory; a prince without subjects has nothing” (PV 14:28; NLT). In ancient times, a king was considered glorious, strong, and stable if he had many subjects in his domain. If a king or a prince had no subjects, it meant that he had no power, stability, or influence. King Solomon ruled his kingdom well. Many foreigners become his subjects. Isreal was glorious. But his son, King Rehoboam became proud and lost 10 out of the 12 tribes under his authority. A spiritual leader should imitate the Lord Jesus who came to serve the people. Humble service to your followers will in turn give you strength, honor and resources. Ignoring the needs of the people brings a downfall. A healthy and growing church reflects the glory of God on earth.

Jesus is the Source of all Life. Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jn 14:6). These are key concepts, each representing a unique aspect of Jesus’ divine role and mission. Jesus declares Himself as the only Mediator, the only way men can reconcile with God the Father. Jesus is not just a guide to God. He is the Way Itself, and the Progress on that Way. He is the exclusive path of righteousness and holiness that connects men and God. Jesus also declares Himself to be The Truth, the ultimate revelation of God to men. The glory of God is seen on the face of Christ (2Cor 4:6). He is the Word made flesh (Jn 1:14). “In Him was Life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men” (Jn 1:4; AMP). Jesus is God, the source of all life, temporal and eternal, physical and spiritual. Light means Truth, purity and divine revelation. The Light of Jesus scatters the darkness. Encountering the life and light of Jesus transforms men, leading them to spiritual maturity. We are to walk in the light, knowing the truth, with a clear spiritual vision and with a clean conscience. In Christ, Truth becomes Life and Freedom! Halleluiah!

God so Loved men that He gave them Life thru His Son. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16). God love the whole world, not only Israel. This offer of salvation is extended to all people, all over the world. Jesus is God’s One and Only Begotten Son. He is unique and precious to God. Salvation and Eternal Life is received by faith in Jesus Christ. This is not just mental acceptance. It is a deep spiritual faith that receives the revelation of God’s Word about His Son. Rejecting Jesus ends in perishing or eternal separation from God, also called spiritual death. Faith in Jesus is the sole requirement for receiving eternal life. Once we become saved, we share the Gospel to all people, all over the world. Eternal life starts working immediately you become born again. It cannot be quenched even if you backslide for a season. God’s child does not sin habitually. If he is deceived by the devil and falls into sin, God will discipline him. He will repent and come back to God to continue the race. This is the proven testimony of millions of Christians, to the glory of God!

Jesus is the Resurrection Eternal Life. Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, relies on) Me [as Savior] will live even if he dies; and everyone who lives and believes in Me [as Savior] will never die. Do you believe this?” (Jn 11:25,26; AMP). Jesus tells Martha that He is the Resurrection and the Life. This is a profound declaration that Jesus is the Son of God, the source of all Life, both physical and spiritual. Faith in Jesus as your personal Savior takes away the fear of death. There is life after the physical death. Christians believe in eternal life after death, going to heaven, and the resurrection of our bodies when Jesus comes again. This is basic Christian doctrine that gives us the Living Hope. Jesus resuscitated Lazarus as a sign that He has complete authority over life and death. For the believers, death is not the end. Eternal life is stronger than death. This faith in Jesus gives us courage and hope.

NARROW GATE TO ETERNAL LIFE

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt 7:13, 14).

Our Lord confronts us with two gates leading to two different roads. There is a narrow gate, going to a difficult narrow road, leading to eternal life. The second gate is wide, going to a broad road, leading to destruction, or eternal death. The choice of gates is extremely important because it is the choice between life and death, between heaven and hell. We are all born sinners. It means that we are all born on the broad road. There are many people walking there. Some are religious. There is a crowd. There is noise, entertainment, singing and dancing. They think that they have a good life. The end of that road is in hell. The other gate is narrow. You come out from the broad road and must seek to find the narrow gate. You must make the effort to enter it. It is not easy to find and to enter the narrow gate. You must leave behind all the things you loved before you met Jesus, the worldly crowd, your family and friends. You must even leave yourself out, your way of thinking in the flesh, all your sinful baggage. Once you enter, the road remains narrow to the end. It will be impossible to love the old life. You must walk this road alone. Salvation is personal. It is a lonely road. Progress is made slowly, through dying to self. But this is the most glorious way of life any man can have. You are not totally lonely. Jesus, the good Shepherd walks this road and leads you on. His presence and fellowship are better than any other. This is the road of Eternal Life. Glory to God!

THE WOMAN HEALED AND THE GIRL REVIVED

This is the story of an unnamed woman who was bleeding for 12 years (Mark 5:21-43). She has spent all her money on doctors but has become worse. She is now poor, sick, hopeless, rejected by men and dying. She had faith that if she touched Jesus’ garment, she will be healed. Slowly, she made her way through the crowd. She came behind Jesus, touched His clothes and she was instantly healed. Jesus asked: Who Touched Me? Many pushed Jesus but none “touched” Him. The woman came to a place in life when she did not trust herself, doctors, or religious rulers. Her faith was in Christ alone! The woman confessed to her healing. Jesus calls her “daughter”. It means she was healed body and soul, at the same time. This is more than what she wishes for. Jesus felt the touch. He could have moved on but stayed to acknowledge the woman’s faith, her healing and her new status in society. The woman was sick for 12 years. She could have grown bitter against the doctors and against religious men who rejected her from the temple. But she discovered that God could use weakness and sickness to draw us closer to Him. She used her pain well! She kept her focus and faith in Jesus, and she was not disappointed.

At the same time, Jairus, a synagogue ruler, was waiting for Jesus to come to his house and to heal his 12 years old daughter who was also dying. People came to tell him that his daughter has died. Jesus said: “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well!” Jesus encouraged Jairus to have faith and to reject the voices of unbelief. Arriving to Jairus’ house, the people mocked Jesus when He said that the girl is not dead, only sleeping. Jesus told everyone to go outside. Jesus touched the girl’s hand and told her: “Little girl, arise!” She came back to life immediately. Jesus tells everyone to keep this miracle a secret because the unbelievers can hinder God’s work among men.

There are common points between these two healings. Both are female. Both are unclean, the woman because of sickness, and the girl because of death. Both are “daughters” to Jesus. Both are restored to life instantly among people who do not understand the miracles. Both miracles are more than physical healing. Jesus touched these two women, received them, encouraged them and gave them peace.

Lessons:

*Fight for your life, for your faith, for the answers to your prayers. Faith takes risks; overcomes fear and doubt. Faith perseveres. True faith arrests God’s attention. The woman touched the garment of Jesus, but Jesus said she touched Him!! He said: Who touched Me? The word “touch” means a deep connection to God’s power. The woman’s faith was not perfect. But Jesus accepted her imperfect faith and worked with it. The miracle was more than physical healing. It was healing the body and the soul. She became a daughter to Jesus and entered the Peace of God.

*Faith is vital for salvation and for experiencing miracles. God answers prayers of faith. Dream big! “Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us” (Eph 3:20; AMP). God is omnipotent. God’s power is not influenced by man’s weakness. He can do more than we ask or imagine. God is greater than our prayers. God’s power does miracles and also transforms us inwardly, to be witnesses for Jesus and to preach His Word. Cultivate a life or faith and expectancy, waiting for God to act, and trusting Him to work beyond our expectations. Separate yourself from the religious unbelievers when you pray for miracles. Call people who have faith in Jesus just like you and pray with them!

*During the trials of faith, learn to wait on God. Do not give up on God. God rewards faith. It is hard to see trials as good things, yet we can see through the darkness and pain the light of Jesus and the healing He can bring to our hearts and souls. You should know that you are beloved and known by God. Healing does not always look exactly like what we are hoping for. Sometimes healing looks like rejecting fear, or like interceding, the way Jairus did. Jesus touched and was touched. Love may come as a touch from a friend, in a moment of hopelessness, shame, or deep pain. By faith, pass thru the crowd of unbelievers, reach out and touch Jesus today. Ask for more of His Grace. Ask for wisdom! Pray for strength and courage! Let Christ find you wherever you are and meet you there, at your lowest lows or your highest heights. Worship the Lord!

THE DANGER OF UNGODLINESS

The word ‘ungodly’ means to be irreligious, or living as God does not exist. It means to either deny or disobey God in your life. The ungodly man may call himself a Christian, attends church, but God is not in the center of his heart, mind and will. The Bible calls ungodliness sin. A relationship can degenerate and become ungodly. An ungodly marriage may look good but is corrupted inside. It’s a dangerous soul-tie, overfamiliar, and sinful relationship. In the Bible, an unbeliever is called ungodly. But it is possible for a believer to behave like an ungodly. You still go to church, pray, read the Bible, but in your daily life, you live like there is no God. This evil spirit of ungodliness can influence your marriages and other relationships. God is angry with the ungodly and punishes them.

“For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:4). “And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), 5 to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you” (Gal 2:4,5). Here we see the danger of ungodly infiltration in the churches or in the homes. These ungodly men have crept in unnoticed. They entered secretly, like snakes. They pretend to be born again but they are not. They look innocent, but they are spiritual spies and cause much damage from inside. They bring false doctrines or sinful ideas to influence the minds of immature believers and to control their decisions. Their aim is to study the liberty and love we have and to bring us into the bondage of sin. They turn the doctrine of justification by Grace and by Faith into a license to sin. They are Satan’s agents. In a prayerful church, they will not go far. The Holy Spirit will expose them. They will either repent or run.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom 1:18). Ungodliness means choosing to deny or ignore God. Unrighteousness means active wickedness and evil. These sinful men “suppress truth”. Truth means the knowledge of God revealed in Creation, in man’s conscience, and especially in the Bible. The suppression or quenching of truth is a willful act. It is not done in ignorance. “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (Jn 3:19). Selah!

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Ps 1:1,2).

The Bible revealed that there are two groups of people in this world: The Godly (saved) and the Ungodly (unsaved). It is possible to be a believer, and you still listen to the counsel of the ungodly. That ungodly counsel will corrupt your character and testimony and damage your marriage. The word “blessed” means the happiness, the spiritual and material prosperity of a godly man. He puts God at the center of everything he plans and does. “To walk” means a way of life. The counsel of the ungodly is the advice to disobey God’s commandments, to forget God in your decisions. This is the reckless and dangerous path of the wicked and ungodly men. Without repentance, sin becomes worse. The first level is to listen to the counsel of the ungodly. The second step is to enter and stand in the path of sinners. This is a decision and an action. Sin has now become a habit, a lifestyle. To sit in the seat of the scornful shows a settled situation. The backslider has found his place among those who reject God and the Bible. They not only hate God, but they mock the believers who try to follow Jesus.

“Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. 15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on. 16 For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence” (PV 4:14-17). To live a godly life is a choice. There is a price to pay. To die to sin and reject evil is a daily choice. The believer obeys God’s Word and encourages others to do so. He does spiritual warfare against all evil. He is not careless with his testimony. He is committed to obey God’s Word. This is a warning about the company we keep. Your choice of friends, mentors, pastors, counsellors, is a mirror of your character. Be wise when making friends.

“Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits” (1Cor 15:33). This is a warning against deception. False teachers can deceive you with false doctrines and ungodly counsel. God cannot be deceived. But we can be deceived. Be vigilant about the influences you allow into your life, whether friendships, media, or other sources. Protect your heart. Seek friends that align with biblical values and encourage spiritual growth. “He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed” (PV 13:20). In the Bible, godly wisdom is a great achievement. Wisdom can be thought and can also be caught, as we walk closer to godly wise men. Elijah and Elisha, Paul and Timothy, these are godly relationships between mentors and students. Making friends with fools is dangerous. A fool is not only someone who is mentally incapable, but a man who rejects God’s Word. Following fools leads to spiritual and physical destruction.

Below are some examples of bad, ungodly relationships and marriages. God punished all of them. They died untimely and shameful death.

*Zimri (a Jew) and Cozbi (a Moabites) (Numbers 25). Phineas was zealous for the Lord and killed this ungodly couple. God blessed him!

*King Ahab and Jezebel – “But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up” (1Kg 21:25). Revelation 2:18-29.

*Annanias and Saphira (Acts 5:1-11). Their sin was that they tried to deceive the Church pretending to be better than they are.

Ungodly relationships do not give glory to God. Both partners are selfish and wicked, helping one another to sin. The wife submits unto her husband as unto the devil. The husband loves his wife as devil loves sin. These are some ways you can detect if your marriage is ungodly:

*All major decisions are done by themselves and not by asking God to approve of lead. They decide to buy things, travel, how to spend money, how to spend their vacations etc, based on the time or the amount of money they have. In a godly relationship, major decisions are done with fasting, prayer, and waiting on God. Sometimes, telling a wise spiritual leader is necessary for confirmation.

*Your conversation is only about worldly things, material things, money, children etc. God’s Word is not the center of your conversations

*The husband and wife are careless with their relationship and with every work they do. Working without commitment is sin. Jesus is your Master only if you work with all your heart. “Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve” (Col 3:23,24; AMP).

What is the solution? Repent and come back to Jesus! Remember that “when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom 5:6). Fast and Pray! “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh” (Jude 1:20-23).

Consider what Christ could have done for the Church instead of laying down his life: He could have subjected us to criticism – churches are full of things to criticize. He could have pointed out our weaknesses, which are many. Or He could have outright condemned us – rightly dismissed us as an unworthy bride. But when Christ looks at us, the Church, He has only praise, commendation and encouragement. He never condemns us! He never accuses us. We are very weak and have many problems. We sin daily, but He never criticizes us. Some of you may say: but God hates sin. Yes! But when we the believers fall into sin, Jesus is our advocate in heaven. When He looks at us now, He does not see sinners or troublemakers. He sees His brothers and sisters, whom He carries to heaven on eagles’ wings. This is how Christ loves us. Not only that He died for our sins, but He has removed every condemnation, shame or guilt. This is how the husbands should love their wives. Embrace your wives, problems and all. Be like Jesus! Do like Jesus! Carry their pains and limitations on your bodies and quench them with love and prayers. This is how Christ loves the Church! Worship the Lord!

GOD’S TIME IS THE BEST

“Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You” (Jn 17:1). The first words Jesus utters in this prayer are these: “Father, the hour has come”. Here we see that Jesus was always conscious of the plan of salvation. He knew who He was and what was His work on earth. At the wedding of Cana, He said: “My hour has not yet come” (Jn 2:4). It seems that Mary wanted a more public miracle, so that people would see her Son’s glory. Jesus indeed did a miracle by changing the water into wine, but it was more discreet. He helped a humble family. He manifested His glory and many disciples trusted Him (Jn 2:11). But the full glory was yet to be revealed. Jesus says that now is that time! Thru His death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and the Father’s approval of His earthly work in the plan of salvation, His perfect glory will be revealed to all! His death on the Cross was necessary for sinful men to be saved. Man is not saved by the good life of Jesus, by His teachings or miracles that He performed. Man is saved by the death of Jesus. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23). Therefore, Blood must be shed before sin can be atoned. Jesus died in place of sinful man. The Cross shows the Justice and the Love of God, at the same time. God is the Master planner, even in the timing of events. Lesson: The perfect time of salvation gives me faith that God is never too early and never too late even in my life!

GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER TIME – GOD IS THE MASTER PLANNER IN THE TIMING OF EVENTS

God is eternal. He exists outside time. God lives in eternity. We live in time. God’s plans for His creation and for man’s salvation were made before the foundation of the word. God accomplishes His eternal plans within the framework of time, thru men who live on earth. Time is a big issue for us, but it is not the most important thing to God. God is not limited by time, but He works in us and thru us knowing that we have a limited time on earth. Eternal life is perfect. It cannot be improved upon. Promotion is an earthly concept.

God introduced Himself to Moses as I AM WHO I AM (Exo 3:14). “Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (Psa 90:2). God is sovereign in everything, including the timing of events. Sometimes, it seems like God is passive, that nothing is happening. Suddenly, God moves and does something unexpected. It may look like God is late, but God always does the right thing, at the right time. His ways are different than our ways. He is always right. The perfect timing of events gives all the glory to God! We can trust God because He is in control. He is moving history for the good of his people. He is in control because He is the Creator. He saves because He is love. God has appointed a time for everything, including the incarnation. “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son…so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Gal. 4:5-6). Jesus came to earth as Man and died on the Cross at God’s time! Selah!

Because God is Omnipresent, Omnipotent, and Omniscient, God is sovereign. God is sovereign over time, all the time. The word ‘sovereign’ means having the highest power, ultimate authority, being completely independent from His creation. God has all the power, wisdom, and authority to do anything He chooses with His creation. He has the power to prevent any action. For anything to happen in the universe, God must “allow” it. All Christians agree with this doctrine. What they argue about is how much control God exercises over the wills of men. God created man and gave him the power to choose. God is holy. For sin to enter the world, it means that God allowed men to choose sin. But they must face the consequences. God can do anything. He can act and intervene in any situation, but He often chooses to act indirectly. He allows certain things for reasons of His own. But thru God’s perfect will or His permissive will, God receives His glory!

God told Abraham to “know certainly” about future things, that his descendants will be “strangers in a foreign land” and suffer as slaves. In the fourth generation they shall return to the Promised Land. There shall be an exodus after 400 years. They shall come back when the iniquity of the Amorites (the Canaanites) will be complete (Gen 15:13-16). These words refer to the time when Isreal went to Egypt and later became slaves there (Exo 12:40-42). The time of suffering in Egypt was to humble them so that God can later bless them. When they came out, they remembered God’s prophecy to Abraham. They worshipped God for His faithfulness, for the exact timing of deliverance. God waits for the sin of the Amorites to be complete. This shows the timing of God’s judgment. God is patient and kind. He desires that men should repent and not perish (2Pet 3:9). But if men refuse to repent, God judges them. Here we see that God uses His people to conquer the Promised Land as an act of judgment against the sinful Amorites.

God says: “For thus says the LORD, ‘When seventy years [of exile] have been completed for Babylon, I will visit (inspect) you and keep My good promise to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the LORD, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer 29:10,11; AMP). When God spoke this Word to Jeremiah, His people were in exile, refugees in Babylon. God punished them for rejecting His Word thru the prophets. The people were suffering there. God tells them that He has good plans for them. They should accept the just punishment, but they should look beyond it. God is sovereign. He alone knows the future because He designs the future. At the end of the punishment, once the people have humbled themselves, God will bless them with peace and well-being. God promises spiritual and physical prosperity. The future is better than the present. In Hebrew, the word “peace” is Shallom. It means peace, health, wealth, favor, and friends. God has promised thru Jeremiah that after 70 years of exile in Babylon, He will bring Isreal back to their land. Daniel read this prophecy and was encouraged by it (Dan 9:2,3). God’s came to pass. After exactly 70 years, using King Cyrus of Persia, God made a way for His people to come back to the Promised Land. Praise the Lord!

“Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. 21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding” (Dan 2:20, 21). God controls history. Men think that they choose their political rulers and kings, but God is sovereign. God gives prophetic words of rising and falling of kingdoms and empires. Everything happened according to God’s plan and purpose. This is a great comfort to know that no human ruler is stronger than God. Like Daniel, believers are called to be faithful and wise in their environments. This involves living out our faith with integrity and courage. That faithfulness honors God!

Lessons: All God’s promises are sure. His Word is forever faithful. God’s faithfulness is part of His character and gives Him all the glory. God is in charge of Time. God oversees the length of your suffering and the time of your deliverance. He alone knows the future and orchestrates events according to His divine plan. Trust in His sovereignty, even when circumstances seem difficult. God’s people may experience suffering and trials. Exercise hope, faith and patience in times of trials as you wait for the promised deliverance. Your personal trials are part of the bigger plan of salvation. It must end in praise, in greater testimonies, and to the glory of God! The way Isreal found hope in the promises of God we should also find hope in God’s Word concerning the future. We need faith and patience to experience the promised good hope of the future which is found in Christ alone! Remember that God’s time is the best! Selah!

About His second coming Jesus said: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only… 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matt 24:36, 42-44). His second coming is sure, but the time of the event is a secret. Jesus said that in His human nature, He does not know the time. The mighty angels live in God’s presence in heaven, but even them do not know the time of the second coming of Christ. Only God the Father, the planner of salvation, knows the time. That day will be like what happened during the time of Noah. People were living normal lives. But their wickedness has spread all over the world. They were ignorant of the danger. By faith, Noah built an ark to save his life and His family. Then suddenly, like a thief, Jesus came again. Lesson: be prepared!

TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON

“There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven… A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace… He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]—yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end” (Ecc 3:1, 8, 11; AMP).

God has a purpose in every season of life. The word “purpose” means that God is intentional and actively involved with us, during the different seasons of life. Seasons change but God never changes. We must trust God for His perfect timing even if it is not totally clear to us. Life has many Changes and Transitions. Seek to find God’s purpose in each season. When you are young, do not desire to be old. When you are old, do not want to be young. While love is a central Christian virtue, there is a time to hate evil. Our hatred is directed towards sin and not individuals. Because of sin, conflict is inevitable and part of human experience. Christians are called to navigate these times with patience, seeking God’s guidance and wisdom, striving for peace whenever possible in all seasons of life.

God has made everything beautiful in its time. In Hebrew, the word “beautiful” means something that is fitting, or appropriate. It means something that has a purpose. It is the right thing done is the right manner and at the right time. When God created everything, He said that “it was good”. The creation was beautiful. Sin damaged the beauty of creation but could not destroy it. Man was made after the image of God. That is why God has planted eternity in men’s hearts. This longing for eternal life is peculiar to men. The animals do not desire that. Salvation is by God’s grace and by faith in Jesus Christ. Once you become saved, you’re longing for eternity, by learning how to master time. This is God’s command: “make the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil” (Eph 5:15; AMP). Redeeming the time is beautiful. Only God knows all things. That is why as believers we live by faith. Even when we do not understand all things, we must trust God. That faith is beautiful. Trust in God’s perfect timing. Just as God made everything beautiful in its time, we must have faith that His plans for us are unfolding according to His divine schedule. Accept your limitations. Humble yourself. Also, cultivate a spiritual understanding of life and keep eternity in view. Learn to appreciate the beauty of creation. Give glory to God for all experiences, and in all seasons of life. Young or old, find joy in God!

REJOICE IN GOD

“For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation” (Rom 5:10,11). Apostle Paul proved that we are justified by Grace only, by faith only and by the shed Blood of Jesus on the Cross. Now, he adds that we are saved by the Life of Jesus. He refers to the eternal office of Jesus in heaven, as our Great High Priest, Intercessor, Advocate and Mediator of a better covenant. He says that reconciliation leads to our “rejoicing in God through our Lord Jesus Christ”. The end of salvation is always joy. All true believers rejoice in God. This rejoicing is done through the Lord Jesus Christ. The revelation of the relationship between the Person of God the Father and God the Son, and how they saved us, always leads to joy. A Christian who is always sad has a serious problem with understanding the Word of God. Joy is a fruit and a command from God! Rejoice!

The same word ‘rejoice’ also translated as ‘glory’ or ‘boasting’, appears in verse 2. What is the difference between “Rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God” and “rejoicing in God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:2,11). Rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God means that we have the assurance of salvation. We boast about our final salvation, knowing that we are already citizens of heaven, and one day we shall arrive there. This sure hope leads to us boasting of our place in heaven. But the second type of rejoicing is even greater than that. We rejoice not only of our hope in heaven, but we rejoice in God Himself, of knowing God. He is not only our Creator, but our everlasting Father, who sent His only begotten Son to die for us, so that we become His children. We boast of God, of His attributes. God is Love. He is the Faithful God, the only wise God. Heaven for us is more than a wonderful place with streets of gold. Heaven is heaven because it is God’s dwelling place. We want to go to heaven not so much to meet our family members who are already there, but especially to see God face to face and to worship Him forever! God is the source of the eternal glorious joy in the believer!

This is the first question in the Westminster Shorter Catechism: “Question: What is the purpose of man? Answer: The purpose of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever”. What does it mean to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever? We give glory to God by enjoying Him. How do we enjoy God? Think about things that you enjoy… For example, do you enjoy your marriage? Then you like to be seen with your spouse, you talk about your husband (your wife). Do you enjoy your job? You will talk about your job, your promotion, or the things you do in your office. It is the same with enjoying God. If you truly enjoy God, you will not stop talking about God. You glorify God by hating sin and living right. You are careful not to grieve the Holy Spirit. You reflect God’s glory by living a godly life. You become filled with the Holy Spirit. Joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22). You become a mirror for the glory of God. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2Cor 3:18). You glorify God by preaching and teaching God’s Word. You live a life of Love, genuinely loving God and others.                      

To enjoy God means to recognize Him as your First Love. “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. 26 My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps 73:25,26). God is unique. Nobody compares with Him. He is the source of life, salvation, and all the good gifts we have. Heaven is God’s dwelling place, a realm that is separated from the earth. The believer declares that even on earth, he loves God above all other things. God is the ultimate source of fulfilment, joy and satisfaction. Search your heart and see: where do you try to find satisfaction in life? True contentment is found in God alone. Earthly desires can never fully satisfy the soul’s deepest longings. Invest in a deep relationship with God thru the study of God’s Word. Meditate upon His promises. Study the doctrines until you have a personal revelation of the truth. One of the greatest hindrances to joy is doubt in the doctrine of justification by faith and trust in Jesus Christ our Great High Priest. For as long as you depend on your good works to enter heaven, you will be anxious and cannot have the fulness of joy. Doubt is a joy killer. It is not enough to hear the pastor preaching a sermon. Study the doctrines by yourself until the light of God shines in your understanding. Selah!

COUNT THE STARS OF LOVE (Genesis 12:1-3; 15:1-6)

Faith is defined as a human response to a divine promise. Faith is an expectation, a quiet assurance that a person will do exactly as he said he would do. Abraham believed God’s promises. He is the Father of faith of all who believe!

God’s Word to Adam was that he can eat ‘freely’ from every tree in the Garden except one (Gen 2:16,17). The word ‘freely’ means ‘unconditionally’, without limitations or outside control. This reveals the goodness and generosity of God. He wants men to enjoy His blessings. When the devil asked Eve about eating for every tree in the garden, he omitted the word ‘freely’. When Eve answered him, she also omitted the word ‘freely’ (Gen 3:1,2). The devil insinuated that God is stingy with His blessings. He attacked the character of God as Lovingly kind and generous. Since then, the devil has tried to destroy our faith in a Generous God. Men think of God as someone who is always asking us to give to Him. That is a big lie, but many Christians think like that. Listen to the way the servant who received one talent spoke to his master: “Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours” (Matt 25:24,25). Once you believe that God is a taker and not a giver, doubt and fear to trust God will enter your heart. This is what happened to Abraham.

God comes and promises Abraham to protect Him, reward Him and give Him many children as the stars in the sky (Gen 15:1-6). Abraham addresses God as “Lord God”. This is a combination of two names of God: Jehovah Adonai. Jehovah is the personal name of God, the covenant keeping God, the One who promises and keeps His Word. The word Adonai means the Master of slaves. He takes complete responsibility over His people. He is the Lord! Jesus found us in the salve market and bought us with His Blood. We are now His bondslaves or servants. Adonai is our Lord! Jesus is Lord! The name Adonai requires our total submission to His will and His ways.

God has already promised Abraham that He will make him a blessing to all the nations on the earth (Gen 12:1-3). But because Abraham is old and has no child, he starts to doubt the promise. This shows how much we desire visible blessings and struggle to simply have faith in God’s Word. Even the elect struggle with doubts and fears. Like Adam, Abraham fell for the lie of the Devil. He asked God: “What will You give me… You have not given me…”. Faith believes in a Giving God! Doubt believes that God is stingy! Selah!

God confronts Abraham’s fear, doubt and self-pity and gives him a fresh Word about an old promise. In the olden days, if a man has no children, he will leave his wealth to a chosen and faithful servant he has adopted in his house. Abraham has found such a servant in Eliezer of Damascus. Abraham is disappointed that God did not give him a son. We know that children are God’s Reward for obedience and service (Psalm 127:3-5). Abraham feels that God has not rewarded him, has not compensated him, has not giving him his salary, according to His Word. But God tells him clearly that he will have his own son who will inherit his name and wealth. Isaac was conceived supernaturally and born to old parents. He is the son of promise. All people who have faith like Abraham are now his descendants. The total population today is about 8 billion. The descendants of Abraham include the Jews, the Muslims and the Christians. The Jews are about 16 million. Muslims are 1,8 Billion. The Christians are 2,3 Billion. We are not even counting all the people who have died. This shows that God’s promise to Abraham that His descendants will be like the stars in the sky, has come to pass. These are the stars of Love. God is faithful! Amen!

LESSONS

*God is a God of personal relationships, of revelation. He guides and teaches His children thru dreams, visions and especially by His Word.

*Reject all fears of the future. Fear is an enemy to faith. God protects His people. In times of fear, remember Jehovah God, your Shield!

*Reject self-pity! Pray that God will confirm the old promise given to you.

*Reject doubt! God will give you signs that He is the God of heaven and earth. Like Abraham, remove your eyes from yourself and your problems, and look up to the stars. Remember how small you are and how big God is! Your faith in God will be strengthen!

*God promises to be the Reward of His children. All blessings, spiritual and material, are found in a Person: the Lord Jesus Christ!

*Abram had God and wealth. But he was fixated on his lack. Be grateful for what you have before you pray for more!

*God’s Presence and Grace is enough for you!

*Come out of your tent of limitations! Look up, on the sky! Count the uncountable stars of Love!

*Abram asked for little! God had so much more to give to him! Stop limiting God!

*God rewards Faith as Righteousness, with the Presence of God and a fulfilled life! Salvation is by faith alone! Faith is not based on feelings! Many people say: ‘I don’t feel like I have faith…’, they say. But faith has nothing to do with feelings and takes no account of moods or physical conditions. Feelings come and go, rise and fall, but faith endures and perseveres, because it does not look to any human source for help. The object of faith is God alone and His Word. The Christian, who believes that the risen Christ now lives within his heart, confidently expects Christ to work through him. Christ will not necessarily be felt in an emotional way, but He is present. He makes your ordinary actions to produce extraordinary results. He takes common relationships and transforms them into uncommon accomplishments.

*Develop Faith and Patience! We must trust God’s promises and God’s timing to fulfill them. Patience is a virtue that we must learn. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Our faith rests in God’s Word and His faithfulness and not in our own understanding. Practicing faith and patience are both vital in Christian life. “Do not become sluggish but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Heb 6:12).

*God is the God of Promises! Abram was 75 years when God called him and promised him to make him a father of many nations! He was 86 when Ishamel was born and 100 years old (and Sarah was 90) when Isaac was born. Abram waited 25 years for the promise to come to pass!  A promise is a solemn declaration, a pledge, a vow, that a person will do something in the future. A Promise is a legally binding declaration that gives the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance, to hope for success or improvement in life. There are more than 8000 promises in the Bible. God expects us to trust Him, to believe His, no matter how long it takes before it is fulfilled. “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us” (2Cor 1:20). God has made many promises to Abraham, Moses, David and others. He had promised to send the Messiah. Jesus came to earth as Man. These promises are about spiritual and material blessings, salvation and eternal life. All these promises are found and are fulfilled in Christ alone. We can access these promises only thru faith in Christ. The unbelievers cannot trust God for His promises. Only believers can say ‘Amen’. Believers recognize God’s sovereignty and power, and they praise Him. The fulfilment of His promises is for the good of man and for the glory of God! Our legacy is not just about physical descendants but about spiritual impact. Focus on a life that honors God and influences others for His kingdom. The manifestation of miracles, agape love, and the resurrection power gives glory to The Lord Jesus Christ in the Church! Let the stars of love shine in the darkness! Worship the Lord!