Eternal Redemption

Matthew 25:34. "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, `Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Have you ever stopped to consider that God sees us from an eternal viewpoint? That He considers us valuable, and has a long term plan for us. We on the other hand have a tendency many times to think of ourselves only in the here and now, and someday we get to go to heaven. It is true someday we get to go to Heaven, if we are in Christ Jesus, however there is more to our redemption than us just getting to go to heaven someday! God has called us before the worlds were created, it is an eternal calling, and we need to begin to understand the importance of the long term goal that He has for us.

Ephesians 1:4-6. just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.

1 Peter 1:1. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

2. elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

1 Peter 2:11. Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,

James 4:14. whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

We see that the Word of God is saying we are passing through on our way towards a goal.

In one extreme, people get so Heavenly minded that they are no Earthly good, and on the other extreme, people think there is only now, and they say lets eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. The truth is, we are in the here and now, and we have to deal with it, but we have got to understand we are in school for what’s to come. That’s why Peter said by the unction of the Holy Spirit, that we are sojourners or in other words we are in the process of a journey. He is also telling us "Be holy, for I am holy.’’ We are learning and have got to learn to put the Word of God into practice now. We have got to be imitators of our Father now. God the Father is telling us to be like Him, we might wonder how we can be like Him, and walk in holiness as his Word tells us to. We must start by recognizing what He has called us to be. First and foremost He has called us to be His children. He will teach us by His Word and by the Holy Spirit to become like Him.

Ephesians 5:1. Therefore be followers of God as dear children.

2. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

3. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;

4. neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

5. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Our Heavenly Father is loving always, giving always, caring always, and He is telling us in His Word that we are to be followers of Him, some translations read to be imitators of Him. We are His representatives here in the earth, the gentiles see us and will glorify our Father.

Jesus said; "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven. Matthew 5:16.

Our calling started before we were born into this world, and goes on eternally, we start to become partakers of this Heavenly calling the minute we acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ and are born again. We are called to be imitators of our Father in Heaven. Paul in his letter to Titus said, God promised us eternal life before time began, but first of all we are to acknowledge the truth which is according to godliness.

Titus 1:1. Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which is according to godliness,