Sermon Central
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Living Life On Earth With A Focus On Eternity
Contributed by Dr. Stanley Vasu on Nov 7, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: LIVING LIFE ON EARTH WITH A FOCUS ON ETERNITY CAUSES US TO LIVE A USEFUL LIFE , A HOLY LIFE, A HAPPY LIFE AND RECEIVE A GREAT REWARD IN ETERNITY.
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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" If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men."
" 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."
"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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"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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"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!’"
"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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" 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!’
