LIVING IN THE FUTURE
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Verse for Today
Hebrews 13:14 - For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
There is an assumed longevity for all living things on planet earth. This is true about civilizations, cultures, religions and philosophies. None of these endure forever. Ancient civilizations produced cities and systems which have gone in the memory land and remain in history books. These cities and civilizations were created by people of a certain age who have also disappeared from the scene forever. Any thing which man claims to be his own has an assumed life expectancy just as that of man himself. Nothing in this world is permanent and perpetual, except the life principles which God instituted. These life principles are going to last eternities because life doesn't end in itself. Those who have received eternal life from God through Jesus Christ will continue that life in Heaven and those who have not accepted the free offer of eternal life from God will be in the bottomless pit where they will endure the suffering of their souls forever. There is nothing in between these two eventualities. So those who put all their hope in what they make in this world will be utterly disappointed because these will not last forever. This is the reason why we need to have an eternal goal in life which we can choose here and now. Those who want to invest their God-given time, talents and treasures will be able to do so in eternal things like character, righteousness, hope and love. These are qualities which they can transfer to the eternal city that God has built in Heaven for His precious children who are bought by the blood of the Lamb of God. They can invest all their resources on other lives so that these lives will also be built up for the eternal city. This city is called the Heavenly Jerusalem, the city of God and city of perfect peace. Once we reach there, our misery, weariness, pain, separation, exasperation, frustrations and stress will all be removed from us and that we will be in a state of perfection. There will be no night or darkness there and that no one will have any wants or needs. This is the city of reality and it is on its way according to the schedule of God for His redeemed people.
Dear friend, what is your hope in life? Is your hope centered on the changing material things in this world? Perhaps it is built on your investments and assets here on earth. Perhaps it is based on your human achievements in fame, fortune and fraternity. But as we see around us in our own generation, these things do not last even a life time. Perhaps they last the active years of a life and then we ourselves will be able to watch how it is all fading away from us. But there is a reality which is coming up after this life and we are given opportunity to prepare ourselves for that life. For God's children, the future life is given to them positionally even now and they are able to experience the peace and tranquility that Heaven offers as a foretaste of what is to come. If we do not indulge in the future life with its hope and splendour positionally, we won't be excited about its coming and the unfolding of events which indicate the signs and symptoms of the ushering in of that eternal city. This reality will definitely have its impact on our daily living and our philosophy of life. It will be seen in our priorities and decisions which will be pointing towards what is more important to us right now. There is a blessed expectancy for all the children of God as they await that blessed city and the life it offers. When you and I look forward for that city and the preceding events, we would forget about ourselves and our cares for daily living and get lost in the wonder and awe of those future events and prospects. Let this hope control our lives and leave us without cares. Let us put all our cares on the Lord to keep us in this hope day by day.
Hebrews 11:10 - For (Abraham) was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Thought for Today
Living in the future is the privilege given to us even today because our future has already started.
Verse for Today
Hebrews 13:14 - For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
There is an assumed longevity for all living things on planet earth. This is true about civilizations, cultures, religions and philosophies. None of these endure forever. Ancient civilizations produced cities and systems which have gone in the memory land and remain in history books. These cities and civilizations were created by people of a certain age who have also disappeared from the scene forever. Any thing which man claims to be his own has an assumed life expectancy just as that of man himself. Nothing in this world is permanent and perpetual, except the life principles which God instituted. These life principles are going to last eternities because life doesn't end in itself. Those who have received eternal life from God through Jesus Christ will continue that life in Heaven and those who have not accepted the free offer of eternal life from God will be in the bottomless pit where they will endure the suffering of their souls forever. There is nothing in between these two eventualities. So those who put all their hope in what they make in this world will be utterly disappointed because these will not last forever. This is the reason why we need to have an eternal goal in life which we can choose here and now. Those who want to invest their God-given time, talents and treasures will be able to do so in eternal things like character, righteousness, hope and love. These are qualities which they can transfer to the eternal city that God has built in Heaven for His precious children who are bought by the blood of the Lamb of God. They can invest all their resources on other lives so that these lives will also be built up for the eternal city. This city is called the Heavenly Jerusalem, the city of God and city of perfect peace. Once we reach there, our misery, weariness, pain, separation, exasperation, frustrations and stress will all be removed from us and that we will be in a state of perfection. There will be no night or darkness there and that no one will have any wants or needs. This is the city of reality and it is on its way according to the schedule of God for His redeemed people.
Dear friend, what is your hope in life? Is your hope centered on the changing material things in this world? Perhaps it is built on your investments and assets here on earth. Perhaps it is based on your human achievements in fame, fortune and fraternity. But as we see around us in our own generation, these things do not last even a life time. Perhaps they last the active years of a life and then we ourselves will be able to watch how it is all fading away from us. But there is a reality which is coming up after this life and we are given opportunity to prepare ourselves for that life. For God's children, the future life is given to them positionally even now and they are able to experience the peace and tranquility that Heaven offers as a foretaste of what is to come. If we do not indulge in the future life with its hope and splendour positionally, we won't be excited about its coming and the unfolding of events which indicate the signs and symptoms of the ushering in of that eternal city. This reality will definitely have its impact on our daily living and our philosophy of life. It will be seen in our priorities and decisions which will be pointing towards what is more important to us right now. There is a blessed expectancy for all the children of God as they await that blessed city and the life it offers. When you and I look forward for that city and the preceding events, we would forget about ourselves and our cares for daily living and get lost in the wonder and awe of those future events and prospects. Let this hope control our lives and leave us without cares. Let us put all our cares on the Lord to keep us in this hope day by day.
Hebrews 11:10 - For (Abraham) was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Thought for Today
Living in the future is the privilege given to us even today because our future has already started.
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