Pastor's Ponderings, July 22, 2019

As Eternity Approaches, Let Us Rejoice

It’s Almost Midnight is a song sung by Bishop Richard White, which has some powerful lyrics. “It’s almost midnight; the cry is about to be made. Behold the bridegroom cometh, have you any oil, are you saved? It’s almost midnight; the master is on his way, He just might come tomorrow. He just might come today.”  This moving song points to the importance of preparing for Jesus Christ’s return to earth for those who love Him  

Many people are overly concerned about their self-esteem, prosperity, health, wealth, and their physical and mental well-being rather than where their soul will spend in eternity. In spite of our success or failure in life, we are given one time to die and after that there is the Judgment (Hebrews 9:27).  

However, God wants us to know that there is good news for us.  He advises us to seek Him and His kingdom first and everything that we need will be added to us (Matthew 6:33).  If we obey His word, He will bless us (Deuteronomy 28:1, 2).  If we delight ourselves in Him, He will give us our heart’s desires (Psalm 37:4).  

He further advises us to set our affection upon things in heaven rather than things on the earth which shall soon pass away (Colossians 3:1, 2). Finally, if we lose something earthly that we hold dear because of God, He will bless us a hundredfold in this life and give us eternal life after we leave this earth (Mark 10:29, 30).

God wants us to enjoy our life’s journey when we put our full faith, confidence, and trust in Him.  He will lead, guide, and protect us in this life and He will have His angels to keep us in all of our ways (Psalms 91:10, 11).  But most importantly, we must remember to keep our eyes on the heavenly prize in Christ Jesus so that we can rejoice before Him throughout eternity (Philippians 3:13b-14).

Hebrews 9:27
New International Version (NIV)

27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,

Matthew 6:33
New International Version (NIV)

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Deuteronomy 28:1, 2
New International Version (NIV)

1 If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 

2 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:

Psalm 37:4
New International Version (NIV)
4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Colossians 3:1, 2
New International Version (NIV)

1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Mark 10:29, 30
New International Version (NIV)

29“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel
30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.

Psalm 91:10, 11
New International Version (NIV)

10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;

Philippians 3:13b, 14
New International Version (NIV)

13 …Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.