Forever Pt 3

Testimonies of how “Forever” has effected your thinking or behavior.

The Bad News you Can’t Escape

Describe a funeral scene.

This is not the way it’s supposed to be.

Death - It’s not a part of God’s original plan.

God created Adam and Eve in a perfect world. In a place where all their needs were met.

They would have lived forever. They were created for forever.

But they sinned. They were too busy trying to be God to be motivated by forever with God.

And the punishment was and is death.

Gen 1:26

English Standard Version Chapter 5

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned

We don’t like talking about it. In fact, it’s hard for us to even say it, “no longer with us.” “passed away” “gone home”

Humanity has created technology to conquer many things, but id hasn’t defeated death.

wilted boquet, stale of slice bread, soured mil, firewood, old dog, aching knees, reading glasses - all remind us that death is around us and coming.

Physical death is all around us.

And it isn’t supposed to be this way.

But even death is preparation.

You won’t escape it, but you can prepare for what lies on the other side.

The death all around you is meant to get your attention.

Have you attached your identity and joy to things that will die?

Friends, health, job, a dog, a house, your spouse.

Decaying creation will never be the messiah you need.

When you work to deny the reality of death, you look for life in things that re dying - and that never works. Only when you face the bad news of death can you begin to find hope in the good news of life - life that begins here and now and lasts forever.

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17

 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

English Standard Version Chapter 4

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17

The dark side of forever

We were made for God and to live for him.

But we sinned.

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned

The consequence is hell.

The he will say to those on his left, depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels

Hell is eternal

What makes hell, hell?

Separation from God.

Eternal torment

Living in light of the dark side of forever

Use every means available to fight the delusion that what you choose to do or say doesn’t make any difference.

Require yourself to see sin as sinful as it really is.

Be thankful fot the final justice of God.

Celebrate forgiving grace every day.

Let the dark side of forever remind you of what is important

Nothing is more important that relationship with God.