Part 2: WHAT CAN I DO?

2 Corinthians 5:1–10 NLT

1 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. 6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

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PRAY

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2 Corinthians 5:9 “9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.”

Home Or Away.

Here & Then.

The Now & Not Yet

What God has given us NOW… and WHAT IS ETERNAL AND AWAITS US.

My life.....and My Eternity.

My Days.... & My eternal life. My ETERNAL DWELLING PLACE. With the Lord. Forever

ETERNITY.

SERIES OVERVIEW: Where are we GOING with the series: whats the POINT? (to get us thinking, Praying, Believing, Acting.... and becoming a BIT MORE CONSUMED WITH… ETERNITY).

WRITE THIS DOWN: WHAT I BELIEVE ABOUT ETERNITY DETERMINES WHAT I DO ABOUT TODAY.

Whatever conclusions ive drawn

Whatever belief i have (if any) will determine what i DO NEXT.

There is such confidence we get and such clear truth about HEAVEN and Eternity.

Last weeK: The Story of Arthur Stace, ......Eternity is but a BREATH away.

HEAVEN IS REAL. HEAVEN IS WHERE GOD IS. JESUS CAME FROM HEAVEN.

Lets look at a few more verses about eternity: (i talked about certainty last week - i want you to note the certainty in the scriptures when it comes to eternal life in heaven).

John 5:24 “24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me u eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”

Psalm 37:18 “18 The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever;”

John 4:14 “14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.””

So were answering question’s with this series. and im praying that the inquisitive nature of people are inspired to PONDER… to WONDER and to BEHOLD for themselves… ETERNITY.

What is HEAVEN (part 1:

this week:

the QUESTION is also the Title: ETERNITY.....WHAT CAN I DO?

ETERNITY - Part 2 “What can I do?”. (The Power of Choice).

what can i do today, that affects my eternity then!

WHAT CAN I POSSIBLY DO ABOUT IT?

What can I do about ETERNITY NOW?

HOW CAN I POSSIBLY HAVE AN IMPACT ON ETERNITY?

Am i to just live my life wondering and in expectation that my life would count and continiue on?

Does it matter if i live for eternity or should i just shrug my shoulders in defeat and say “COME WHAT MAY”.

(quick story: i worked with a guy who was actually my boss but he was an incredibly smart man but extrenely skeptical of faith and anything spiritual. and i was on the trading desk (you heard alot of amazing things on the trading desk but for someone reason this is one of the ones i remember: there was conversing going on about something MORALLY. and it was a like “well you really shouldnt do that because thats gonna really mess that person up BIG time.

.... (with a few expletives added in for good measure).

...... But the response from my boss was shocking to me. and i hope it shocks you too but also REMINDS you how fallen and without HOPE our world is..

.... HE SAID THIS

“well.... if theres a HELL im sure thats where were going anyway so lets just make the call. lets do it”.

...... I NEVER FORGOT THINKING AT THE TIME: HOW SAD> You would RATHER ACCEPT AN UNKNOWN ETERNAL FATE AS SIMPLY A FOREGONE CONCLUSION about your life INSTEAD OF CONSIDERING.... GIVING THOUGHT TO- EVEN JUST THE POTENTIAL that There is a LOVING, GRACIOUS GOD WHO DOESNT WANT THAT FOR YOU AT ALL>

.... BUT ITS YOUR CHOICE

HERE IS THE DEAL:

Write this down: MY CHOICES IN LIFE

It comes down to CHOICE>

The CHOICES we make. The decisions we CHOOSE for, can have an eternal IMPACT on US>…. BUT ALSO OTHERS.

HOW CAN I LIVE MY LIFE WITH an eternal mindset.

1.LIVE FOR JESUS. now.

(Because living for Him now, is connected to your THEN.

WHATS THE best connection point from earth.. to heaven?

its JESUS.

and if WE LIVE for Jesus - We live for HEAVEN.

Write this down: JESUS CONNECTS ME WITH HEAVEN.

Jesus is my HOLY CONNECTION point to HEAVEN.

So when we PRAY to JESUS. we PRAY to HEAVEN.

When We follow the Masters example! We connect with heaven.

When we LOOK to JESUS AS THE ANSWER FOR OUR EARTHLY LIVES WE CONNECT OUR EARTHLY EXISTENCE TO OUR CONNECTION POINT WHICH IS JESUS.

Hebrews 12:2 “2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

When we consider words of Jesus in the bible and we accept his teaching in our lives. We connect with the WORD of God. Jesus is the WORD and Jesus is in HEAVEN. We connect with HEAVEN.

Whats the BEST WAY TO LIVE FOR JESUS?

Make a CHOICE for JESUS TODAY.... and THEN EVERY DAY.

(you know its actually a great thing to recommit your life to Jesus every single morning. you dont have to but its a good thing to do because it reminds me of my connection point. Im connected to heaven!).

What else can i do - to LIVE FOR HEAVEN THIS SIDE OF ETERNITY?

2.LOVE WHAT JESUS LOVES.

Jesus is our connection point to heaven. and what is the best thing we can do - is LOVE JESUS and LIVE FOR JESUS. But spend our days LOVING what JESUS LOVES.

Did you know you can spend your days living for Jesus and funnelling your efforts into what HE LOVES>

this is the stuff that MATTERS!

3 Quick things that Jesus loves (thatll help us connect with heaven and be able to do something about it_

i.He loves the Father

John 17:22 “22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,”

Jesus was obedient to the Father. He Loved to do the WILL of the Father.

John 10:30 “30 I and the Father are one.””

ii.He loves the Church (its personal to him.... its called the BRIDE of Christ).

matt 16:18 “18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Ephesians 5:25 “25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,”

This is not Mattys Church. this is Gods CHurch. The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.!!!

We can love her!

iii.He loves people.

Luke 23:42-43 “42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.””

What can i do? Live for Jesus. Love what Jesus LoveS.... and FINALLY.

3.LIVE TO BRING PEOPLE WITH YOU.

Maybe youve never thougt about this:

Here is one of the coolest thing about eternity.

WE CAN TAKE PEOPLE WITH US.

It doesn’t have to be like that.

Heres what i believe......A Revelation of Grace leads to a Passion for OTHERS

To EXPERIENCE IT ALSO.

There is a really cool proverb i want to share with you:

proverbs 11:30

Proverbs 11:30 NIV

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.

WHO SAVES LIVES? JESUS DOES. He is the personified spirit of wisdom.

PRAY FOR THE LOST.