Eternity is Real

Hello & Greeting

Prayer Requests

Pastoral Prayer & The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Introduction

There are certain moments in life that seem to slow everything down.

Moments when the noise quiets.

The busyness fades.

And the reality of life — and eternity — suddenly seems very real.

Sometimes it happens at a funeral.

Sometimes it’s when we hear difficult news.

Sometimes it happens in the middle of the night when the world is quiet and we finally have to face the thoughts we usually outrun during the day.

And in those moments — the questions underneath the surface rise to the top:

Why am I here?

Where’s all of this heading?

And what happens when life is over?

Most of the time - we don’t stay in those thoughts very long. We get busy. We scroll on our phones. We work. We distract ourselves. But deep down we know:

Life is fragile.

Time is limited.

And eternity… is real.

Me

As a pastor — I’ve spent some time at hospital beds and gravesides. And every time — I’m reminded that eternity isn’t a distant concept… it’s a reality that every single one of us is moving toward.

In those moments — nobody talks about how big their house was. Nobody talks about their bank account. Nobody cares about their calendar anymore.

The conversation always comes back to the same few things:

Faith

Family

Relationships

What mattered

…and what didn’t.

And I’ve thought to myself at times, “If eternity is real — then what am I doing with the one life God has given me?”

Not in a guilt-driven — panic-filled way. But in a sober — and honest — and meaningful way.

Here’s what I know about myself: It’s really easy for me to get caught up in the temporary — the pressures — the responsibilities — and the tasks — that I forget I’m living a story that doesn’t end here.

And if I forget that — then I also forget that the people God has placed in my life are eternal too. Their story doesn’t end here either.

That realization does something inside of you… it slows you down. It makes you think differently about conversations. It changes the way you look at the checkout clerk — or that neighbor who annoys you — or that co-worker who’s always mixed up in some kind of drama.

Because these aren’t just random people. They’re eternal souls — headed toward an eternal destiny.

And God — in His sovereignty — places them in our lives for a reason.

And I don’t know about you — but when I remember that — it humbles me. It reminds me that each person I come into contact with is an image-bearer of God who Jesus died for.

That means my conversations — my prayers — my love… they matter more than I sometimes realize.

And that’s where this connects so deeply with what we’ve been talking about these last few weeks. This morning we’re continuing in our “Who’s Your One?” series — where we’ve been challenged to identify that one person in our life who we can pray for — and have a faith conversation with.

We’re not just talking about inviting somebody to church — even though I hope you are. We’re not just talking about programs — or attendance — or church growth.

We’re talking about people. Real people. People with eternal souls. People God loves more than we can imagine.

And if eternity is real — then loving people enough to point them to Jesus isn’t optional. It’s one of the greatest acts of love we can ever offer.

Not out of fear. Not out of pressure. But out of compassion.

Because if eternity is real — then our prayers matter. Our conversations matter. And our invitations matter.

And the “one” God has laid on your heart matters more than you may even realize.

We

But thinking about eternity is hard — right?

Not because we don’t believe in it… but because it feels distant — and abstract — and heavy.

So we focus on the immediate things in front of us:

Bills

Kids

Work

Appointments

Plans

What’s happening this week. Maybe next month.

And along the way — eternity slips into the background. Not denied… just ignored.

Until something happens that brings it back into focus. A loss. A diagnosis. A crisis. A reminder that we’re not promised tomorrow.

And in those moments — it suddenly becomes clear: life is short. Time moves quickly. And we’re all headed toward a forever reality beyond this world.

But if you’re anything like me — you don’t hang out there for very long. Because it makes us evaluate things — like priorities — and purpose — and faith — and what truly matters.

So we drift back into the temporary again. Back into the “urgent” instead of the eternal.

And don’t we all feel that tension? We know eternity matters…

but the laundry still needs to be folded.

The bills still need to be paid.

The emails still need to be answered.

Real life doesn’t stop — and sometimes faith can get pushed into the background without us ever making an intentional decision to do it.

And over time — without meaning to — we start living like the world is the main story… and eternity is just the credits at the end of the movie.

But Jesus refuses to let us shrink life down into the temporary. Because He knows —

“THE MOMENT WE FORGET ETERNITY” GRAPHIC

the moment we forget eternity — we also forget the eternal value of people.

God

And yet — Jesus loves us too much to let us sleepwalk through life. And He knows this about us — He knows how easy it is for us to drift into living like this world is all there is.

So in Luke 16 — He tells a story that pulls back the curtain. Not to scare us — but to wake us up. To remind us that there’s more than what we can see.

If eternity is real — then people matter more than possessions.

Relationships matter more than accomplishments.

And what we do with Jesus — and the people He loves — means more than anything else in life.

If eternity is real — then YOUR ONE matters.

Exposition

So Jesus speaks right into that forgetfulness. Into our spiritual sleepiness. And He tells a story — to help us wake up. And like so many of His stories — it sneaks up on you. You think you’re just listening — and then suddenly — you realize — He’s talking about us.

v. 19

Let’s step into the story Jesus tells. Luke — Chapter 16 — starting in verse 19. He begins by describing two men:

Luke 16:19 CSB

19 “There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen, feasting lavishly every day.

This guy is wealthy. He dresses in luxury. He lives comfortably. He never wonders where his next meal will come from.

v. 20

Then Jesus shifts the camera angle. Lying outside this man’s gate is another man — Lazarus. Verse 20:

Luke 16:20 CSB

20 But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was lying at his gate.

Not the Lazarus Jesus would later raise from the dead.

This Lazarus is sick.

Broken.

Hungry.

Invisible.

v. 21

And he was desperate. Look at verse 21:

Luke 16:21 CSB

21 He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man’s table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores.

He longs for crumbs from this rich man’s table. And the dogs show him more compassion than the people do.

Two men. Two lives. Two realities.

v. 22

And then — both men die.

Verse 22:

Luke 16:22 CSB

22 One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.

Lazarus is carried into the presence of God — standing beside Abraham — the symbol of covenant hope and belonging. The rich man also dies — but Jesus says he finds himself in torment… separated from God.

v. 23

And suddenly — the contrast becomes eternal.

Verse 23:

Luke 16:23 CSB

23 And being in torment in Hell, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side.

Lazarus — who suffered in life — is now comforted. The rich man — who lived in comfort is now in anguish.

Now don’t get stuck here — Jesus isn’t saying wealth is sinful or that poverty is spiritual. He’s exposing something deeper:

This rich man lived his entire life without ever truly seeing Lazarus. He stepped over him — and walked right past him — and ignored him — while his heart slowly closed off to compassion. And eternity simply revealed what was already true.

And I want us to pause here — because this is where the story becomes sobering.

Jesus doesn’t describe a man shaking his fist at God. He describes a man who finally sees reality clearly… but far too late to respond.

And that breaks my heart — because Scripture reminds us — God is patient. He is loving. His word tells us He doesn’t want anyone to perish — but all to come to repentance.

This isn’t a cruel God delighting in judgement. This is a loving God longing for repentance. But eternity eventually confirms the direction we’ve chosen.

v. 24

Then — the rich man does something surprising: he prays. He calls out for mercy. For relief. For help.

Verse 24:

Luke 16:24 CSB

24 ‘Father Abraham!’ he called out, ‘Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!’

vv. 25-26

But Abraham answers with heartbreaking honesty. Verses 25 and 26:

Luke 16:25–26 CSB

25 “ ‘Son,’ Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.’

Abraham says there’s a great chasm — a distance. Separation. Not out of cruelty. But out of reality. Eternity isn’t a place where we renegotiate our direction or reconsider our response to God. Eternity simply reveals and confirms it.

vv. 27-28

And then the story turns. Because suddenly — the rich man becomes evangelistic. Next two verses:

Luke 16:27–28 CSB

27 “ ‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father’s house— 28 because I have five brothers—to warn them, so that they won’t also come to this place of torment.’

He’s begging Abraham — saying, “Tell them the truth! I don’t want them to end up here!”

And this is where the weight settles in. The man who never noticed Lazarus now desperately cares that others hear the truth.

vv. 29-31

But this story closes with a sobering truth. Look at Verses 29 through 31:

Luke 16:29–31 CSB

29 “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ 30 “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

If people refuse to respond to God’s truth now — even a resurrection won’t force faith.

This is hard story to hear — right? But it’s not meant to entertain. It’s meant to awaken.

Eternity is real. Heaven and Hell are real. And every person we know — every person we love — will spend eternity somewhere.

And Jesus tells us this now — because He loves us too much to let us drift through life — unaware of what truly matters.

Guys — this story isn’t about fear. It’s about compassion — and urgency — and perspective.

And it reminds us: if eternity is real — then people matter:

more than success,

or preference,

or comfort,

more than being right,

or being busy,

more than being safe.

Because God loves people eternally. And so should we.

And when we hear a story like this — the goal isn’t for us to walk away heavy-hearted — or terrified — or defeated.

The goal is clarity. Spiritual awakening. Compassion.

Jesus is reminding us —

Life is short.

Eternity is real.

People matter.

And what we do with Him — and how we love people — matters more than anything else.

You

So here’s where this story stops being theoretical — and it starts becoming personal. Because Jesus didn’t tell this parable so we would debate it — or analyze every detail — or argue about theology.

He told it so we would look at our lives. Our hearts. Our priorities. And ask honest questions.

Questions like:

What am I really living for?

What am I building my life around?

Am I anchored to what’s temporary, or what’s eternal?

And even deeper than that —

“DO I SEE PEOPLE” GRAPHIC

Do I see people the way God seems them?

Because the tragic thread running through this story isn’t wealth — or success or position.

It’s blindness.

A man walked by another human being every single day — and never truly saw him.

Never recognized his value.

Never noticed his pain.

Never asked the deeper question — about eternity… about faith… about the soul.

And when eternity arrived — he finally realized what really mattered. But it was too late. The moment had passed.

And Jesus tells us this story — not to shame us — but to wake us up — while there’s still time.

Because the people in our lives:

our family

our friends

our co-workers

our neighbors

the people we laugh with — and argue with — and care about

the people we pray for

and live our lives beside…

They are eternal. Their story doesn’t end here.

And our lives — our faith — our priorities — make the most sense when we remember that.

So let me ask you:

“ARE YOU LIVING LIKE” GRAPHIC

Are you living like eternity is real?

Not perfectly.

Not dramatically?

Just honestly?

And even more specifically: Who’s your one?

Who is the person God keeps placing on your heart?

The name that keeps surfacing.

The face that comes to mind?

The person you care about deeply and don’t want to ignore spiritually?

Maybe they’re skeptical. Maybe they’re curious. Or hurting. Or maybe they’re running. But they matter to God. And if eternity is real — they should matter deeply to us too.

And here’s the good news:

God isn’t asking us to save them. He’s simply inviting us to love them — to pray for them — to care about them — and to trust Him with what we can’t control.

No guilt — or pressure — or forced conversations.

Just faithfulness — and compassion. Just a heart that says, “God — help me see people the way You do. Help me to remember that eternity is real. And help me love me one with the kind of love that points them toward Jesus.”

Because when we live that way — our faith becomes more than belief. It becomes love in action. And eternity gives love that meaning.

We

Friends — this is where we get to walk this path together.

Because none of us lives this out perfectly. None of us always sees people clearly. None of us always remembers eternity as much as we should, right?

We get busy — and distracted — and tired. We get focused on survival instead of eternal signiicance.

But the Good News of the Gospel is this:

Jesus doesn’t shame sleepy hearts. He awakens them.

He reminds us that this world isn’t our home — and the people around us aren’t temporary acquaintances. They are eternal souls — deeply loved by God — and placed in our lives on purpose.

And when that truth sinks in — our values begin to shift. Success looks different. Time looks different. Conversations — and mission — looks different.

Because suddenly we realize: if eternity is real — then the greatest investment we can make is in people.

Loving them — and serving them — and praying for them. Pointing them toward Jesus.

Not because we’re pressured — but because we’re grateful. Not afraid — but awake.

And together — as a church — we want to be the kind of people who don’t just attend service on Sunday morning to check a box — or fill seats — or run programs — but who see souls. Who carry compassion.Who live with eternity in view.

Because your one matters to God — and they matter to us.

Call to Repentance

So today before we rush on — and the moment fades — I want to invite us into a holy kind of honesty. To come before God — honestly - and humbly. To re-awaken to what truly matters. To ask God for help to keep eternity in view.

Maybe today — God is inviting you to turn your heart back toward eternal things.

Maybe you realize you’ve been living distracted.

Maybe comfort has dulled your compassion.

Maybe fear has quieted your faith.

Maybe you just simply stopped noticing the Lazarus at your gate.

But friend — hear this:

Jesus isn’t angry with you. He’s inviting you. Calling you. Drawing you back to what matters most.

So right now — in this moment — take the time to respond to Him. Maybe it’s the time to say, “Lord — re-awaken my heart. Help me live with eternity in view. Help me to see people the way You do. Forgive me where I’ve grown numb or distracted. Give me courage to love my “one” and point them toward You.”

And if you’re here today — and you realize that you are the one Jesus is pursuing — that you’ve never fully surrendered your life to Him — hear this clearly:

He loves you.

He died for you.

He rose for you.

And He invites you into eternal life with Him.

Right here. Right now.

Not through religion. Not through effort. But through faith.

Scripture says everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Because eternity is real.

Hope is real.

Salvation is real.

And Jesus is faithful.

So as a church — may we be people who live awake. Who love deeply. Who pray boldly. Who invite compassionately. And who trust Jesus with every eternal soul He places in our path. Thanks be to God.

Prayer

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