The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
December 30, 2007
In
This Issue:
To
The End
by
Steve Klein
Just
How Long Is Eternity?
by
Jeff Smith
To The End
Have you ever seen a football or basketball game in which one team played very well and led most of the game only to end up losing because they stopped giving their best effort in the last few minutes? Coaches constantly admonish their players to play all four quarters, to always give 100% and to never give up. The old coaching cliché is, "It ain't over till it's over!"
The life of a Christian is much like an athletic competition. The Bible compares it to a race, a fight and a wrestling match (1 Corinthians 9:24-26; Ephesians 6:12). If we want the victory, we must be diligent and steadfast in our efforts all the way to the end; we cannot let up for a moment. The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews encourages us with these words: "And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises" (Hebrews 6:11-12).
Our best effort is required whether we are young and only beginning our race toward eternity or whether we are old and the finish line is in view.
In The Beginning
A journey of a thousand miles is begun with a
single step. Our best effort at the end of a competition may
not produce victory if the effort at the beginning was inadequate.
This is why young people are told to "Remember now your Creator
in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the
years draw near when you say, 'I have no pleasure in them'"
(Ecclesiastes 12:1). This is why everyone needs to get on the
track to salvation TODAY. "Now is the accepted time; behold, now
is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2). This is why
no Christian should delay ridding himself of sin, but rather each of
us should "exhort one another daily, while it is called TODAY,
lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin"
(Hebrews 3:13). We cannot hope to gain the victory at the end
of life if we are not on the course to victory at the end of today.
With The Finish Line in View
As Paul came to the finish line of his life, he
could say with confidence, "I have fought the good fight, I have
finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is
laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but
also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
It is a joy to read of Paul's steadfast race and confident hope. In contrast, think how sad it would be for one to live a long and faithful life, only to lose his crown at the end because he quit "striving against sin" (Hebrews 12:4), wrestling against "wickedness" (Ephesians 6:12) or exercising "self control" (1 Corinthians 9:25).
The end is not the time to let up. The Lord has promised, "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Revelation 2:10).
-- Steve Klein
Have you ever stopped to think about just how long eternity is? This is a concept that is not above our heads, for "God set eternity in our hearts" (Eccl. 3:11). All men, even those who have corrupted themselves to deplorable depths, are ones made in His image and in whom have "the breath of life" (Gen. 2:7).
I once was asked in a training class to give a practical way on how I would illustrate just how long eternity was. Here is what I came up with:
At some point in its orbit, Pluto is 2.6 billion miles away from Earth. If we were interested in transferring Earth to Pluto, we could have a bird take 1 grain of sand at a time, fly towards the Sun, make 100 orbits, fly to Pluto and deposit that grain and return to Earth and repeat this process until all of Earth has been transported. The length of time to complete this would only be a blink of the eye in eternity.
All of us need to soberly live each day in view of eternity. Eternity is only a heartbeat away. It awaits us all, for it is this "seemingly endless, infinite duration of time" that we will spend either in the presence of God, or in separation from Him.
What does the Scripture teach about eternity?
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Christ will judge all men, and each person will either enjoy everlasting life, or be subject to eternal punishment (Mt. 25:46)
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Only Christ has the words of eternal life (Jn. 6:68)
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Eternal life is a free gift and a promise from God (Rom. 6:23; Titus 1:2)
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Believers who read what has been written and practice it may know they have eternal life (1 Jn. 5:13)
Eternity is a long time to regret a life lived rebelliously against God. It is also a huge comfort when you think about how long you'll have to enjoy the results of living faithfully to what God said in His word. Are you ready for eternity?
-- Jeff Smith
Via West Knoxville church of Christ article database