Eternity

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Numbers 9:23 Moving And Staying At God’s Command

At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the Lord’s command they set out. They obeyed the Lord’s order, in accordance with his command through Moses. Numbers 9:23

Traveling across the country people must follow certain directions or it can cause major problems for themselves and others.

Coming up to an intersection with a stoplight, one must be willing to stop when the sign is red. Once it turns green, they are given the go ahead to continue moving forward. Failure to follow the rules will cause a major accident and possibly death. Following the rules allows one to safely move forward.

The Israelites would encamp or set out on their journey as the Lord commanded them. They would obey God’s command through Moses. Every person is on a journey in this life on earth.

While the majority of the world believes that their life only affects the here and now, it actually has an effect that goes into eternity. Just as there are rules on the roads as to when to move or stand still, there are rules in life as to when to move or stand still.

God, who is in control, knows when a person should move or stand still. He is sitting above all life watching how things are moving and is coordinating things to move in light of eternity.

Believers in Jesus will understand this and listen to God’s commands as to when to move or not move. It is easy for one to choose to move when things don’t look right or look right in their own eyes, ignoring God’s commands. However, it is when they move or stand still at God’s commands that everything works out for their good and God’s kingdom is built.

Obedience to God’s commands will keep one safe on the journey through this life.

Regardless of where you are in this life, God has a plan of travel for you. He knows exactly when to begin moving and when to stand still.

Do not allow yourself to rely upon your own wisdom or the wisdom of this world. Following the ways of this world will cause an accident and great harm. It will get you off the path of God.

Wait for and listen to the commands of God and obey them. He has you on a journey that will lead you and others into eternity with Him.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know the commands of God in your life; that you will obey the commands of God; that you will trust God’s plan for your life; and that you will only move or stand still at God’s command.

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John 7:6 Waiting For The Right Time

Therefore Jesus told them, “My time is not yet here; for you any time will do.” John 7:6

Impatience is something that a lot of people have while they have to wait for something. Nearly everyone wants something and they want it right away. It cannot get there fast enough.

The wisdom of man thinks that now is the time for things to happen. Instead of looking at the bigger picture and timing of everything, all one does is look at immediate, personal desires or the situation in the moment. Things often get rushed and end up leading to disaster.

Due to leaders wanting to kill Jesus, the disciples urged Jesus to leave the area of Galilee. Jesus said He could not go, because His time had not come to leave.

Waiting is difficult and even more difficult when there is a high possibility of danger involved. Unless someone is a procrastinator, most do not like to wait. People like to keep moving and keep the action going forward. Things cannot occur fast enough.

God works on a larger time table of eternity. Although man is finite here on this earth, God is looking at the larger picture of eternity.

He is willing to wait for the perfect time for an event to occur, regardless of how long it may take. And in reality, even if it takes a thousand years, it is just a slight moment in light of eternity.

It is common among believers to have the same mindset as the world does–needing things or to move right now.

Instead of jumping ahead of God, a believer must be willing to wait on His timing. Being patient and waiting will allow for the perfect time to come and things to work out better than could ever have been expected.

There is probably something that you are waiting on God for and desire it right now. Instead of fretting and fearing it will be too late, put your trust in His timing.

God has a reason for causing you to wait. He is waiting for the perfect timing of everything to be set up right to meet that need, move you forward or to stop something.

Realize that God is working on an eternity timetable, not the temporary one of this earth. While you are waiting, God will not allow anything to occur to you that is not in His plan for your good.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will trust God’s timing in your life; that you will wait for God’s direction to move; that you will not fear what man can do, but trust God’s protection; and that God will reveal His plans for you in the right time.

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Revelation 19:9 Are You Invited To The Wedding Supper?

Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” Revelation 19:9

Weddings are often a time of great celebrations. Usually family members and friends are invited to be a part of the celebration. It is a time to rejoice in two people getting married.

Although for most weddings a lot of people are invited, not everyone is invited. There are usually restrictions or limitations as to who can be invited. Sometimes it is an extreme privilege to be invited.

John is told by an angel that any one who has been invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb is blessed.

Most marriages are the getting together of two people who are in love with each other. It is a time to celebrate that the two are becoming one.

Throughout scripture the relationship of God with His people, all believers, is one of a marriage. It is an intimate relationship with God through Jesus that every believer has.

The full marriage has not occurred yet. It will happen upon the day Jesus returns to take His bride, the church or believers, home to be with Him for eternity.

Although every one is invited to believe in Jesus, not every one does. In the end, relatively few will actually accept the invitation. Those who do choose to believe in and follow Jesus, will be allowed to be at the marriage supper in heaven.

At this wedding supper a person will begin to see the true blessing of following Jesus. All suffering, pain, hunger, thirst, weariness, hate and sin will be done away with for eternity. Every believer will see God face to face and will be made perfect.

But all of this is only for the believer who has been invited and accepted the invitation to believe in Jesus.

You have been invited to believe in Jesus and follow Him. You have choice each day as to whether you will follow Him or not. Although there may be some temporary pain in following Him today, in the end there will be eternal joy in heaven. You will be blessed beyond measure for all eternity as you choose to follow Jesus.

Ask yourself if you have been invited to the wedding supper of Jesus and the church. Then ask yourself if you have accepted it.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will know the joy of following Jesus; that God will give you a vision of the marriage in heaven; that you will accept the invitation to the wedding supper of the Lamb; and that you will follow God with all of your heart.

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2 Peter 3:11 What Kind Of Person Are You?

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 2 Peter 3:11

One common thought among many people around the world is to eat, drink and be merry today because tomorrow you will die. Most people will only live for the moment with no regard or thoughts about tomorrow and even less about eternity.

Worldly “successful” people are those who kept in mind their goal for their future each day. They focused on doing something today with tomorrow in mind. However, most do not give a moment’s thought about eternity.

Peter just described how God would destroy the world in the end. With that in mind he asks what kind of people they should be. He tells them that they should live holy and godly lives.

One thing that should set the believer apart from the rest of the world is that he has a focus upon eternity, not just the here and now. In order to have life in that eternity, one must also have his focus upon God.

God has given the directions on how to live life in order to get life for eternity. The process is simple–live a holy and godly life. In other words do what God has said to do.

The first step in this is accepting what Jesus had done on the cross. Doing this wipes away all wrongs. Then one must put on the righteousness of Jesus, not his own. And finally, do what God calls him to do. Doing these three things will cause a person live a holy and godly life.

Too many in the church believe in Christ, but refuse to live a holy life. They want the best of both worlds and in the end will lose everything.

Only you can examine your life closely and determine how you are living your life from the inside out. Fruit will bear witness as to whether you are striving to live the holy life God called you to live or not.

Although it may be painful right now to live a holy life, in the end you will gain eternity.

Live your life for God with the gift of eternity that He has promised you. Allow His Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide you in how to live that life. Be set apart knowing that Jesus is returning to bring you to heaven for eternity.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will live as God has called you to live; that your life will be a holy life, separated unto God; that the world will see that you live for God; and that you will hear the Holy Spirit guiding your thoughts, words and actions.

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James 4:4 Friend Of The World Or Of God

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4

Most people seek to have friends who are like them and like who they are. Very few people really like to be alone and without friends. It is very easy for someone to be a friend with someone else who has the same likes and dislikes.

When there are differences in desires, there is often fighting that goes on causing disunity and problems.

James cuts down the believers who are being friends with the world. He points out that being a friend with the world, is being an enemy with God.

Every believer is to be set apart as different or unique. They are not to blend in like everyone else. The ultimate home of the believer is heaven, not this earth. Their focus is in eternity, not just the here and now.

Most of the world is focused upon self and the here and now. It is all about what one can get for himself at any cost.

Too often believers want to be friends with those in the world and begin to compromise their standards with God. They begin to accept sinful activities in their lives as though they were acceptable to God.

At the moment a believer begins to be friends with this world, they become an enemy to God. The focus of the world is selfishness and sin. Believers are supposed to be focused upon God and eternity, not self and this temporary world.

Acting as the world does makes one lukewarm, one that God will spit out. Either a believer is a friend of God or a friend of the world, but never both at the same time.

You must be willing to ask yourself who you want to be friends with. God will not force you to be friends with Him, however, if you are friends with the world, you will be God’s enemy.

As a believer, you are to flee all sin. The world will want you to walk in sin with them, to be like them or else they will hate you. In the same way, God wants you to be like Him, or you will be His enemy.

Make a choice today as to who you will be friends with–God or the world.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will choose to be friends with God; that you will live as God called you to live; that God will strengthen you to not be friends with the world; and that God will fill you with Him so that you have all you desire and need.