Driven by Eternity

1. Eternity Shapes Our Present Choices

“Eternity arrests the attention of all mankind.”

Eternal Perspective. The concept of eternity, though difficult to grasp, is deeply ingrained in our hearts, influencing our desires and motivations. Understanding that our actions have eternal consequences should drive us to live with purpose and intentionality.

• We are created with a sense of eternity, a longing for something beyond the temporal.
• This awareness should motivate us to seek God's will and live according to His eternal standards.
• Our choices today determine our eternal destiny and rewards.

Driven by the Eternal. Our lives should be guided by the eternal, not the temporal. This means prioritizing God's Word and His will over cultural norms, traditions, and personal feelings.

• We must build our lives on the foundation of God's eternal Word, not on fleeting trends or societal values.
• The decisions we make today will determine how we spend the rest of eternity.
• We should be driven by the desire to please God, not by the pursuit of worldly success.

The Urgency of Now. We must not delay in seeking God's will and living according to His Word. The appointed judgment day is approaching, and we must be prepared.

• We should not take a false hope in concepts not found in the Bible.
• We must not allow the appointed judgment to hasten toward us without cause for investigation.
• We must know the standard by which we will be judged, which is the Word of God.

2. True Belief Manifests in Obedience

“Whoever says, I know Him . . . but fails to keep and obey His commandments (teachings) is a liar, and the Truth [of the Gospel] is not in him.”

Faith and Works. True faith is not merely intellectual assent but is demonstrated through obedience to God's commandments. It is not enough to say we believe; our actions must align with our words.

• Faith without works is dead and useless.
• Even demons believe in God, but they are not saved.
• Our actions are the evidence of our true belief.

The Test of Love. The love of God is perfected in us when we keep His commandments. It is not enough to feel love; we must show it through our obedience.

• The love of God is not just a feeling, but a commitment to obey His will.
• We must carefully observe all of His word, in its entirety, for the love of God to be matured in us.
• The love of God is perfected in keeping His commandments, not in behaving in a way that is good in society’s eyes.

Not Just Words. We must not be deceived by those who claim to know God but deny Him by their actions. We must examine our own lives to ensure our words and actions are in alignment with God's will.

• Many will say "Lord, Lord" but will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
• We must not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
• We must prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

3. Grace Empowers, Not Excuses

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably.”

Grace is Power. Grace is not a license to sin but the divine power that enables us to obey God's Word completely. It is not a blanket of protection for disobedient lifestyles.

• Grace empowers us to be able to obey His Word completely, in a way that is acceptable to Him.
• Grace is not just unmerited favor, but also the power to live a godly life.
• We must not use grace as an excuse for sin, but as the power to overcome it.

Obedience is Key. The love of God is perfected in us when we keep His commandments. It is not enough to feel love; we must show it through our obedience.

• The love of God is not just a feeling, but a commitment to obey His will.
• We must carefully observe all of His word, in its entirety, for the love of God to be matured in us.
• The love of God is perfected in keeping His commandments, not in behaving in a way that is good in society’s eyes.

Transformed Lives. Grace transforms us from the inside out, changing our nature and enabling us to live according to God's will. It is not just a one-time event but a continuous process of growth and transformation.

• We must not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
• We must prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
• We must allow the Cross to slay our self-seeking life and make room for the new nature of Jesus to be formed within.

4. The Danger of a Hardened Heart

“The fool, on the other hand, is the one who has not just denied God mentally, but has resisted in his heart to the point of a seared conscience. He is beyond reach.”

Heart vs. Mind. It is not enough to believe in God mentally; we must also believe in our hearts. A hardened heart is one that has resisted God's truth to the point of a seared conscience.

• The fool has said in his heart, "there is no God," not in his mind.
• Many atheists deny God mentally, but in their hearts they know He exists.
• A hardened heart is beyond the reach of the Holy Spirit.

The Fear of God. The fear of God is what keeps our hearts within reach of the Holy Spirit. It is a healthy reverence and respect for God's authority and holiness.

• The fear of God is not a terror of Him, but a reverence for His power and holiness.
• Only those who fear God are capable of hearing the Words of eternal life.
• The fear of God keeps us from drifting away from His truth.

Consequences of Rejection. Those who reject God in their hearts will face eternal consequences. They will be banished to a place of utter darkness, hopelessness, and loneliness.

• The fool is the person who casts off the fear of God and acts as if he could safely disregard the eternal principles of God’s righteousness.
• Those who do not believe in Jesus will die in their sins.
• Those who reject God will be banished to the land of Lone, a place of torment and despair.

5. Rewards Vary Based on Faithfulness

“Day by day the Lord observes the good deeds done by godly men, and gives them eternal rewards.”

Not All Equal. While all believers will be saved, not all will receive the same rewards. Our faithfulness in this life will determine our position and authority in the eternal kingdom.

• God desires us to succeed and longs to reward us for it.
• The decisions made at the Judgment Seat will be eternal.
• We must labor for the rewards, not just for salvation.

Faithfulness in Little. God is not looking for grand gestures but for faithfulness in the small things. Those who are faithful in little will be entrusted with much.

• We must run with certainty and purpose to win.
• We are not competing against others, only ourselves.
• We must be faithful in the small things to be entrusted with greater responsibilities.

Eternal Perspective. Our focus should not be on earthly rewards but on the eternal rewards that await us in heaven. We must live with an eternal perspective, knowing that our actions have lasting consequences.

• We must run with certainty and purpose to win.
• We are not competing against others, only ourselves.
• We must be faithful in the small things to be entrusted with greater responsibilities.

6. The Power of Partnership in the Kingdom

“For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God; you are God’s garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are] God’s building.”

Colaborers with God. We are not meant to serve God alone but as colaborers with Him and with one another. We are all part of God's building, and we must work together to fulfill His purposes.

• We are joint promoters and laborers together with God.
• We are God's garden, vineyard, and field under cultivation.
• We are God's building, and we must work together to build it.

The Body of Christ. The church is the body of Christ, and each member has a unique role to play. We must support and encourage one another in our callings.

• We are all members of the body of Christ, and each of us has a vital role.
• We must not covet another's position, but be content to serve in the place God has called us.
• We must work together to build up the body of Christ.

Multiplying Efforts. By partnering with others, we can multiply our efforts and reach more people for the kingdom. We must support and encourage one another in our callings.

• We must partner with others to reach more people for the kingdom.
• We must support and encourage one another in our callings.
• We must give to ministries that are doing the work of God.

7. The Importance of a Godly Attitude

“The fear of the Lord is what keeps our heart within reach of the Holy Spirit; if lost, there is no hope left for us.”

Attitude Matters. Our attitude is just as important as our actions. We must serve God with a willing heart, not out of obligation or compulsion.

• We must serve God with a willing heart, not out of obligation or compulsion.
• Our attitude will affect our motives, and our motives will affect our rewards.
• We must be careful to maintain a godly attitude in all that we do.

The Fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is not a terror of Him, but a healthy reverence and respect for His authority and holiness. It is the foundation of wisdom and the key to a healthy life.

• The fear of the Lord is not a terror of Him, but a reverence for His power and holiness.
• The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
• The fear of the Lord keeps us from drifting away from His truth.

Humility and Submission. We must be humble and submissive to God's will and to those He has placed in authority over us. Pride and rebellion will hinder our progress and prevent us from fulfilling our destiny.

• We must be humble and submissive to God's will.
• We must be submissive to those He has placed in authority over us.
• Pride and rebellion will hinder our progress and prevent us from fulfilling our destiny.

8. Our Influence Extends Beyond Our Actions

“The judgments made in that day are called eternal.”

Influence Matters. Our influence on others is just as important as our personal walk with God. We must be mindful of the impact we have on those around us.

• Our influence on others is just as important as our personal walk with God.
• We must be mindful of the impact we have on those around us.
• We must use our influence to build up others, not tear them down.

The Power of Example. Our lives are a testimony to others, and we must live in a way that reflects the love and grace of God. Our actions speak louder than our words.

• Our lives are a testimony to others.
• We must live in a way that reflects the love and grace of God.
• Our actions speak louder than our words.

Eternal Impact. The influence we have on others will have eternal consequences. We must be faithful to share the gospel and to disciple those who come to faith.

• Our influence on others will have eternal consequences.
• We must be faithful to share the gospel.
• We must disciple those who come to faith.

9. Heaven is a Real and Glorious Place

“He has put eternity in their hearts.”

A Real City. Heaven is not just a spiritual concept but a real and glorious place. It is a city with streets of gold, walls of jasper, and a river of life.

• Heaven is a real and glorious place.
• It is a city with streets of gold, walls of jasper, and a river of life.
• It is a place of beauty, splendor, and grandeur.

The Presence of God. Heaven is where we will be in the presence of God and the Lamb. We will see His face and experience His love and joy in fullness.

• Heaven is where we will be in the presence of God and the Lamb.
• We will see His face and experience His love and joy in fullness.
• We will be in a place of perfect peace and rest.

Eternal Home. Heaven is our eternal home, and we must live with an eternal perspective, knowing that our time on earth is temporary.

• Heaven is our eternal home.
• We must live with an eternal perspective.
• We must not be attached to the things of this world.

10. The Judgment Seat is a Reality for Believers

“There is a Judgment Day, which has been appointed from the foundation of the world.”

Accountability. All believers will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to give an account of their lives. We must be prepared to face our Judge with confidence.

• All believers will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.
• We must be prepared to face our Judge with confidence.
• We must live with an awareness of the coming judgment.

Not for Salvation. The Judgment Seat of Christ is not for determining our salvation but for determining our rewards. Our salvation is secured by our faith in Jesus Christ.

• The Judgment Seat of Christ is not for determining our salvation.
• Our salvation is secured by our faith in Jesus Christ.
• The Judgment Seat is for determining our rewards.

Eternal Consequences. The decisions made at the Judgment Seat will have eternal consequences. We must live with an awareness of the eternal rewards that await us.

• The decisions made at the Judgment Seat will have eternal consequences.
• We must live with an awareness of the eternal rewards that await us.
• We must be driven by the desire to please God, not by the pursuit of worldly success.

Last updated: January 17, 2025