January 28, 2014 “Grasping Eternity”

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)

Good Morning People of Faith!

There’s a forecast of snow in these parts this morning. Winter is upon us here in the United States, and many have felt its cold sting already this year. Once brightly colored trees are now barren and dormant. The skies are often cloud covered and gloomy. Many are anxiously awaiting the coming of spring and another season of new life. In the cold of winter, many things die and pass away. It’s an accepted part of nature (though, in fact, not everyone is thrilled with that reality). Living things naturally desire life. Certainly most people do, but scripture reminds us that there is “a time to be born and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:2), and again  in Hebrews 9:27 we are reminded “Everyone has to die once, then face the consequences.” But we are also told in Ecclesiastes 3:11 that “He has also set eternity in the hearts of men”. Therefore, though we and all earthly things are mortal, we know of immortality, for the Everlasting God has set it in our hearts. Why would he do such a thing if we are all destined to die? I believe He does so, at least in part, to reveal His nature to us, and to awaken within us that knowledge that even though we will some day be required to “shake off this mortal coil” of ours, since we are made in His image and that He is the source of life, we may come to understand that in Him is the sure hope of resurrection and that in and through Him and Him alone is life everlasting.  There’s a lot of talk these days about wealth inequality, and as I understand it, it will be one of the main talking points in this year’s State of the Union address. It is an interesting and relevant topic, but Jesus says in Mark 8:36 “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”  There is equality in the fact that we are all mortal, and that the things we consider of value in this world will all vanish away someday. Heaven and earth will pass away, this is reality, but the greater reality lies in things that will never pass away, and it is on such things that we should set our hearts. Evangelist and hymn writer E.H. Bickersmith writes,

“All earthly things with earth will pass away; Prayer grasps eternity. Then pray, always pray!” 

The wise man or woman will set his or her mind not on the transient things of this world. They are destined to pass away. Better to focus on those things of eternal value. Prayer grasps eternity by putting us in communication with the great “I AM’ the “Eternal Present”…the One who has set eternity  in our hearts…the Everlasting God. Prayer grasps eternity, so…Let’s pray!

Holy, Everlasting God; Fill our hearts and minds that we might desire those things that are of lasting value. Fill us with the desire to be in constant contact with You in this world, that we might live eternally with You in the next. Fill us, Lord, with the love of Christ, that others might see our good works and give glory to You. Give us this day our daily bread, that we might be nourished and prepared for eternity. this we pray in the name of Your Son Jesus our Lord and savior. Amen!