Living For Jesus Christ
God has instilled in us a sense of eternity, urging us to live our earthly lives with eternal life in mind, however, Satan constantly distracts us with worldly concerns, preventing us from contemplating our eternal destiny. Every person who has ever lived will face judgment, and this judgment is based on the Word of God. We are not the arbiters of our eternal fate; God is. Without knowledge of the Word, we risk believing Satan’s deceptions, such as “My good outweighs my bad,” “I believe in Christ,” or “I am a good person.”
Ecclesiastes 3:11 states, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”
Jesus warned, “Watch out that no one deceives you” (Matthew 24:4). Those who do not seek truth in the Word of God will inevitably be misled. Many believe that their personal convictions can alter reality, but God’s Word and His judgment remain unchangeable. Our eternal life depends on our choices. By reading and obeying the Word, Heaven becomes our eternal home. If we seek God we will find Him. Psalm tells us that the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork. We have no excuse! Regardless of that, the end will not come until what is written in Matthew 24:14 is fulfilled, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
The Lord instructs us to focus on heavenly matters, but how do we maintain this focus while engaging with the world? It is a miracle of God’s creation that we can interact with the world while living in the Kingdom. “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2).
When asked by the Pharisees about the coming of the kingdom of God, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). With the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can always be aware that our spirit resides in the Kingdom within us, even as we navigate the world. Our subconscious mind constantly reminds us of our presence in the Kingdom and our closeness to Christ. How can we live in this Kingdom without thoughts of eternal life?
“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” (Psalm 105:4). Knowing our spirit is in the Kingdom, we continuously seek the Lord. Our faith relies on Him for everything in life. We cannot draw near to the Lord without a grateful, dependent heart, trusting His guidance over our own due to our experiences of His divine direction.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). Our faith pleases God when it wholly depends on Him and trusts His ways above our own. Living as Christ’s servants, we trust His guidance and answers to our prayers, even when we do not fully understand them. We continue to trust His ways because He is God, infinitely superior to us.
Living in the Kingdom within us, we serve Christ with dependent faith, which increases the love in our hearts. Sharing the Gospel, teaching Bible classes, distributing Biblical literature, or discussing salvation in Christ with others fosters God’s love in our hearts. Life becomes centered on God and others, relying on Christ for divine wisdom and guidance in every situation.
The Choice is Ours – Who Will You Serve?
Joshua said, “Choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). True freedom comes from living according to Christ’s will. When we do so, eternity is always on our minds. Our ministry to others reflects our concern for their eternal and earthly lives. How can we minister to others unless we care for them?
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Living for Christ grants us freedom and a life lived to the fullest. The Father honors us when we serve Christ, filling our spirit with blessings from Heaven through the Holy Spirit, which remain with us always. These blessings bring contentment, peace, and comfort, even in life’s difficulties. The apostle Paul experienced these blessings, as his life was centered on Christ.
“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11). Paul was fully blessed by God and content in all circumstances, knowing Heaven was his home. The Lord will do the same for us when we place our faith in Christ. The word of God does not tell us that life will be “smooth sailing.” In fact, it tells us in numerous verses that we will have trouble in this life. This reminds me of the chorus of a popular song written in 1967 by American singer and songwriter Joe South, “I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden.” The singer reminds her lover that she made no promise that things would always go well in the relationship and that it could get rough sometimes. God is straightforward with us. He keeps His promises and we were never promised a life without challenges. Your favorite preacher might have stated that, but not God.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31). The greatest commandment is to love God with all our being. This love makes all other commands natural and desirable, aligning our thoughts and emotions with the Lord’s. A heart filled with God’s love transforms us into the image of His Son.
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (Romans 8:29). With love in our hearts, we reflect Christ to everyone. We will live and reign for eternity with Christ. Let us live being constantly mindful of our choices for eternal life to be our portion. Our lives are filled with God’s divine blessings, and Heaven is our home. We live as God created us to live in His image. Deuteronomy 30:19 the New Living Translation (NLT) states, “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” If we do as we make the right choice we will reap the rewards that God has promised. It doesn’t matter how many people ridicule the word and refute it. We will hold to the truth from the Father of Light and refuse to be swayed by the Father of Lies. To God be the Glory.