Live in the Light of Eternity
Hebrews 12:1-3
The title of today’s message, “Live in the Light of Eternity” is a good word for all of us, and especially for young people. The Hebrew writer is saying: “Fix your eyes on Jesus – make decisions in the
the light of eternity. Don’t make decisions based on what you want today. Make decisions in the light of eternity.
Billy Graham tells a story about Albert Einstein, who was going on a train to an out-of-town engagement. The conductor stopped to punch his ticket.
The great scientist, preoccupied with his work, with embarrassment Rummaged through his coat pockets and briefcase to no avail. He could not find his ticket. The conductor graciously declared, “We all know who
you are, Dr. Einstein. I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry about it.
Everything is okay.” The conductor walked on down the aisle punching other tickets. Before he moved to the next car he looked back and saw Dr.
Einstein down on his hands and knees looking under his seat trying to find
his ticket. He came back and said, “Dr. Einstein, please don’t worry about it. I know who you are.” At which the great Einstein looked up and said,
“I, too, know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going.”
Studies reveal that a high percentage of decisions for Christ are made before the age of 21. After the age of 21 the percentage rate goes into a sharp decline of people that become disciples of Jesus. King Solomon knew that concept well when he wrote: “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth.”
Hebrews 12:1-3 are words of exhortation for all of us, but especially for youth. Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore,” since all this has happened - Hebrews 11 – Hall of Faith – List of Heroes of Faith prior to the coming of Christ. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses.”
We are surrounded by people that have given us a great Christian Heritage. Here is a picture of a Greek or Roman Olympic Amphitheater. Christians are on the playing field participating in running a race. The race is compared to your run through life. For some the run is short and others is it long. But every Christian is to participate in the race. The grandstands are filled with Heroes of the Christian Faith. There are hundreds and thousands – people you know and people you don’t know. You look and see your own Booster Club. Some are holding up a banner with your name on it. They are rooting and cheering for you.
I look up and see people I know in my cheering section. These are people who have had a great influence on my life. There on the front row is my mother. Next to her is my High School Sunday School Teacher. On the second row my grandparents and great grand parents on my mother’s side are seated. I still have fond memories of their Christian character and words of encouragement. My mother who had the greatest influence is leading the cheering section for me.
Carollyn looks up and has an even bigger cheering section. Grandparents and Great Grandparents on both sides of her family are seated there. Carollyn’s father was a Free Methodist Minister and both her Grandfathers were Free Methodist Pastors. One was a Bishop in the Free Methodist Church.
Today Carollyn and I are cheering for our 4 married children and our 13 grandchildren. Plus the Lord willing we will add another grandchild in December. Your youngest daughter Janette is expecting the first part of December.
You say, “I don’t have many relatives who are Christian. My cheering crowd is small.” Look around you. Everyone here this morning is part of your cheering crowd. You are part of a community of caring people. You have a lot of people cheering for you.
I. Throw off Everything that Hinders You
Hebrews 12:1
Since you are surrounded by a great throng of witnessed, “throw off every things that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles…”
As you run the race of life, don’t let any baggage weight you down. Get rid of any sin that entangles you. If your feet are tangled up of if you feet are tied to weights, you are slowed down.
The best way to run is to run in step with Jesus. Have you ever competed in a sack race. Carollyn and I competed in a sack race. You each put your leg in a large sack that comes up to your waist. When given the “go” word you start running in unison. If you get out of step with each other then you fall. When Jesus is your partner you will never get out of step. You will not fall. You only fall when your life gets out of step with Jesus or when you get sidetracked or think you can run better by going backwards.
Whatever hinders or weights you down, put it off. Ephesians 4:22-32 the Apostle Paul tells you how to live as Christian of God. There are some things to put off and some things to put on. He says, put off attitudes and habits connected to your sinful nature and put on righteousness and holiness. Put off telling lies and put on speaking truthfully. Put off stealing and live a life of integrity. Get rid of bitterness, anger, gossip and slander and put on compassion, kindness, and forgive others just as Jesus forgave you. When those sinful weights are put off the spiritual virtues you put on are like blessing of vitality and serve as lifting power like air being pumped into a hot air balloon that soars into the heavens.
Young people you make wise decisions when you make decisions in the light of eternity. As parents we should do all we can to help our children life in the light of eternity. By choices you make you eight add weights to your life or you take them off.
As parents one of the best ways you can help your children make wise decision is for you to live a consistent Christian life. Make your lifestyle Monday-Saturday, match your Sunday worship.
Teens are going through rapid change. Teens are in transition from adolescence to adult. If you teen can’t find a close relationship with you then he/she will turn to their peers. You may tell your children you love them, but do you love them unconditionally and accept them for who them are? Your teens can tell the difference.
Adolescence is a challenging time. Adolescence means the time of growth to adult maturity. Teens are going through rapid changes, physically, sexually, emotionally and socially.
Two parents of a teenage girl looked at each other and shook their heads in puzzlement. Not ten minutes before, their sixteen-year-old daughter, Amy, was explaining precisely how she managed to land a much-sought-after position by impressing the employer with how mature she was. New she was crying uncontrollable because her brother had used her shampoo. Parents you can be assured your teens need lots of understanding and encouragement.
#When we were starting a new church in Taylor, Michigan there was one older teen, age 19 that was trying to find herself. Her parents were both professing Christians, but she could never seem to achieve their approval. Her response was to drink and take drugs. More than once she would come to our house high on drugs and wine. We did our best to show her love and make her accountable for her actions. What she was really searching for was unconditional love from her parents.
Unconditional love means loving no matter what. No matter what your teen looks like. No matter what his/her assets, liabilities, and handicaps are. No matter how he/she acts. This doesn’t mean you approve of their behavior
Remember your teenager is more affected by your actions than by your words.
By the grace of God you can make wise decisions. Decisions - that you will not regret in the light of eternity. The motto is true – “Only one life twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”
“Throw off everything that hinders and weights you down.” Why?
So you can…
2. Run with Perseverance the Race Marked out for you. Hebrews 12:2
Here is a picture of an athlete running with all your might. The verb run is in the “present active” tense – “keep on running.” You don’t start a race without wanting to finish the race.
2 Timothy 2:5, “…if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victory crown unless he competes according to the rules.” You can win by cheating but true victory only comes to the runner that keeps the rules.
I heard about a marathon runner that won the race far ahead of all others. Later it was discovered that a twin brother took over at the halfway point and ran the second half of the race with fresh legs and energy. They really didn’t win because they didn’t compete according to the rules.
You live in the light of eternity by obeying God’s rules and commandments. In the race of life there are several hurdles that loom up and may cause you to stumble.
The barrier of criticism – When you hear your parents or teachers say over and over again that you are no good. You begin to believe it yourself. I’m no good and nobody appreciates me. I may as well give up and stop running. Why run it doesn’t make any sense. Life is but a dream. Attitudes of a low sense of self worth and low self-esteem can become fixed. They develop over years and it takes years and the grace of God to overcome them.
#A circus trainer learned how to train fleas so they would not jump out of a jar. The trainer would put the fleas in the jar. The fleas would jump up and hit their heat time and time again until they got the message. They cannot jump any higher without hurting their head. They would only jump up so high and no higher. They were conditioned by their trainer. Then the trainer would take off the lid and the fleas would continue to jump just so high.
Children growing up are told: “You are ugly.” “You are clumsy.” “You can’t do anything right.” The children get the message and stop trying to spread their wings and fly.
Negative communication in the home can add weights on to a child’s life. Be careful what you say and avoid conversation killers. Conversation killer are spoken with “put down” tones:
“You are…………”
“You always…….”
“You never…..”
There are ways of communicating that seem to call for a debate:
“You are a spoiled brat.”
“You always talk back.”
“You never do your chores.”
“You never clean you room.”
The teen may agree in their mind: “Guess what, you’re right.” “I am a spoiled brat and I will talk back and not do chores or clean my room.”
It is better to start conversations with:
“I feel….”
“I think….”
Do you want to have good communication with your teen. Spent time with them. Coach them on school projects. Participate in their sports by being a considerate observer. Travel together on trips. Make family vacations a special time of family time.
Do all you can to help your children keep on the track. Give encouraging words along with accountability according to God’s Word. As a Christian Parent there are some things you do not have to tolerate. Encourage but take a stand for principled living.
3. Fix your eyes of Jesus the author and perfecter of your faith.
“Jesus is the author and perfecter of you faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
Get this picture in you mind. Visualize you are in a race. The track looks rough. The way is not smooth. There are valleys and hills and drop off points and dangerous curves. Look at the finish line. Who is there watching for you and cheering you on. It is Jesus. Jesus is there waiting for you at the finish line. You may not have thousands of people cheering you on, but that doesn’t matter. You have Jesus standing there with outstretched arms. He is coaching…you can make it. I’m for you. I love you. You are important to me. You are a great person. Don’t give up. Keep on going forward.
Hebrews 12:3 “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” When the road gets rough and you fall down. Jesus will be right there to help you up. Jesus knows what it is like to be rejected and ridiculed and reviled, but He also knows the reward for those who refuse to give up.
In a couple other places the Apostle Paul talks about looking forward to the goal of being with Jesus in eternity. Philippians 3:12-14 – “Not that I have already obtained all this (the power of the resurrection) or have already been made perfect (that will only happen in heaven), but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider my self yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I pres on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
All the challenges, heart ache, and disappoints will be worth the effort of staying on track. It will be worth it all to see Jesus and be with him throughout eternity.
Are you searching for purpose in life? Jesus will give you purpose and a reason to live. As you grow in faith and maturity you will go from parent control to self control. You assume responsibility when you are willing to be held responsible for you actions. In fact one of the greatest truth parents can learn is this fact: “You cannot control teenagers.” The goal is self control and the development of you inner character. Your goal is to please Jesus more than people. Jesus is more concerned about you character that your popularity.
Every teen has the choice to make – popularity or character.
In popularity the goal is to be liked. The goal of Christian character is to be like Christ. The focus of popularity is on what you do. The focus of Christian character is on who you are. Popularity depends on the thoughts of others. Christian character is not interested in public opinion. Popularity is afraid of adversity. Christian character survives adversity.
Keep you eyes on Jesus. As you run keep looking ahead. Runners that win keep their faces on the finish line. To look back is to loose. Paul declared in I Corinthians 9:24-25, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”
