The Temporal and The Eternal

The Temporal and The Eternal

“the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2Co 4:18

I have often thought this is the most important verse in the bible, for both the Christian and the non-Christian, because if it is true, then how mis-directed we really are!

The question is often asked: Are we alone in the Universe? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

There is a Throne, no THE THRONE, set in the middle of the Court Yard of Heaven, with Someone sitting on that Throne, and the Lamb, the Lord Jesus at his right hand, around which are 24 Elders and 4 Living Creatures, and ten thousand times ten thousand angels, and all the inhabitants of heaven.

And they are doing ONE THING: saying, “Unto him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb, be the blessing, and the honour, and the glory, and the dominion, for ever and ever.” Rev 5:13

“Straightway I was in the Spirit: and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting upon the throne;” Rev 4:2

“And round about the throne were four and twenty thrones: and upon the thrones I saw four and twenty elders sitting, arrayed in white garments; and on their heads crowns of gold.” Rev 4:4

“and before the throne, as it were a glassy sea like unto crystal; and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, four living creatures full of eyes before and behind.” Rev 4:6

“And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth. And he came, and he taketh it out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne.” Rev 5:6-7

“And I saw, and I heard a voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;” Rev 5:11

“And every created thing which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all things that are in them, heard I saying, Unto him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb, be the blessing, and the honour, and the glory, and the dominion, for ever and ever.” Rev 5:13

You and I need to ask only one question: Is this true? Is this real?

The physical resurrection of Jesus Christ attests to the truth of this: his body is in heaven right now, next to that Throne. These things are real.

And therefore my statement that we are totally mis-directed has merit and ought to wake us up!

We are like children playing in a sand box, oblivious to all around us; absorbed in things that don't matter and ignoring the only thing that does: preparing for the future, the real world.

If you are not a Christian, the bible says there is God, and only one person by him, Jesus Christ, not Mohamed, not Buddha, not any one of the Hindu gods, not mother earth, not Mary.

And all the beings of the Universe are praising the name of God and Jesus Christ – no one else.

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Joh 14:6

He claimed to be the exclusive way to God.

He did say it, and the bible does teach that he is the only way to God, and the only one next to God. You have the absolute right to say it is not true, that Jesus lied, the the words in the bible are a lie, BUT you cannot say he did not say it, and you cannot say these words are not written in the bible.

And if they are true? Will you gamble your lot in eternity on that question?

For if these words are true, then so are the following words:

“Then shall he (Jesus) say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels:” Mat 25:41

“He that believeth on him (Jesus) is not judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Joh 3:18

And Christian – what about us?

Not only are the 24 Elders, the 4 Living Creatures and the angels praising Jesus Christ, but the inhabitants of heaven are doing the same. And who are these inhabitants of heaven?

They are the “great clouds of witnesses” of Heb 12:1 who have gone before us. They are the “general assembly and church of the firstborn (from the dead: Jesus) spoken of in Heb 12:23. They are the “spirits of just (justified) men made perfect” as it says in Heb 12:23, who are waiting for the last day, resurrection day, when they will receive their immortal bodies. And what are they doing? Yes, they are praising God and Jesus, but they are also watching us and asking, “How will they do.”

So, how will we do?

Shakespeare's words are so true: “all the world is but a stage, and we the actors there on.”

I do believe that, but … do I really believed that? I think if I really believed that, I would to everything in my power, 24/7 to live for Jesus Christ, giving only the absolutely necessary thought and labor to the things of the world, just enough to live, and I would be storing up my treasure in heaven. I have often thought how we Christians live like atheists and agnostics. I know those are hard words, but I include myself!

Whose kingdom do I work to advance?

I would encourage you to sit and read Rev 4 and 5 every day for a few weeks, and ask yourself: Is this true?

For these things, though not seen, are the things of eternity.

25 October 2024