Valerie Rae Hanneman
Revelation 4:8b (The Message) “The Four Animals were winged, each with six wings. They were all eyes, seeing around and within. And they chanted night and day, never taking a break:
Holy, holy, holy Is God our Master, Sovereign-Strong,
THE WAS, THE IS, THE COMING”
On Christmas Day I read a fascinating story in the news. The start of 2006 has been delayed by a leap second. Seriously! It seems that every once in awhile a leap second has to be inserted because our atomic clocks have gotten so precise at keeping time that they get off from the earth’s actual rotation. The article said that the earth’s rotation is not precise because it is slowing down. Granted, it isn’t slowing down much. The last leap second was inserted seven years ago. But the bottom line is that as the earth gets older, it gets slower.
I know how that feels. The older I get - the slower I go. I used to skinny-dip and now I chunky-dunk. I can still see everything that I always could - I just have to look through bifocals to do it. My mind is still as sharp as ever in some things, I still remember how to make poi after reading about it in James Michner’s “Hawaii” but I have an increase in the bewildering experiences of getting half-way out of a room and suddenly realizing that I don’t know where I am going. I have been dying the grey out of my hair for so long I don’t even remember what the original color was. There are laugh lines on my face and my center of gravity has shifted several inches south. As I get older, I am getting slower and I am wearing out.
But that is the way it is with every created thing. Whether it is a battery, a human or a planet, it has a shelf life and as it gets older it slows down, wears out and finally it is done.
There is only One to whom this does not happen. This One does not get older, does not slow down, does not wear out and does not ever end. And that is because He is the Uncreated One, He is God. He is the same today as He was yesterday. Before there was a yesterday, He is the same. He is the same tomorrow as He is yesterday. And when all the tomorrows are gone, He will still be the same. He doesn’t get stronger, He doesn’t get weaker. He doesn’t change at all because He is absolutely perfect. Not only has He never had a second thought - He has never had a new thought. He is God, sovereign forever, of His kingdom there is no end. (No beginning either)
I don’t know about you - but I draw great comfort from His eternalness. I am getting older, I am slowing down and I am wearing out. Soon, I will be done with my physical life. Then my soul will step into eternity. I will dance with joy into the presence of God, Who has always been in eternity and will always be in eternity. I will dance with joy because I have His promise that I get to stay with Him for all of that eternity.
His promise was give to me in His Word. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) I believe in Jesus, I have staked my eternity on Him - and He will not fail me.
What are you staking your eternity on? Do you stake your eternity on being “good enough”? You are doomed to failure because God says “There is none righteous - no not one.”(Romans 3:10) You can’t be good enough to get into heaven. Do you stake it on the belief that it doesn’t matter what religion you believe in - just as long as you believe strong enough? Jesus was clear - “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man comes to the Father but by me.”(John 14:6) He is the only one you can believe in to get to the Father.
If you have not staked your eternity on Jesus then your eternity is staked in nothing. And when you step into eternity you will not step into eternal life in the presence of the Uncreated One. You will step into the eternal death of separation from God.
Like me, you are slowing down. Eventually you will come to your end. What then?
If you are not sure where your eternity is - if your eternity is not founded on Jesus and His promises - then I urge you to take the time to be sure.
Jesus is calling you into a relationship with Him. He is eager to give you an eternity with Him tomorrow and a life of joy with Him today. All that you have to do is ask Him to forgive you of your sins and ask Him into your heart to be your Savior.
If you would like to talk to someone about choosing Jesus for today and forever then I urge to call 1(888)need-him to talk to a counselor from the Billy Graham Association. Or call Fresno First Baptist Church at 1(559)bap-tist and ask to speak to one of the pastors. If talking to somebody is more than what you want to do right now, then please log onto K-Love radio at www.klove.com Click on “searching for purpose” on the scrolling banner for more information on beginning a relationship with Jesus. If you would be comfortable with an e-mail conversation about Jesus, contact me at valerie@fresnofirst.org. It doesn’t matter how you find out about Jesus - just find out and be sure about your eternity.
LORD Jesus, Who was and is and is to come, I pray for all who read this devotional and realize that they are not sure about their eternity. Speak to them, draw them to You, show them how to be sure by starting a relationship with You. They will know no greater joy then knowing You.
Contact Valerie or sign up for the e-Ministry of Fresno First Baptist at valerie@fresnofirst.org
Posted by Valerie at December 30, 2005 08:28 PM