Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.-2 Peter 3:11

In the 1800s, an American tourist stopped by the home of Polish rabbi Chofetz Chaim. The tourist was surprised to find a simple dwelling place filled only with books, a table, and a bench.

The tourist asked the rabbi, “Where is all your furniture?”  To which the rabbi replied, “Where is yours?”

The puzzled American said, “Mine? But I’m only a visitor here. I’m only passing through.”

To which the wise Chaim replied, “And I am simply a visitor here on this earth. I’m only passing through.”

Scripture talks about heaven in three different ways: the celestial and magnificent universe (Psalm 19:1), the great expanse of space surrounding the earth or its atmosphere (Genesis 1:8), and the sought-after home of God (Hebrews 4:14).

Heaven is a reality for believers. The fact that we will one day live forever in the presence of God Almighty is a fundamental doctrine of our faith. However, the Bible gives several other glimpses into what this heavenly dwelling place will be like.

Heaven is a place prepared for believers where we will spend eternity with God (John 14:1-3). In heaven, there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:1-7). It will be in heaven that we will be like Christ and will recognize one another (1 John 3:2).

Today, I want to challenge you to live in the light of eternity as if you’re just passing through this old earth.

Ask God to help you live a holy and godly lifestyle every day of your life. Pray that you would live each day with eternity set in your heart and mind.-From Senior Living

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”Ephesians 4:29

I once read this poem about the use of words in our everyday life:

As I watched them tear a building down
A gang of men in a busy town
With a ho-heave-ho, and a lusty yell
They swung a beam and the side wall fell

I asked the foreman, “Are these men skilled,
And the men you’d hire if you wanted to build?”
He gave a laugh and said, “No, indeed,
Just common labor is all I need.”

“I can easily wreck in a day or two,
What builders have taken years to do.”
And I thought to myself, as I went my way
Which of these roles have I tried to play?

Am I a builder who works with care,
Measuring life by rule and square?
Am I shaping my work to a well-made plan
Patiently doing the best I can?

Or am I a wrecker who walks to town
Content with the labor of tearing down?
“O Lord let my life and my labors be
That which will build for eternity!”

Your words have more power than you think. Just as the construction worker in this story boasted his ability to tear down years of work in just a few short days, so your words can tear down people in a matter of minutes.

God commands in Ephesians 4, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” God wants your words to minister to those who hear them. He desires for your speech to be uplifting and edifying, rather than derogatory and hurtful.

Think of your everyday speech. Common language contains hurtful comments, offhand jokes, and disparaging remarks. Yet as a Christian, your speech is to be different from the speech of others. Your words are to build and encourage. Even when most people would tear down, God desires for you to build up through your words.

Are you a builder or a wrecker? Do your words minister to those who hear them? Or are others often hurt by what you say? Determine today to watch your words more closely. Seek to build others through compliments, encouragement, edification, and godly speech. -By Dr. Paul Chappell

“When I say that God is the Gospel I mean that the highest, best, final, decisive good of the gospel, without which no other gifts would be good, is the glory of God in the face of Christ revealed for our everlasting enjoyment. The saving love of God is God’s commitment to do everything necessary to enthrall us with what is most deeply and durably satisfying, namely himself. Since we are sinners and have no right and no desire to be enthralled with God, therefore God’s love enacted a plan of redemption to provide that right and that desire. The supreme demonstration of God’s love was the sending of his Son to die for our sins and to rise again so that sinners might have the right to approach God and might have the pleasure of his presence forever.”

– John Piper, God is the Gospel (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2005), 13-14

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved – Acts 4:12

In the last two days we have looked at the seriousness of sin and at the urgent need for repentance. Unrepentant sin leads to an everlasting lake of fire.

But where is salvation found? It is not found even in our repentance or good works, because we could never be good enough to please a perfect God. It is not found in sincerity alone, because many religions and philosophies are sincere and yet diametrically opposed to each other. Where can salvation be found?

It is found only in the perfect person and work of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. By His perfect life, selfless and substitutionary death, and powerful resurrection Jesus proved Himself to be what He claimed to be during His life – the one, true God. Salvation is found in Him alone because He alone is able and willing to save us from our sins.

Have you felt the weight of your sins? Have you been convinced of your inability to find any lasting joy, satisfaction, or forgiveness on your own? Then rush into the arms of the One in Whom salvation is found. There is no other name under heaven, whereby we must be saved, than Jesus Christ. But that name is sufficient to wipe away every sin and to save us completely from our guilt and shame.-From “A GOOD THING”

For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.

Hebrews 13:14

 

When evangelist Billy Graham turned 91 last November, the Tennessean sent him some questions to answer. One involved the difficulties of aging. Graham said that the burdens of life remind us this world is not our final home. “My wife Ruth died almost two years ago,” he said, “and every day I miss her very, very much. But someday soon we’ll be together in Heaven–in God’s presence forever, free from all the burdens of this life. If our hope is truly in Christ, we know we are only pilgrims on this earth, en route to our eternal home in Heaven. Old age should make us look forward with joy to heaven.”1

 

Heaven is real, Christ is coming, and we should discipline our thoughts accordingly. If we’re pilgrims eager for an eternal city, we’ll be happier, harder-working, more forward-thinking people on earth, whatever our age. Our permanence isn’t on earth; we long for the city whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10). So let’s work till Jesus comes, then we’ll be gathered home.–From Turning Point

 

Alas! How we forget that we are but strangers and pilgrims on the earth; that we are journeying to our eternal home, and will soon be there!

Octavius Winslow