1

Living Life in light of ETERNITY

“Each day is a step we make towards eternity and we shall continue thus to step from day to day until we take the last step, which will bring us into the presence of God.” –Catherine McAuley

Winters’ Ministries Week 12

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

Throughout life you face different milestones—your day of birth, your first steps, your first words, getting your driver’s license, your first job, your high school graduation, and starting college or a career. Then, perhaps get married or start a family. At each milestone, you are constantly looking for what is next; happiness and fulfillment always seem to be at the next milestone in life. It’s easy to get caught up in the things and desires of this world and lose site of where you’re headed. Many would say death is the final milestone in life, but for a Christian death is not the end. Death is freedom from the physical, earthly body and is the NEXT milestone before reaching eternal life with Christ. For Christians, Heaven is the final milestone; no other achievements in life will compare to the presence of God.

You must begin living life in light of ETERNITY.

1 John 5:11 “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 5:24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” John 6:47 “Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.” 2 Corinthians 5:1 “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.”

  2

Winters’ Ministries Week 12

WHAT IS HEAVEN? Accepting Christ as your Savior was a milestone, which marked the beginning of your spiritual journey. Heaven is the house of God, the angels, and those who have become children of God by accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. As you continue to grow in your faith and understanding of the Bible, you will begin to realize that there is no material concept of heaven that will do it justice. Imagine the most beautiful vacation resort and thinking to yourself that it can’t possibly get anymore beautiful. Think again. We can’t even imagine what heaven will be like. The Bible tells us that it has pearly gates, walls made up of precious stones, and streets made out of gold (Rev 21:18-21). While there are many things that are left unknown, you can know that Heaven is place where you can walk hand in hand with God. You will be able to experience His presence, which will bring an intensity of delight that will far exceed anything you could ever know here on earth. Heaven is a place of light, love, holiness, righteousness, worship, service, joy, peace, and life! It is a place without darkness, hate, sin, sorrow, discord, or death (Rev 21:3-4). Heaven will be a place of order and structure, where people have different functions and levels of responsibility assigned to them. In addition, you will be able to recognize your loved ones in Heaven and experience a great joy over being reunited with them (1 Thes 4:17). Whatever you consider to be a joy here on earth will be heightened millions of times beyond anything you can conceive when you get to heaven. The apostle Paul put it this way: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor 2:9). Jesus said that He was going to prepare a place for you. As a believer and follower of Him, you will be able to experience the beautiful reward and gift of Heaven that God has created for you (John 14:2-3). When Jesus returns you can look forward to Heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3:13).

"Be assured that just as an hour is only part of a

day, so life on Earth is only part of eternity.”

—C.L. Allen

  3

Winters’ Ministries Week 12

YOUR LIFE Stop and take a breath. Your time here on earth is as quick as that breath when compared to eternity. Even if you live to be 100, your life here on earth is nothing more than that breath. Society and media tell you that money and valuables will bring you happiness and satisfaction. The Bible explains that those worldly treasures, efforts, and sacrifices will pass in a moment. 1 John 2:15 reads, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” For this reason, you should not fix your eyes on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Cor 4:18). “For we brought nothing in this world, and we can take nothing from it” —1 Timothy 6:7.

YOUR FOCUS It is very clear, nothing you own in this earthly life will go with you to Heaven, it will all pass away (2 Peter 3:10-14). When you accepted Christ, you became a new creation. Make your focus God and the things that will advance His Kingdom. “Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Cor 15:18). God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have demonstrated Him as you help His people (Heb 6:10).

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" –2 Corinthians 5:17

“Measured against eternity, our time on earth is just a blink of an eye, but the consequences of it will last forever.”

—Rick Warren

  4

LIVING LIFE IN LIGHT OF ETERNITY Throughout these twelve weeks you have learned where you’ve come from, why you’re here, and where you’re going. You’ve learned about how to communicate and build a relationship with Christ, how the Bible can provide guidance and direction, how to worship and experience the power of the Holy Spirit, the significance of becoming a part of the body of Christ, how baptism is an outward expression of your faith, and the importance of placing your faith in God when taking your next steps. The world will end; Jesus will return. The dead will rise, just as Christ rose from the grave. There will be a day of judgment where all sins will be accounted for. People will be cast into hell or rise into heaven. The kingdom of God, ruled over by Jesus Christ—the King of Kings and Lord of Lords— will cover all the earth and His people for all ETERNITY. No one knows when Christ will return, but live faithfully, humbly, and by the power of God until you see him face-to-face. You were bought with a price and your life serves a purpose while you remain here on earth. Live each day with eternity in mind. Now that you know the Truth, use your talents and abilities that God has given you to share the gospel with others and the love Jesus has for them.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Are You Prepared for Eternity? Billy Graham Living in the Light of Eternity John Hamby One Minute After You Die John Hamby The New Jerusalem- Heaven- Eternity Jerry Shirley This Is Your Life Switchfoot I Will Offer Up My Life Matt Redman Kingdom Come Hillsong United

We all want our friends and loved ones to reunite with us in Heaven. Share the gospel with them and teach them how they can also begin their journey and receive eternal life.

• Admit that you are a sinner and in need of a Savior (Rom 6:23)

• Abandon self-effort and realize that you cannot be saved by your works or

your own efforts (Acts 16:31) • Accept freely Christ’s payment for your sins, required of the Father (John 3:16)

• Acknowledge Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior (Acts 4:12)

Winters’ Ministries Week 12