Eternity

- He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but no one can discover the work God has done from beginning to end.

“Life doesn’t make sense”

We are designed for eternity but living in time.

It is uncomfortable. It kinda hurts at times.

Like a sweater that is too small we just pull and tug and squirm sometimes to make it work.

***Fixing plumbing***

Eternity for Everyone

Every culture naturally believes in an afterlife.

Because God put that in us.

Naturally, people live out their lives knowing there is something more, but not sure what it is.

It frustrates us... that good things pass away...bad things happen.

Frustrated that the bad things happen to those who seem like they don’t deserve it...

People search out an explanation.

“Well since this doesn’t make sense, there must not be a god. Or maybe his whole purpose in life is to just give me pleasure. Or maybe I can work hard enough to earn my way there.”

This is a frustrated logic.

The Bible tells us that God put that eternity into our hearts JUST SO THAT we would turn to him.

It pushes us out of the right here, right now, and forces us to think about eternity— even if it is uncomfortable.

An Uncomfortable Life---

We have this really uncomfortable truth in our lives. And we have to still go on living.

What does that look like?

(v12) He knows that he doesn’t have all the answers. He hasn’t figured it out. Its not like he is perfect and living life in perfection. No, he hasn’t reached the finish line yet— But he is giving every effort.

“Every effort”- Paul desires what matters for eternity.

Hunting or Lover

Even if it costs what you think matters for your life today.

And he gave it all up- and he considered that a promotion! He gained by giving up all the success on earth! Those things meant nothing to him. He just wanted to know Christ.

He just wanted to be like Christ.

What does striving look like?

(v13) Paul is forgetting his past and focusing everything on the future.

Thank God we don’t have to live in our pasts— We don’t have to be haunted.

We don’t have to be haunted.

Double edged sword here: Remove guilt and find Hope.

The future hope is getting to see Jesus

Not thinking about everything going on around us, the distractions, the fun, the opportunities, the options- thinking about seeing Jesus. It isn’t about looking back at how unfair the world is or looking around at the pretty colors. It is about looking into the future and seeing what you can live out now that will really matterCounselors/our tendencies.---There are some things that I do now because of the past, but there is more now that I do because of the future.---How often do you think about seeing Jesus? That is the main goal of Christianity- to be in love with Jesus and get to see him. To be enjoying God so much that there isn’t anything in this world that can tear you down. If the main point about our whole spiritual life is revolving around Jesus in the after-life, don’t you think that it is an issue that we don’t even think about it regularly? If we are living in a way that matters then we are thinking about eternity. Does your life right now mean anything in eternity? Are the choices that you have made really going to be a point of conversation between you and Jesus? Because day by day, moment by moment the choices you and I make will either land us with a reward or with a regret. Everything will either bring reward or regret. And every situation ends with an award or an apology.

Not thinking about what could’ve been, whats unfair, whats shiny or distracting now.

Thinking about Jesus.

How can you live now that will really matter for Jesus?

(Counselors/our tendencies)

---There are some things that I do now because of the past, but there is more now that I do because of the future.---

How often do you think about seeing Jesus?

Main goal of Christianity- to be in love with Jesus and get to see him.

To be enjoying God so much that there isn’t anything in this world that can tear you down.

Is it an issue that we don’t even think about it regularly?

If we are living in a way that matters then we are thinking about eternity.

Does your life right now mean anything in eternity?

Are the choices that you have made really going to be a point of conversation between you and Jesus?

Because day by day, moment by moment the choices you and I make will end with a reward or with a regret.

Everything will either bring reward or regret.

Two Eternities Again and Again

We see the black and white simplicity of the Gospel.

Because not everyone is going to live like this. Not everyone is going to own this. Not everyone is willing to give up their stuff, give up their pleasure, give up their other gods.

(v17) Paul says find the people that do. Live like them.

He would be proud of you for being here.

Because the people who can’t give up those other things- they are enemies of the cross (v18).

With tears

People who go to church and refuse to live in a way that matters for eternity.

They live for their stomach. They live for right now. They live for their desires. They want, so the get.

Your god isn’t God. Your god is your desires, its just you.

They choose to live for today, not for eternity.

It Doesn’t Make Sense

(***Rope***)

Honestly, it doesn’t make sense.

People call me stupid

And I say they’re stupid

But they don’t care. Their god is their stomach. And their glory is their shame. We show off what we should be ashamed of.

"look what people think of me. Look at my plans. Look at all the notches in my belt. Look at the mistakes I’ve made, the people I’ve hurt, the women I haven’t treated right.”

You should be ashamed of that.

And the reason it seems ok is because everyone else is doing it.

When we are focused on the earth and this time and not on God and eternity then this makes sense.

“God just wants me to be happy” No, God wants you to give up everything and follow him where ever that takes you.

God wants you to be so concerned with HIS reality, with the uncomfortable living here, to be so in love with Jesus, to be looking forward to Jesus coming back SO much— that you are not even thinking about this world.

We walk as enemies of the cross when we live for this life and we forget about eternity.

We forget about the fact that millions of people have gone to hell not knowing Jesus.

We walk as enemies of the cross when we give into temptation instead of obedience,

We walk like enemies of the cross when we waste our lives living them here on earth.

(v20) BUT, we walk like we should, as citizens of heaven as we await our Savior.

What are you waiting for? My savior.

Why are you living in this weird, crazy way? I am waiting for my savior and doing everything I possibly can to make this life worth it as I wait.

What makes all this hard stuff worth it? My Savior.

I just can’t wait to see him.

See, there are these two types again:

Time and eternity, heaven and hell, righteousness and punishment,--- now: those who love earth and those who love Jesus.

What does your lifestyle say about who your God is? What does your lifestyle prove what you believe about eternity?

I don’t care how you talk. Everybody talks. And I’ve been lied to enough to know it doesn’t matter. What does your lifestyle say about who your God is? What does your lifestyle prove what you believe about eternity? You prove what you believe with your lifestyleI struggle with this too. I am not here to point a finger at you guys and tell you all that your enemies. But, I know that some of you guys here are really distracted by the world. You are really caught up in what others think. You are good at faking a smile and laughing along but you feel empty. You are just trying to squash the uncomfortable truth about eternity by focusing on this world. I want this to make you really uncomfortable. I want this to burn a little hole in your brain because that means you know its true and you need to change. If I am describing you then I want you to consider what you have done in this past week that will matter one second after you die. What have you done this week that will matter during the eternal stretch?There are some of you guys here that have maybe never really thought about this before. You’ve never really seen the fact that eternity is long and there really are only two choices. Maybe for the first time tonight you have seen the need for a savoir. You see that you need help to move from being an enemy of the cross to being a child of God. Eternity is scary. Especially if you are sure where you are going. If you don’t know, but you want to- come talk with me about it some more. Please. I care about you. That is the most effecting things that you can do for your eternity: trust in Jesus to save you.

You prove what you believe with your lifestyle

I struggle with this too.

I am not here to point a finger at you guys and tell you all that your enemies.

But, I know that some of you guys here are really distracted by the world. You know how the world can attract you.

You can squash the uncomfortable truth about eternity by focusing on this world.

The world offers a lot of promises about making you comfortable--- but maybe you weren’t designed to be comfortable.

Outro

I want this to make you really uncomfortable.

Christians: I want this to burn a little hole in your brain because that means you know its true and you need to change.

If I am describing you then I want you to consider what you have done in this past week that will matter one second after you die.

What have you done this week that will matter during the eternal stretch?

As you are looking forward to the next steps in your life, are you making all of your decisions because you are waiting for Jesus?

Non Christians:

What are you waiting for?

You’re here because you know what kind of pain the world has to offer. See what kind of healing this King has to offer.

You’re here now because you know that the World’s promise to make you comfortable didn’t answer the most important question: Am I going to Heaven or am I going to hell?

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