ETERNAL-ISH

Scripture:  Isaiah 40: 5-8 - And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.  The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry?  All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the Spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.  The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever.

Even though the importance of the Bible [the word of God] as central to our faith as Christians is understood, sometimes the reality day to day gets swallowed up by the mundane things of life's hours, as well as its urgencies.   The word of God informs us unto transformation, with our being 'saved' inviting our worship of God, prescribing our service to God, and exhorting us to live for Him -- all stirring from that central understanding called the good news.  As the pastor elaborated from Exodus 19, we are 'saved' to live for the true God! We are becoming, from His forevermore, to know forevermore, through forevermore.  While so invested in here and now, we are eternal souls, which when paused with we can discover 'this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.', because of God's goodness.

Yet these earthen vessels get weary, worn, and yes, old [or at least older]; but for those feelings that come of that let us confront such with that ever-ready counsel of God's living word.  Let us find 'morning by morning, new mercies', and appreciate that 'His grace is sufficient.'! Hallelujah!

So we might drift out upon the far waters, thinking:

Graying was where gone begins.  How ya like my double chins? Straight gets bent and thickened thins-   Hallelujah anyhow!  ...because:   Psalm 119:111 – Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage forever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

We might stall with thinking:  Some say seein' is believin'.  Cataracts block my receivin'. Here comes a week of loss and grievin'-   Hallelujah anyhow!  ...because:   Psalm 139: 13-17 - For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for [I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. and in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. 17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!

How about this? Wrinkles win, and skin tags reign, and what's that word I started sayin'? I'd feel nuthin' weren't for pain!  Hallelujah anyhow!  ...we counter with:  I Thessalonians 5:16-19 - Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit.

...And now:  Every season brings its sneezes. Cheese prompts sounds and certain breezes. And is that noise I hear, my kneeses?   Hallelujah anyhow!  ...however:  Psalm 23:1 – The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

And we might stumble with:   I've got metal stead of hips, and that once pumped and firm now flips.  Lord help me prick my fingertips.   Hallelujah anyhow.

Hallelujah is the sound response, the Bible-centered response, the spiritual response to show through our lips, and our lifestyles, as we are converted to a forevermore mind-set, and a godly orientation.  With the good book open, let us agree with God, that the heavenly yonder meets us where we ache now. Time and gravity will continue to bring it, but hallelujah anyhow!

Ephesians 1:3-6 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."

The understanding of this reality is precious to the growth of our faithfulness, by which retirement is not in the vocabulary!  And whether upright, bedbound, or moving by wheelchair, the call of God continues the same upon us all who are born again. We should all consider our ways.

Revelation 3:14-15 - He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.  And unto the angel of the church of Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

Our eternal story should give God glory, with the present chapter of it gratefully intentional, and divinely progressive.

Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before all men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Colossians 2:6-7 - As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: Rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."

Prayer:  Dear Lord, help us with our patience, and with our pursuit reaching with the partnered hands of holiness and love.  We know that You will be faithful to complete what You have begun. May your grace shine brightest as we reach, to the eternal helping of those whom you love brought within our circle of influence, and within that stir may godly clarity quicken us all. 'For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.' Let our eternal gift prompt our temporal excellence, that we bless You, even with the burden of change, aging and infirmity, through which we've still a lesson to gain. May the song sung be virtue.  May our 'Amen' resound as we are being perfected; Hallelujah anyhow! Glory to God! Amen!
1 Corinthians 13: 10, 12;  Philippians 1:6

(by Dr. McNeal Brockington)