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Eternal-ness!

      Oh,
the wonder of Forever and knowing we are created to live forever. 
The verse from John 17:3 echoes in my heart. And this is eternal life, that
they know You, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You sent. 

          How often my mind hears the trends and memes of
the world pulling me away from the Truth of God.  How do I keep my mind on
the Lord God?
        
  If then you have been raised with Christ,
seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the
right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on
things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is
hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is
your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Colossians
3:1-3.
        
How do we know God?  What does He love?  What does He abhor?
 The study of the Word of God is the beginning to know Him.  Know a
person and then comes the wanting to be like Him. As in water face reflects
the face, so the heart of man reflects the man.  Proverbs 27:19.
        
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will
guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally,
brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever
is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any
excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these
things. What you have learned and received and heard and
seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with
you. Philippians 4:7-9.  This is the beginning of a relationship with
our God and Father.  
        
Then comes the spiritual guard rails to keep our hearts focused on the only
relationship stamped with forever. There are six things that
the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to Him: haughty
eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a
heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a
false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord
among brothers. Proverbs 6:16-19.
        
What
is the only way to correct our walk, our thoughts, our words, and our actions?
LOVE!  From Jesus comes these words, “You shall LOVE the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the
great and first commandment.  And a second is
like it: “You shall LOVE your neighbor as yourself.”  Matthew
22:37-39.
        
Our
confidence in our Father Lord comes from living in the world He created, and in
the body He created.  No man could have a plan such as God has for each of
us and carry it through with every detail in place.
        
Part of His plan is for the redemption of His people. As obedient
children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former
ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all
your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am
holy.”  I Peter 1:14-16.
        
How
can this be?  It is not humanly possible, but only through walking with
Jesus, and learning from the Holy Spirit who lives within our hearts.  Our
true love for Jesus and his sacrifice to die on the cross for us motivates us
to give Him our lives and hold nothing back.
        
The strengthening soul-scripture comes when the I Am, tells us who we are and
that in following God, we become His child, and there is an inheritance
awaiting us. 
        
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world
did not know him. He came to his own, and his own
people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who
believed in his name, He gave the right to become children of
God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the
flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.  John 18:10-13.
        
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing
that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your
reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.  Colossians 3:23-24.
        
Why does life seem so difficult? Why is there evil in the world?  Why
can’t people be nice?  The questions are endless.  When Jesus learned
that Lazarus, his friend is ill, did Jesus rush to his side to heal him? 
Verse 4 of John 11 tells us the why of waiting – But when Jesus heard it, He
said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of
God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
        
Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite
my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord
my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.
 For great is your steadfast love toward me; You
have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.  Psalm
86:11-13.
        
The
‘When’ of Eternity comes when we believe in Him and in the way we love others
with gentleness, kindness, and steadfastness. It is the way we teach others by
our Christlike example, the words we say, and the actions we use as His
ambassadors.
        
 Therefore, we are ambassadors for
Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of
Christ, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20.
        
The following verse makes me know how important it is to have a close
relationship with God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit each day.
Note the word has in the following scripture.  It doesn’t say will
have, might have, but is present tense – HAS!  This is a
relationship with the Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in the
present, and the forever to come.

         Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life in John 3:36a. 


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