The definition of eternity is an infinite or unending time, a state to which time has no application, timelessness, or endless life after death. Everyone born on earth is going to experience eternity. Some will enter eternity when they are raptured, and their bodies take on immortality; others will enter it after dying and being raised for the white throne judgment, and others who are living at the time of the white throne judgment will enter it then.
A person’s relationship with God will determine where and how they will experience eternity. Those in the right relationship with God will be spending eternity with Jesus on the new earth, and those whose name is not written in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire where they will be tormented day and night for eternity (Revelation 20:10, 15; 21:1-4).
Unfortunately, I believe the masses fail to understand the concept of eternity and the responsibility given to them to determine how they will spend it. Many feel while they are alive, their relationship with God does not matter; however, when they die, the one that they have ignored is going to welcome them in heaven. They fall into the category of clueless and thus will suffer from their inattention and ignorance. Jesus described this kind of action in Matthew 22 to the Sadducees, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.”
In this season in which we live, we must be careful that we are not deceived and follow the wrong path. Matthew 7:13-14 states, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
I urge you, if you are not eternity-minded, to become so. Pray and ask God to help you to see beyond the present and what satisfies our carnal nature. Ask Him to help you prepare for a future with Him, and because He loves you, He will answer your sincere prayer.
For this blog, I will be using the theme from the book of Hebrews, “Christ is Better Than,” however, instead of saying, “Christ,” I will be saying, “God is better than.”
The Global Positioning System, which is referred to as GPS, was developed by the United States Department of Defense in the 1970s. Initially, it was designed for military applications; however, in 1993, it became available to civilians, who now dominate its’ usage in their automobiles.
Most drivers who utilize the GPS have experienced its’ multitudinous benefits, such as real-time traffic updates, navigation and directions, tracking and security, fuel efficiency, emergency assistance, travel time estimates, and route planning. However, despite these benefits, be assured that everything that man has created has limitations and failures. We can thank God that He comes to our rescue in our time of need; there is no failure in Him, for He is better than a GPS.
Just as the world relies on the GPS to navigate them as they journey through life, we believers can rely on God to do the same and even more. So, let me share some of the ways God is better than a GPS:
- Talking to God to get direction does not require a satellite hookup; you speak directly to Him.
- Unlike blocked GPS signals due to dense forest areas, bad weather, or tall buildings, nothing hinders your communication with God.
- God never needs an update: from the beginning of time, He knew about all the changes that would occur in your life.
- Obstructions or atmospheric conditions can prevent the satellites from determining where you are located. God always knows where you are.
- GPS sometimes gives erroneous information, but God’s information is always correct.
- GPS can malfunction or run out of battery power; God is Omnipotent, and He never lacks power.
- Though some GPS routing may be faster, it may not be safe. God will safely guide and protect you at His pace.
- With God, you never have to be concerned about your private information being accessed illegally.
- Whereas the GPS may incur a data usage cost, there is no cost to talk to God.
- When you have lost something of value, God can reveal the hidden thing.
I close this blog hoping if you did not realize it before, you now know God is better than a GPS
It has been documented that people’s interest in extraterrestrial life is not new; as far back as ancient civilization, philosophers have speculated that other forms of life existed, and now, in the twenty-first century, specific fields of study such as astrophysics, biology, and planetary science are doing massive research in this area.
“A Trip to Mars,” released in 1918, was the first movie about aliens seen in the United States, followed by “The First Men in the Moon,“ which was released in 1919. In these films, aliens appeared as humans; however, in later films, aliens were a mixture of either humans, non-humans, or monstrous beings. Additionally, the same could be said for the first alien television show, “The Outer Limits,” which premiered in 1963.
Movies produced for theaters and a wide variety of television shows have increased human interest in alien life. Plus, governments are quietly doing their own research in hopes of answering the question, “Does other forms of life exist in the world?”
I have shared all of the above with you to say, possibly, when the rapture of the church takes place, and those that remain on earth are seeking answers, one of the conclusions that will be said is, “These people that have disappeared were aliens.” Rather than turn to the scriptures and believe what was written, this false narrative will be presented.
In his writing on the tribulation, Paul said to the church in Thessalonica, “He will completely fool those who are on their way to hell because they have said no to the Truth; they have refused to believe it and love it and let it save them, so God will allow them to believe lies with all their hearts” (2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 TLB). Here, Paul is talking about the antichrist and his cohorts who will be attempting to win over the world with his reasoning, and according to scripture, he is successful in doing so.
Jesus, in Matthew 24, did a synopsis of the book of Revelation. In this chapter, he answered some questions that his disciples had asked him, and additionally, he gave instructions to those who would be living during the tribulation. One of the words that He repeated four times in this chapter was “deceive,” and this was because Jesus knew what was to come. He knew the spirit of deception would be in full force, but He still tried to help the future generations.
Believers have dual citizenship in earth and heaven, but the only time living raptured believers will not live on earth will be during the tribulation. Remember Psalms 115:15-16 “Ye are blessed of the Lord which made heaven and earth.The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men,” and Isaiah 45:18″ For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.” God made man from the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7) God gave man dominion over the earth, not the third heaven because that was not man’s eternal residence; the new earth will be that place (Genesis 2:28; Revelation 21). So, share this information with others; the lie that will permeate the world that raptured believers were alien creatures from another planet living on earth will not be valid. Believers are not aliens; we were created to reside on earth, and though we may leave here for a short time, we will be back at God’s appointed time.
(AMPLIFIED BIBLE)1 Thessalonians 5:1 – 10 Now as to the times and dates, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the [return of the] Lord is coming just as a thief [comes unexpectedly and suddenly] in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety [all is well and secure!]” then [in a moment unforeseen] destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains on a woman with child, and they will absolutely not escape [for there will be no way to escape the judgment of the Lord]. But you, [believers, [all you who believe in Christ as Savior and acknowledge Him as God’s Son] are not in spiritual darkness [nor held by its power], that the day [of judgment] would overtake you [by surprise] like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We do not belong to the night nor to darkness. So then let us not sleep [in spiritual indifference] as the rest [of the world does], but let us keep wide awake [alert and cautious] and let us be sober [self-controlled, calm, and wise]. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we [believers] belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope and confident assurance of salvation. For God has not destined us to [incur His] wrath [that is, He did not select us to condemn us], but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died [willingly] for us, so that whether we are awake (alive) or asleep (dead) [at Christ’s appearing], we will live together with Him [sharing eternal life].
Paul wrote the above verses as part of his letter to the Thessalonica church located in the capital city of Macedonia, which was established during his second missionary journey. This body of believers was looking for the Lord’s return in their lifetime, and Paul wanted to enlighten and encourage them about that event.
The believers knew that the actual date of Christ’s return was unknown to all, and from the Old Testament prophets, believers understood the Day of the Lord was a time of judgment. Paul reminded them that this day would likely occur when everything appeared to be tranquil, but like the experience of a woman giving birth, chaos could suddenly happen. Also, like the woman who does not know when she will go into labor, once it starts, it intensifies and cannot be reversed.
Unlike unbelievers who relish darkness, believers are children of light, and their lifestyle differ from the world. Since they are cognizant of Christ’s return, they are expected to be sober, watchful, and ready, as well as to stand in faith and love. Most importantly, believers have hope and confident assurance that God did not condemn them but rather provided salvation through the death and resurrection of His son Jesus. Additionally, believers will forever dwell with Him in eternity.
With all of this in our minds, as we witness seasons and times and feel the approaching rapture of the church of Jesus Christ, let us cherish and heed the words of Paul, knowing we have a God-expected end.
As I grow older, I understand why many senior believers welcome the thought of death. Their bodies can no longer perform the acts of their youth, and the world around them no longer resembles the one they knew. Thus, they have lived their life on earth and have turned their vision to their future home with the Lord. Also, I believe many seniors are comforted by the words spoken by Paul to the church in Thessalonica and Corinth, and in this blog, I am going to share a few of these scriptures. To do this, I am going to share the scriptures, and then I will do a short commentary after each of them.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
Presently, Jesus Christ is in our hearts and minds. We are unable to see Jesus, nor can we physically touch Him. However, when the rapture happens, everyone who is part of Jesus’ body will meet Him in the air and travel with Him to the third heaven. We will see Him, be able to touch Him, and enjoy all the pleasures God has in store for those who loved and served Him not for a day, a week, a month, or a year but forever and ever.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”
The sin of disobedience by Adam in the Garden of Eden caused humanity to become corruptible and mortal. The Greek meaning for the word “corruptible” is to be perishable and to decay. The English dictionary defines it as the action of making someone morally depraved, sinful, ungodly, unrighteousness, dishonest, and unscrupulous. The Greek meaning and the English dictionary for the word “mortal” is capable of dying. From these meanings, I conclude that immediately at the rapture, our bodies, which were capable of dying due to old age or sickness, will take on the same attributes as Jesus’ body and become an eternal body. Plus, thank God, we will be devoid of our sinful nature; we will no longer be tainted by sin, and death and all that it represents will no longer be part of our lives.
So, in this lawless world that is filled with destruction, sickness, death and every other product of sin as Paul stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:18 we believers can comfort one another in knowing we have a future with Jesus and our troubles will not last always.
As I grow older, I understand why many senior believers welcome the thought of death. Their bodies can no longer perform the acts of their youth, and the world around them no longer resembles the one they knew. Thus, they have lived their life on earth and have turned their vision to their future home with the Lord. Also, I believe many seniors are comforted by the words spoken by Paul to the church in Thessalonica and Corinth, and in this blog, I am going to share a few of these scriptures. To do this, I am going to share the scriptures, and then I will do a short commentary after each of them.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
Presently, Jesus Christ is in our hearts and minds. We are unable to see Jesus, nor can we physically touch Him. However, when the rapture happens, everyone who is part of Jesus’ body will meet Him in the air and travel with Him to the third heaven. We will see Him, be able to touch Him, and enjoy all the pleasures God has in store for those who loved and served Him not for a day, a week, a month, or a year but forever and ever.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”
The sin of disobedience by Adam in the Garden of Eden caused humanity to become corruptible and mortal. The Greek meaning for the word “corruptible” is to be perishable and to decay. The English dictionary defines it as the action of making someone morally depraved, sinful, ungodly, unrighteousness, dishonest, and unscrupulous. The Greek meaning and the English dictionary for the word “mortal” is capable of dying. From these meanings, I conclude that immediately at the rapture, our bodies, which were capable of dying due to old age or sickness, will take on the same attributes as Jesus’ body and become an eternal body. Plus, thank God, we will be devoid of our sinful nature; we will no longer be tainted by sin, and death and all that it represents will no longer be part of our lives.
So, in this lawless world that is filled with destruction, sickness, death and every other product of sin as Paul stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:18 we believers can comfort one another in knowing we have a future with Jesus and our troubles will not last always.
Revelation 12:11a They defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony
Testimony = a spoken or written statement that something is true
Life is filled with ups and downs, mountains and valleys, failures and victories, laughter, and tears, and all of these experiences and emotions have a story that goes along with them. As we go through these aspects of life, the key for all of us to understand is that God means for us to share these things via testimonies to help others who feel they cannot make it.
Throughout the Bible, there are examples of this being done, and in this blog, I am going to share two of them. The first found in John 4 shares the story of the Samaritan woman whom Jesus met at Jacob’s well while his disciples went into the village of Sychar to purchase him something to eat. Unlike the women in her town who came to get water in the morning, this nameless woman came to the well around noon. It is believed her questionable reputation caused her to be scorned by the women in her village, so she was there alone.
Being thirsty, Jesus asked her to get him some water to drink. This, however, surprised the woman because Jewish men usually did not speak to Samaritan women, and drinking from her utensil would deem him ceremonially unclean. From that point on, Jesus revealed He was the awaited Messiah the Samaritans were expecting, the Living Water she needed, and also revealed he knew her marital status. This encounter was so impactful the woman left Jesus and her waterpot, went into the village, and said to the men, “Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”
In response to the woman’s testimony, the men came and met Jesus for themselves. After spending two days with Jesus and at His departure from them, they confessed, “We have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the savior of the world.”
My second example is the man who was for a long time possessed with a legion of demons encounter with Jesus in the country of the Gadarenes. This naked man was tormented, had unusual strength to break chains off of himself, and lived in the burial grounds of the dead. After fearlessly speaking with this man, Jesus, in His authority, cast the demons out of the man. The unclean spirits that were in him entered into a nearby herd of swine and caused them to run into the lake and drown.
When the townspeople heard what had happened and saw the newly delivered man sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, fear overtook them, and they asked Jesus to leave the area. As Jesus was departing, the man asked Jesus’ permission to accompany him, but Jesus told him, “Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee.” Happily, and being a living example of the power of Jesus to deliver the man went and testified throughout Decapolis his life-changing experience with Jesus.
In the first example, I shared the woman’s testimony was about being freed and saved from her notorious past. In the second example, the man’s testimony was about being delivered and restored emotionally, mentally, and physically. Both of these testimonies have lived on and are still inspiring lives, and as they did then, your testimony to a troubled world can do the same now.
The Word of God given to Paul by an angel came true as all of the two hundred seventy-five men that were in the Alexandrian wheat ship with him were saved after their shipwreck. As some men swam while others held onto a broken piece of the ship, they all made it safely to the shore of Melita.
The people of Melita were hospitable and built a fire for the men to warm themselves from the rain and cold. Helping Paul had gathered sticks and was laying them on the fire when a poisonous snake fastened itself on his hand. Seeing what had happened, the Melitians assumed Paul was guilty of a crime and was being punished. However, when Paul shook the serpent into the fire and continued to live, the people thought that Paul was a god.
Subsequently, Publius, the chief man on Melita, provided lodging for them for three days. During that time, Paul laid hands and healed Publius’ father, who was severely ill. This caused others on the island to come to Paul and receive their healing, and in turn, they brought gifts to him. After their three-month stay on Melita, they were given provisions for the remainder of their journey on another Alexandrian ship.
The ship sailed from Melita to Syracuse, to Rhegium, and to Puteoli, where they found some believers. Then, as they traveled by road to Rome, encouraging believers who had heard of Paul met him along the way at the Forum of Appius and The Three Taverns.
While the other prisoners were handed to the captain of the guard in Rome, Paul was able to live in a home under the custody of a soldier. Within three days, Paul gathered the leaders of the Jews who were unaware of his contention with the Palestinian Jews and explained why he was imprisoned in Rome. Interested in hearing more about Paul’s mission to the Gentile, they made an appointment and gathered again at Paul’s residence. At that time Paul expounded the Kingdom of God and the gospel message of Jesus in his usual manner from morning to evening. After much debate, with some believing while others did not, Paul sent them off with the words of Isaiah 6:9-10, “Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” Additionally, he informed them salvation was also available to the Gentiles, and they, unlike the Jews, would receive it,
The last two verses in the book of Acts describe Paul’s imprisonment in Rome, “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”
I pray that you have read the other twenty- eight blogs on this Acts series. Also, I hope it has enlightened you on the early Christian church, its struggles, and the move of the Holy Spirit as God used men to carry the Gospel first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. As I conclude this Acts series, here are the nuggets I gained from this chapter:
Those who have a servant’s heart will continue to serve no matter the location.
Perils are not limited to one location; they can be experienced on the sea and the land.
When the heat is turned up, snakes will be revealed.
The enemy is relentless in his attempt to destroy you.
Shake off the venomous beast.
God will take care of you.
No weapon attempting to form against you will prosper.
People are watching to see what will befall you.
Circumstances can change assumptions.
Ministry gifts are to serve everyone.
The favor that is extended to you can also bless others.
Heal the sick.
Be grateful for the kindness that is shown to you.
Everyone needs encouragement.
Time is valuable; use it wisely.
Epilogue: While in Rome, Paul wrote Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon. Subsequently, commentators report that due to the lack of accusers in Rome, Paul was released after his two-year imprisonment and resumed his missionary journey. Years later, Paul was arrested, and this time, he was found guilty and beheaded in Rome.
King Agrippa and those gathered with him to hear Paul’s defense about the charges placed against him by the Jews agreed that Paul was innocent and would have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar. So, Acts 27 opens with Luke and Aristarchus, the Macedonian of Thessalonica, accompanying Paul and other prisoners who were placed under the guard of Julius, a centurion of Augustus’ band, as they sailed to Italy.
At Sidon, the first port to which they stopped on their way to Italy, Paul was permitted to visit his friends. Next, they continued sailing under Cyprus and over the seas of Cilicia and Pamphylia to the port of Myra. There, they boarded an Alexandrian wheat ship sailing into Italy; however, due to the winds, sailing was slow. Eventually, the ship sailed by Crete and made it to the Fair Havens near Lasea. After staying there for several days and the approaching winter weather, the captain decided to continue sailing. Sensing the danger of sailing, Paul spoke to those in charge and suggested the ship remain in Fair Haven. Unfortunately, Julius listened to the captain and the owner of the vessel, who felt that sailing to Phenice and spending the winter there would be more favorable than staying in Fair Haven.
With the soft south wind blowing, the ship took off sailing close by Crete, but then a tempestuous wind called Euroclydon started, and the waters became turbulent. Attempting to secure the ship, they used the minimum sail, undergirded the hull with ropes, and discarded unnecessary cargo into the sea. With no end in sight, days of neither sun nor stars appearing, and maritime skills unsuccessful, the occupants of the ship felt hopeless.
Finally, letting them know they should have listened to him, Paul shared this word of encouragement, “Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.”
It was the fourteenth day, and things were not improving when some of the ship’s crew tried to leave via a lifeboat, but the centurion and soldiers being warned by Paul of the plans of the crew severed the lines, causing the lifeboat to float away. Later that day, realizing the men had not eaten in many days, Paul encouraged them to eat some meat and gain strength for what was ahead of them. Then Paul took some bread, thanked God, and ate. Seeing what he did lifted the two hundred seventy-five men’s spirits, and they also ate.
The next day, noticing a creek with a shore, they took up the anchors and allowed the ship to run aground, which caused the back of the ship to break into pieces from the violent waves. An officer suggested they kill the prisoners so none could escape, but Julius rejected this idea. As the ship broke into pieces, some on board swam to shore while others grabbed onto broken pieces, and all two hundred seventy-six eventually made it safely to the shore.
I close with these nuggets that I gleaned from this chapter:
With God on your side, you can be a prisoner with privileges.
God will give you favor with the people in charge.
God will cause people who don’t know you to take a liken to you.
Winds can propel you, misdirect you, slow forward movement, and delay progress.
There are forces in your environment that can hinder your progress.
Though the truth is shared, men may not listen.
Failure to listen to wisdom results in turmoil.
Prophetic warnings are often ignored, causing the hearers to suffer consequences for not listening.
Safety is sometimes in unsuitable places.
The majority is not always right.
You can go from peace to turmoil in a short period.
Moving out of season can be hazardous.
Storms reveal a person’s character.
When darkness prevails, men lose their hope.
God speaks in the midst of a storm.
Crisi moves believers to the forefront.
When others are fearful a Word from God will give you peace.
Believers belong to God and were made for His service.
God can keep you and those around you safe.
Your presence will save the lives of those around you.
As you go through life challenges, hold fast to your belief in God.
Crises can take away your appetite.
You must eat for strength and to stay healthy.
Despite your circumstances, give thanks.
Your life is more valuable than material things.
Get rid of things that weigh you down.
Yeilding is necessary when a struggle is fruitless.
There are some things that you cannot fight
Sometimes, you must hold on to broken pieces.
No matter what happens, the spoken Word will come to fruition.
Though others around you may not believe, do not let that hinder you from believing.
