Pastor's Ponderings, August 8, 2016

Where Will You Spend Eternity?

Every year, many families plan for their periodic family reunions.  Our family has been meeting annually since 1948 and we are eagerly looking forward to exchanging memories, eating delicious food, and just enjoying the company of people that we have had a close loving relationship all of our lives.  Currently, we are meeting to work out all of the logistical details to ensure there are no snafus that would prevent another great family reunion.

Sometime in the future, we are all going to have a reunion in eternity.  Are we spending enough time planning on where we will live?  While it is very important to have success on the earth in these few years, we must be certain that we are prepared to spend a peaceful eternity rather than one fraught with pain, torture, and torment (Matthew 13:41-42).  Many may disagree whether or not there is an afterlife or if one will be held accountable for their earthly deeds, but we read in our Bible that we will all be judged and those who love the Lord will be rewarded (2 Corinthians 5:10).

God does not want any of us to perish, but wants all of us to be with Him (2 Peter 3:9, Revelation 21:4). We would all want to hear Him say, “Well done” (Matthew 25:34) rather than “Depart from me” (Matthew 25:41).  So let’s prepare, plan and make it a top priority to do whatever God has told us to do, when He told us to do it and how He told us to do it so that we can spend a blessed eternity with Him.

Matthew 13:41-42
Amplified Bible (AMP)

41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend [those things by which people are led into sin], and all who practice evil [leading others into sin],
42 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].

2 Corinthians 5:10
Amplified Bible (AMP)

10 For we [believers will be called to account and] must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be repaid for what has been done in the body, whether good or bad [that is, each will be held responsible for his actions, purposes, goals, motives—the use or misuse of his time, opportunities and abilities].

2 Peter 3:9
Amplified Bible (AMP)

9 The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

Revelation 21:4
Amplified Bible (AMP)
4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be death; there will no longer be sorrow and anguish, or crying, or pain; for the former order of things has passed away.”

Matthew 25:34, 41
Amplified Bible (AMP)

34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father [you favored of God, appointed to eternal salvation], inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

41 “Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Leave Me, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels (demons);