"Immortals"

"Immortals"

     God exists as an eternal being who entered into time for the purpose of ushering temporal human beings into eternity.

    "We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (II Corinthians 4:18).

    Walking in the Spirit requires that we view life and reality in a different manner than we are naturally disposed to do.  The passage of moments dominates the realm of our original physical birth.  The clock commands our earthly lifetime, requiring that we orient our doings and our schedules to its never-ceasing progression from then until now, and from now until later.  "Time marches on" as the saying goes.  We do not always consciously think of this temporal master, but it always abides with us, making its demands and forcing its effects upon us.  Nevertheless, God calls His trusting children in Christ to perceive our existence in terms beyond the clock.  We still live our lives in time's realm, and we must order our present lives accordingly.  As those who are "not in the flesh, but in the Spirit", however, we view God, ourselves, others, and life in terms beyond the mere passage of moments (Romans 8:9).  We make choices to fix our gaze upon eternal things that are not seen, believing that the "from everlasting to everlasting" Lord Jesus Christ entered into and embraced time for the purpose of injecting the glories of forever into our hearts and lives.  "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3).

   In practical terms, this simply means that we live our present lives in the remembrance and affirmation that another and greater realm transcends the natural.  We realize that every human being will exist eternally, either in the joyous life of Christ, or the sorrowful death of Christlessness.  Indeed, time is not the primary reality of any person despite our present experience in this lesser realm.  We are all immortals, again either happily or unhappily.  Our relationship to the eternal Lord who entered the temporal determines our experience of the greater realm.  Moreover, His trusting children greatly influence others as we live our lives in the light of eternity.  The Gospel beckons the slaves of the tyrannical clock to become the sons and daughters of the timeless Christ.   Our attitudes, demeanor, words, and actions go far in impacting our particular sphere of influence.  As we make our choices to "look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen", we lead others to the One who makes such a perspective of peace possible.  Indeed, time may march on, but the risen Christ of eternity enables us to rise above the dusty paths of the temporal and to soar beyond, leading others with us.

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord."

(Psalm 106:48).

"Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore."

(Psalm 16:11)

Weekly Memory Verse

   Now unto God and our Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

(Philippians 4:20)