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Eternal Life
Song: I am running the race to see my redeemer (2x) Introduction Many are living in a state of frustration and confusion today because they do not know that we are on a transit. “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12). We are daily faced with the battles of life. A battle between the flesh and the soul/spirit. They both have two different origins (the flesh from the dust/earth and the soul/spirit from above/God) and destinations (the flesh returns back to the dust/earth and the soul/spirit goes back to God). “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” (Galatians 5:17). So as Christians we should realise that there is life after death. Unfortunately, some people are being deceived by the devil that everything starts and ends here. It is a lie! Let us fix our hope in heaven. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21). “ 18For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:18-21). “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18). A gift from God Eternal life with God is an absolutely free gift. There is nothing that any person can do to merit, earn or deserve an eternity of happiness with God. It is by grace! The result/wages of sin is death. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23). You remember the story of the Rich Young Man? This man probably thought he could work his way into heaven through his riches. But he got the frank response from Jesus. Also the disciples too where stunned at Jesus’ teachings about heaven. But in the end he made them realise that heaven is a gift from God to man and with God all things are possible. The Rich Young Man 16Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" 23Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" 26Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:16-30). So to accept this gift: i. You must believe in Jesus, "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 3:16). ii. Cooperate with God. Tell him, ‘Here I am I have come to do your will.’ You can tell the Lord, ‘You are the potter and I am the clay, do with me whatever you will.’ Has the clay any right over the potter? 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8). 10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." (1 Samuel 3:10). “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” (James 1:21). 20But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' " 21Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? (Romans 9:20-21). iii. You must be baptised and live out your baptismal promises. 3In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 4"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. (John 3:3-5). “ 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” (1 Peter 3:20-21). “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). iv. You must participate in the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion), the Body and the Blood of Christ and eat it worthily. “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:54). “ 27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.” (1 Corinthians 11:27-32). v. You need to follow Jesus the Good Shepherd. Serving him faithfully in his vineyard. “ 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28). When does this Eternal Life begins? Eternal life begins now as we choose to accept God’s grace and his gift of the Holy Spirit. Someone once said that, ‘If you are not experiencing heaven now, you might not be there.’ “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8). 15As has just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion." “ 7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert,” (Psalm 95:7-8). God bless you Evang. John B. Oseh |