LIVING LIFE ON EARTH WITH A FOCUS ON ETERNITY
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1.LIVING WITH AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE GIVES US THE ASSURANCE OF GREAT GLORY AND REWARD FOR ALL THE SUFFERINGS WE ENDURE FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST IN THIS WORLD. THEREFORE WE DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED EASILY IN THE MIDST OF CONFLICTS AND DIFFICULTIES.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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I Corinthians 15:19
" If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men."
Romans 8:17-18
" Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."
Matthew 5:10-12
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. "
2. LIVING WITH AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE HELPS US TO ENDURE TESTINGS AND TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS IN THIS WORLD , AS THESE WILL SHAPE OUR CHARACTER AND PREPARE US FOR ETERNITY. WHEN WE PASS THE TESTS VICTORIOUSLY , THE LORD WILL GIVE US THE CROWN OF LIFE.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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James 1:12
"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
3. LIVING WITH AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE CAUSES TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE . WE WOULD NOT RISK OUR ETERNAL FUTURE BY FOLLOWING A PATH OF SIN AND INIQUITY WHICH WOULD LEAD US TO ETERNAL DESTRUCTION.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Matthew 7:21-23
"Not everyone who says to me, ’Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ’Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ’I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’"
Galatians 5:19-21
"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. "
Revelation 21 : 8,27
"But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.
Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life."
4. LIVING WITH AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE MAKES US LIVE EXTREMELY USEFUL LIVES SPENT IN THE SERVICE OF SUFFERING HUMANITY . WE WILL NOT LIVE SELFISHLY . WE WILL EAGERLY SEEK OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP OTHERS AND IT WILL BRING ETERNAL REWARDS TO US .
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Mattheww 25:34-40
"Then the King will say to those on his right, ’Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’"Then the righteous will answer Him, ’Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’"The King will reply, ’I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ "
5.LIVING WITH AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE WILL MAKE US USE ALL THE GIFTS AND TALENTS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO US . WE WILL NOT BE LAZY AND WASTE OUR RESOURCES . AND WHEN WE ARE FAITHFUL IN THE EARTHLY RESPONSIBILITIES , THE LORD WILL REWARD US WITH GREATER RESPONSIBILITIES IN ETERNITY.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Matthew 25:19-21
" After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ’Master,’ he said, ’you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ "His master replied, ’Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
Luke 16:10-12
" Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?
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6.LIVING WITH AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE CAUSES US TO LAY OUR TREASURES IN HEAVEN . WE WOULD FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON ACCUMULATING ETERNAL TREASURES AND NOT WASTE OUR LIFE CHASING THE VANITY OF EARTHLY WEALTH AND POSSESSIONS.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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James 4:14
" Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."
Matthew 6:19-21
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Colossians 3:1-2
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. "
7. LIVING WITH AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE PREVENTS US FROM SEEKING HONOUR FROM MEN . ALL OUR ACTS OF CHARITY WILL HAVE PURE MOTIVES BECAUSE WE NOT WANT TO LOSE OUR ETERNAL REWARD BY PURSUING EARTHLY FAME
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Matthew 6:1-4
" Be careful not to do your ’acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. "
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EXAMPLES OF MEN OF GOD WHO FACED TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS IN THIS WORLD
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1. JOB : JOB PROVED THAT HE STILL LOVED GOD EVEN WHEN HE LOST EVERYTHING. HIS LOVE FOR GOD WAS NOT SELFISH.
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SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Job 1:8-11
"Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."
Job 23:10
" But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold."
James 5:10-11
" Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. "
2.ABRAHAM : ABRAHAM PROVED THAT HE LOVED GOD MORE THAN HIS SON ISAAC AND THAT GOD’S BLESSINGS WERE NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN GOD HIMSELF.
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SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Genesis 22:1-2
" Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."
3.JOSEPH : JOSEPH ENDURED SEVERE TESTING UNTIL THE TIME CAME WHEN GOD FULFILLED HIS PROMISES
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SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Psalms 105:17-19
" and he sent a man before them—Joseph, sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles,his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass,till the word of the LORD proved him true. "
4. CAIN AND ABEL : ABEL BROUGHT THE BEST AND THE FIRSTBORN AS AN OFFERING TO GOD AND HIS OFFERING WAS ACCEPTED . CAIN DID NOT HONOUR GOD WITH THE BEST AND THE FIRSTFRUITS AND THEREFORE HIS OFFERING WAS REJECTED.
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SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Genesis 4:3-4
" In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. "
5.HEZEKIAH : HEZEKIAH WAS TESTED BY GOD’S SILENCE IN ONE PARTICULAR AREA EVEN THOUGH GOD BLESSED HIM IN EVERY OTHER AREA.
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SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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II Chronicles 32:27-31
" Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made treasuries for his silver and gold and for his precious stones, spices, shields and all kinds of valuables. He also made buildings to store the harvest ofgrain, new wine and oil; and he made stalls for various kinds of cattle, and pens for the flocks. He built villages and acquired great numbers of flocks and herds, for God had given him very great riches. It was Hezekiah who blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and channeled the water down to the west side of the City of David. He succeeded in everything he undertook. But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land,God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart.
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6. ISRAELITES IN THE WILDERNESS : THE ISRAELITES WERE TESTED IN THE WILDERNESS TO SEE WHETHER THEY WOULD OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD AND TRUST HIM TO MEET ALL THEIR NEEDS IN THE WILDNERNESS , WHERE THERE WAS NO HUMAN SOURCE OF HELP.
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SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Deuteronomy 8:2-3
" Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD
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7.JESUS : JESUS SET AN EXAMPLE FOR TO CARRY OUR CROSS. HE FOCUSSED HIS ATTENTION ON THE ETERNAL JOY THAT WAS AWAITING HIM AND IT HELPED HIM TO ENDURE THE CROSS .HE DID NOT FOCUS HIS ATTENTION ON THE HUMILIATION AND THE AGONY OF THE CROSS.
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SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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Hebrews 12:2-3
" Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our 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. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. "
