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With chaos in the earth and personal tragedies and triumphs of all kinds happening close to home; I’ve contemplated the temporal vs. the eternal – what’s important vs. what is passing away. For Christians, this world is not our home. We believe because we’ve accepted Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins, we have been given the gift of everlasting life and eternity in Heaven and not Hell, the place of eternal torment. The hymn reminds us, “Time is filled with swift transition. Naught of earth unmoved can stand. Build your hopes on things eternal, hold to God’s unchanging hand. Trust in Him who will not leave you, whatsoever years may bring. If by earthly friends forsaken, still more closely to Him cling. Covet not this world’s vain riches, that so rapidly decay. Seek to gain the heav’nly treasures. They will never pass away. Hold to his hand, God’s unchanging hand.” Profound truths.
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ETERNAL means lasting or existing forever; without end; essential unchanging; of or relating to eternity – infinite or unending time; theologically, endless life after death. The hymn’s author is Jennie B. Wilson. Her father died when she was an infant. At the age of four she was attacked with a spinal deformity that rendered her confined to a wheel-chair and bed until her death at age 51. This condition also allowed her to focus on music: writing 2,200 poems and hymns from her home – none of which included a hint of sadness. A God-ward and eternally focused perspective. Sometimes we just have annoyances and frustrations…not problems.
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In Mark 10:17-31, a rich man approaches Jesus with this question, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replies confirming his Deity, “Why are you calling me good? There is no one good but God.” The man says he’s observed the Commandments from his youth. “Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great possessions. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were astonished, if the rich can’t get in, “Who then can be saved?” Isn’t that like us? If we were God, only the richest, best and brightest would get our eternal graces. Jesus turns that on it’s head, it’s almost impossible for a wealthy person to inherit eternal life…but with God even that’s possible! Sometimes Jesus’ love calls us to divest or exchange our possessions, positions, and popularity for His LIFE.
Peter, wanting to make sure he got in those pearly gates, reminds Jesus that the disciples have literally left their businesses and families, “We have left everything to follow You.” “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 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. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Life choices. Ambitions. Success. Striving. The ‘American Dream.’ Are our hopes, aspirations and pursuits focused on the present or the eternal? Do we want to be first now and last in eternity? or vice versa?
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SUNDAY WORSHIP 11:00 AM
ROOM 305 THIS SUNDAY
Youth Room
