God created the World
With Eternity in Mind
by Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given...of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end....with justice from henceforth even for ever." (Isaiah 9:6)

GOD CREATED THE WORLD WITH ETERNITY IN MIND

God is eternal and infinite.  He does not think with a finite mind as we do!  God's thoughts and actions reflect His omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence and eternalness!

God's plans and purposes for this universe and all of us, were formulated in His mind before He created the foundations of the world. Eternity in heaven or hell had already been determined.

God cannot make a mistake, lGod cannot lie or be wrong in His intentions of deeds, for God is totally righteous, all knowing and all wise!

EVERYTHING GOD DOES IS FOR ETERNITY!

God knows the future and sees the pitfalls and snares that await our stumbling feet.  And God helps us, protects us from the devil, protects us from the world and from ourselves!

WHY ARE WE SO IMPORTANT TO GOD?  Firstly, we were made in God's image.  Secondly, Jesus personally died for our sins and finally, through the new birth, we are a part of Him - his body!

WHAT DOES ETERNITY MEAN? What does the word eternity mean?  Eternity means forever and ever, without end.  The words, "there shall be no end" and "forever", show the eternal purposes of God in the birth of Christ.  THE INCARNATION WAS SERIOUS STUFF. Eternity is serious stuff.    

The moment, of God the Son - wrapping Himself in human flesh - coming down to earth to save us.  All this was deliberately and perfectly timed and executed, and all with eternity in mind. 

"But when the fullness of time was come, God sent His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." (Galatians  4:4-5)

Jesus coming to earth to die for our sins wasn't an after thought or a fill-in.  The decision to send King Messiah to this earth, was communicated to Satan - the adversary - immediately after Adam and Eve's tragic fall.

"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head and thou shall bruise His heel." (Genesis  3:15)

Here, God promises a "virgin born" savior (her seed), Who would conquer Satan through His substitutionary death.  In the process, the Savior would suffer a minor wound (bruise His heel), and Satan would be totally defeated (bruise his head)!

JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS - With Eternity in Mind

Although Jesus suffered more than any man, was wounded and marred for our total salvation, it was minor because He laid down His life of His own free will. (John 10:15-18)

SATAN HAD NO POWER OVER JESUS

Satan could not take it from Him!  And Jesus arose again on the third day, destroying Satan and his power over us!    

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;" (Hebrews 2:14)

FROM THE INCARNATION TO THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST, AND THROUGHOUT THE 'GOSPEL AGE', GOD HAS CONTINUED THE EXECUTION OF HIS ETERNAL WILL, THROUGH HIS CHURCH, THE CALLED-OUT-ONES!

WE MUST LIVE WITH ETERNITY IN MIND

This is why it is so important that we live with "eternity in mind".  All our plans and goals should reflect this mind set, in our relationships to God, the Church - His body - and the world!  We must think of the future, of eternity and prepare ourselves for eternity, and eternal life with Jesus Christ.

Let us study the Word of God, pray, witness and give joyfully, to help build His eternal Kingdom!

Jesus said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:3,7)

The Bible makes it clear that, "He who hath the Son hath everlasting life: and he who believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36)

That means that all those who do not personally know Jesus Christ, must receive Him as Savior and Lord in order to be saved and to be in Heaven with Christ for eternity.

ETERNITY IS FOREVER  - THERE IS A  REAL HEAVEN & A REAL HELL

St. John emphasized:  "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He hath testified of His Son.  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself:  he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave His Son.  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life.  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe in the name of the Son of God." (I John 5:9-13)

HERE IS THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH - All who reject Jesus Christ and refuse to receive Him as Lord & Savior are calling Almighty God a LIAR, "because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son." (verse 10)

Do you think for one moment that anyone will escape the judgment of God when they reject Jesus Christ - His gift to the world - and call Him a liar?

That's serious stuff, since God is the judge of the entire world!  How do you think an earthly judge would react if someone in his courtroom called him "a liar"?  He would immediately be guilty of 'contempt of court' of worse!

St. Paul puts it all in perspective when he says, "For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him." (Heb. 2:2-3)

ETERNITY IS REAL - ETERNITY IS FOREVER

In the Apocalypse, St. John warns:  "And the DEVIL that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the BEAST and the FALSE PROPHET are, and SHALL BE TORMENTED DAY AND NIGHT FOR EVER AND EVER.  And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."

"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:10-15)

HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS!  Jesus invites, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28)

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE LOVE OF GOD THE FATHER AND THE FELLOWSHIP AND COMMUNION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH US ALL, BOTH NOW AND FOREVERMORE. Amen.