Eternity Is It

TEXT: JOB 30:15-31

Key verse:  “For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living” (Job 30:23).

During World War II, a group of soldiers spent a few hours in London on the eve of their being returned to the war front. A church sought to fill those hours with entertainment and companionship. At the close of the evening, one of the soldiers stood up to express their appreciation to the leaders of the church. For a moment, he spoke in a light vein, endeavouring to keep the frantic false gaiety of the evening. But a few moments later, he became serious. He said, “We are returning to the front to face battle. Some of us will die! Can anyone tell us how to die?” There was silence for a moment. Then a woman stood up and quoted the reassuring word of Jesus Christ: “I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:25). She went down to the piano and started playing the hymn: “Leaning on the everlasting Arms,” heads were bowed in reverence. Many felt that the question had been answered.

Job, in our text, affirmed his belief in the certainty of death. He had gone through hardship, agony and depression as revealed in our text today. While the confusion lasted, he comforted himself in the fact that death would one day bring an end to the chain of perplexing situations he found himself. What a great lesson mankind ought to learn from this.

We must strive for a firm understanding that anything outside the will of God will fade away, and any other “god” who receives our worship in form of excess time, thought, energy or resources will most surely burn and be swept aside.

It’s time we turn our hearts to God and do everything as unto the LORD. We can no longer give our lives to what is temporary and transient. It’s time we worship Him and follow where He leads. It’s time we draw close to His presence and remember the eternal glory that awaits us in eternity with the Almighty.

THOUGHT FOR YOU: Let everything be uncertain...eternity is certain.
 

See more by clicking: <<DAILY MANNA>> and be blessed. May the grace and peace of the Lord be with you.

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When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound,

And time shall be no more,

And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;

When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,

And the roll is called up yonder, “will you be there?”

On that bright and cloudless morning

When the dead in Christ shall rise,

And the glory of His resurrection share;

When His chosen ones shall gather

To their homes beyond the skies,

And the roll is called up yonder, “will you be there?”

Let us labour for the Master

From the dawn till setting sun,

Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care,

Then, when all of life is over,

And our work on earth is done,

And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

Will you be there?

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Who Shall Ascend?

TEXT: PSALM 24: 3-10

One great question that often comes to the mind of those who sincerely seek after God is what should be the character, conduct and lifestyle of those who will have the singular honour of entering into the royal presence of God and beholding the King in His beauty and dwelling eternally with Him in glory?

Our Lord Jesus Christ who came from heaven and who, at the end of His earthly ministry ascended to heaven and was received into glory had ‘clean hands’ and ‘pure heart’. If believers, who are the body of Christ, will ascend to God’s holy hill, they also must have clean hands and pure hearts.

To have ‘clean hands’, the believer must live a daily life free from sin: moral defilement, violence, malice, dishonesty, oppression and slander. He will not swear deceitfully because every liar is a child of the devil and only fit to be cast into the lake of fire. But ‘clean hands’ will not suffice unless connected with ‘pure heart’.

We may wash the outward of a cup as long as we please, but if the inward part is filthy, it is unfit for drinking. There is therefore, need for inner purity. The thoughts, motives, imaginations and desires must be pure. Love for God and all men must be without dissimulation. Meekness, humility, forgiveness, freedom from hypocrisy, obedience to God’s word, death to self and total separation from the world must characterize the believer’s life.

To climb a steep, precipitous physical hill is difficult and troublesome. To be among the number of faithful saints that will dwell with God in His very place and seat of glory is like climbing a steep hill, fighting a continuous warfare, or running a race. The heavenly race is fraught with difficulties and persecutions, reproaches and world’s hatred, dangers and distresses. But through prayer, perseverance, patience, lively hope, strong determination, meditation on the word of God and faith in Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, we can make it.

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Don't Give Up On God

Life may on you come crashing down,

Your heart bruised and glee overwhelmed;

When at the edge of surrender, about to drown,

Don’t give up on God.

When death has a loved one hidden

Beneath the clay of infinity;

Your thoughts darkness clouds and you’re bedridden,

Don’t give up on God.

You hold but pain and grief,

You see no cause to live;

When fury routs your hope and belief,

Don’t give up on God.

He sees your woes,

He knows you’re sore;

He cares and wants you close,

Only that you call and give Him all.

Ask in faith for succor,

Stand on the promises of God;

Kneel and ASK for guts and grace

And watch the Lord become your anchor.

When despair is all that you see,

Your life an epithet of shame;

When you’ve tried so hard to be free,

Please don’t give up; don’t give up on God.

Help is on the way,

Tomorrow is a brighter day;

Only trust and obey,

And all troubles shall fade away.

=== Written by Jacobs Adewale (Admin) ===

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The Lord Knows

TEXT: JUDGES 13:1-7

When we are assaulted with diverse trials and temptations, and we hope for divine intervention in our situation, we are not allowed to take our arguments to man or try to seek relief in strange places, for the God we serve knows about our needs in details and is willing to help us.

Our text revealed the divine knowledge of the delayed hope of childbearing afflicting the family of Manoah. “Behold, thou art barren, and bearest not…” This bit of personal information about Manoah’s wife announced by the mouth of a “stranger” must have come to her with doubt and a sudden shock. But we need not be surprised. God is aware of all that we go through. Our cries and secret prayers are heard by Him. He also knows the reproaches of enemies against each of His children.

Our God has great compassion for people who wait on Him. Though, our wait for Him may seem long, He will surely answer and comfort us. The angel of the Lord that came to Manoah’s barren wife showed sympathy but also gave a blessing – “…thou shall conceive, and bear a son.” It may appear that the desired answer is long awaited; but when it comes, it will not only soothe our pain, it will also give us a future blessing, joy and hope.

As we wait for our promised blessings which must surely come at God’s appointed time, we need to separate ourselves from all sin and impurities so that we may receive the blessing. “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as He is pure” (1 John 3:3).

“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet I will not forget thee” (Isaiah 49:15). This is God’s word for you today and He wants you to know that He cares for you more than you can ever imagine.

Trusting the promise “I will not forget thee,”

Onward should you go with songs of joy and praise;

Though earth despise you, though your friends forsake you,

Jesus will be near you gladdening your day.

I…will not forget thee or leave thee;

In My hands I’ll hold thee, in My arms I’ll fold thee;

I…will not forget thee or leave thee –

I am thy Redeemer, I will care for thee.

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The Whole World Was Lost In The Darkness Of Sin

The whole world was lost

In the darkness of sin,

The Light of the world is Jesus!

Like sunshine at noonday,

His glory shone in.

The Light of the world is Jesus!

Come to the light, It is shining for thee;

Sweetly the light has dawned upon me.

Once I was blind, but now I can see:

The Light of the world is Jesus!

No darkness have we

Who in Jesus abide;

The Light of the world is Jesus!

We walk in the light

When we follow our Guide!

The Light of the world is Jesus!

Ye dwellers in darkness

With sin blinded eyes,

The Light of the world is Jesus!

Go, wash, at His bidding,

And light will arise.

The Light of the world is Jesus!

No need of the sunlight

In Heaven we’re told;

The Light of the world is Jesus!

The Lamb is the Light

In the city of gold,

The Light of the world is Jesus!

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With Persecution

“…Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake and the gospel’s … he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses and brethren … and lands with persecution; and in the world to come eternal life “ (Mark 10:29-30).

Our Lord Jesus made it clear that a “disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord” (Matthew 10:24). If the master suffered adversity, so will the disciple. As such, the disciples of Jesus Christ willingly took up their cross and followed the Lord, holding on to all the promises of the Master no matter what awaited them. However, there is a contrast between the early disciples of Christ and believers of today.

In line with our text above, believers always crave the hundredfold portion of God’s blessings but not willing to give up anything and to face any difficulty. Apostle Paul exemplary gave his all and counted all things but loss and dung that he may win Christ (Philippians 3:8). He was willing to be persecuted and even to die for the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 21:13), that he may receive the crown of righteousness as a promise of the Lord (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

 ‘We can’, was the response of James and John when Jesus asked if they could drink of the cup that He drank and be baptized with the baptism that He was baptized with” (Mark 10:38-39). This shows how devoted the disciples were to the Master but believers of today only lay claim to the cozy parts of the promises of the Lord but are not ready to toil and suffer for the prize.

Our anthem as Christians should be as the songwriter puts it:

“…Not for ease or worldly pleasure,

Not for fame my prayer shall be,

Gladly will I toil and suffer,

Only let me walk with thee…”

We must be ready to suffer and be persecuted for the Lord’s sake, knowing well that there is always a cross before a crown. And this did Jesus Christ reveal that to possess the blessings of the Lord, it comes with persecution.

No Christian can do without persecutions from time to time for “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). But we are to wait on the Lord; be of good courage… and fear not because the Lord has overcome the world for us. In Christ Jesus we are more than conquerors (Psalm 27:14; John 16:33; Romans 8:37).

Living the Christian life is not as bed of roses. It is demanding and rigorous but the Lord has promised to be with us always even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:20). Thus, we should feel blessed to be persecuted for Christ’ sake for indeed, great is our reward in heaven… (Matthew 5:10-12).

Any Christian without persecution from time to time should take heed and examine his life whether he is still in the faith. There will always be persecution for the believer in this world and whosoever desires the riches of the Lord in hundredfold, it is with persecution. For it is “…through much tribulation that we must enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).

May the grace and peace of the Lord be with you and your family. Amen.

== Written by Jacobs Adewale (Admin) ==

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On The Bushel

TEXT: GENESIS 1:14-19

What will the earth look like without the sun that sustains its ecology?

Scientists have not relented in their efforts at unraveling the mysteries behind the sun, though they have difficulties appreciating the spiritual significance of Christ as the Light of the world. A clear understanding of the gospel truth which portrays the Lord as the Sun of righteousness to those who are groping in spiritual darkness and ignorance will make the truth about creation clearer.

In the believer’s life, light figures as a distinguishing factor between the old life of indulgence and darkness and a new life that is full of the marvelous light of Christ (Ephesians 2:1-3). Just as the sun is an unrivaled fountain of light upon mankind, so is our Lord Jesus Christ the principal Source of spiritual light in the world (John 8:12). Motions made without Christ will result in groping and stumbling in the dark. The prominence and permanence of the sun exemplifies Christ’s continual and outstanding dominance of our lives through His righteousness that constantly radiates in us.

It is time to expose your life to the increased rays and powerful impact of Christ’s righteousness. For, He is the brightness of the Father’s glory (Hebrews 1:3). Also, allow your light to illuminate someone else today. Do good to them, the greatest of which is to expose them to the gospel light. Arise and shine!

Do not try to separate from Christ who is the Light of the world. Such a decision will lead to living in darkness of sin and imprisonment by the devil. Your spiritual light will continue to glow as long as you abide in Jesus. It is as you remain sincerely attached to Him that you will be able to illuminate the darkened world around you and bring glory to Christ.

“A city set on a hill cannot be hid.”

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The Tyranny Of Things

A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth – Luke 12:15

Before the Lord God made man upon the earth, He first prepared for him a world of useful and pleasant things for his sustenance and delight. In the Genesis account of creation, these are simple “things.” They were made for man’s use, but they were meant always to be external to the man and subservient to him. In the deep heart of the man was a shrine where none but God was worthy to come. Within him was God; without, a thousand gifts which God had showered upon him. But sin has introduced complications and had made those very gifts of God a potential source of ruin to the soul.

Our woes began when God was forced out of His central shrine and ‘things’ were allowed to enter. Within the human heart ‘things’ have taken over. Men have now by nature no peace within their hearts, for God is crowned there no longer, but there in the moral dusk, stubborn and aggressive usurpers fight among themselves for first place on the throne.

Idolatry is not only the adoration of images … but also trust in one’s own righteousness, works and merits, and putting confidence in riches and power – Martin Luther.

This is not a mere metaphor, but an accurate analysis of our real spiritual trouble. There is within the human heart a tough, fibrous root of fallen life whose nature is to possess, always to possess. It covets things with a deep and fierce passion. The pronouns ‘my’ and ‘mine’ look innocent enough in print, but their constant and universal use is significant. They express the real nature of the old Adamic man better than a thousand volumes of theology could do.

They are verbal symptoms of our deep disease. The roots of our hearts have grown down into things, and we dare not pull up one rootlet lest we die. Things have become necessary to us, a development never originally intended. God’s gifts now take the place of God and the whole course of nature is upset by the monstrous substitution.

Our Lord referred to this tyranny of things when He said to His disciples. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 16:24-25).

Breaking this truth into fragments for our better understanding, it would seem that there is within each of us an enemy which we tolerate at our peril. Jesus called it “life” and “self”, or as we would say, the self-life. Its chief characteristics is its possessiveness; the words ‘gain’ and ‘profits’ suggest this.

To allow this enemy to live is, in the end, to lose everything. To repudiate it and give up all for Christ’s sake is to lose nothing at all, but to preserve everything unto life eternal. And possibly also a hint is given here as to the only effective way to destroy this foe: It is by the cross. “Let him take up his cross, and follow me.”

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity … but let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 1:2; 12:13).

Hold loosely all that is not eternal – Agnes Maude Royden.

===Written by A.W. Tozer; culled from The Pursuit of God.===

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Give Of Your Best To The Master

Give of your best to the Master;

Give of the strength of your youth;

Throw your soul’s fresh, glowing ardor

Into the battle for truth.

Jesus has set the example;

Dauntless was He, young and brave;

Give Him your loyal devotion,

Give Him the best that you have.

Give of your best to the Master;

Give of the strength of your youth;

Clad in salvation’s full armour,

Join in the battle for truth.

Give of your best to the Master;

Give Him first place in your heart;

Give Him first place in your service,

Consecrate every part.

Give, and to you shall be given

God His beloved Son gave;

Gratefully seeking to serve Him,

Give Him the best that you have.

Give of your best to the Master;

Naught else is worthy His love;

He gave Himself for your ransom,

Gave up His glory above:

Laid down His life without murmur,

You from sin’s ruin to save;

Give Him your heart’s adoration,

Give Him the best that you have.

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