SERIES: Discovering Your Place in God's Eternal Purpose SUBJECT: The Length of God s Call READING: Dan 12:2-3 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (3) And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. Introduction: We have been considering the truth that the God of the universe, the only God and Creator of all that is, has chosen to call every believer into a very special relationship with Himself? That means that each of us are chosen and called by God to be a part of His eternal purpose. This call and the relationship that follows are very personal and very real! It is also a call that is not for Time alone, but for Eternity! We were created in His image; Gen 1:26-27 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (27) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. This includes immortality (living for eternity). Jesus Himself declared constantly that the ones who believe in Him will have eternal life: Joh 10:27-28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow 1
me: (28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. Paul also confirmed this by saying that when God saved us, He "raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:6 (Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.). This life, then, is to prepare us for eternity. This was God's purpose from before the foundation of the world. Eph 1:4 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: Because our life should be focused on eternity Jesus further urged His disciples, in Mat 6:19-20 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: (20) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: We all know that this life we live in this world revolves naturally around daily circumstances. So in order to lay up "eternal things" or "treasures in heaven" we have to go against the flow all around us. 2
What are some things that would be considered "eternal things" or "treasures in heaven"? Eternal redemption, Eternal salvation, Eternal inheritance, Eternal habitations, Eternal glory Eternal souls Eternal rewards What are some things that would be considered "perishable things" or "treasures on earth"? Job Bank Account Home Friends Toys Clothing Friendships Looking at the two lists that you have made, where have you been investing your time and energy... on eternal pursuits or worldly pursuits? Most of us I fear will realize that we could improve the time that we spend with "eternal investments." This is why Paul stated: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (24) Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. (Col 3:23-24) Eph 5:14-17 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall 3
give thee light. (15) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, (16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (17) Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. As Christians in pursue eternal things we must ask ourselves are we using "time" as God's or as something we just spend? Every Christian must seek to use the whole of his or her time, to fulfill the call God has place on their life. Meaning that we are to look for opportunities to make our lives available to God in our daily pursuits whatever that may be! When He opens the door we are prepared to let God work His eternal purposes through our lives, for God's glory? Time invested in people can have eternal significance whenever they can see Christ-likeness in us. The beatitudes list several Christ-like qualities; how would these be seen in us? The poor in spirit: They that mourn: The meek: They which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: Mercifulness: The pure in heart: The peacemakers: Are there people in your whom God is giving you 4
opportunities to show these Christ-like qualities? Col 3:23-24 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (24) Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. The next requirement in discovering your place in God s eternal purpose Character: The Call of God Requires Character God's goal for each believer is "to be conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29). "Image" can be understood as "characteristics." God is seeking to develop the character of His Son Jesus in each of us. 1. As God does this in our lives, we become better instruments to be used in His kingdom work. One of the characteristics of Jesus was His faithful obedience to do all that the Father asked of Him. Note these Scriptures: God is seeking to develop the character of His Son Jesus in each of us. This is His eternal purpose. He would do through our lives what He was able to do through His Son. Heb 5:7-9 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; (8) Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; (9) And being made perfect, he 5
became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Joh 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. Joh 7:16-18 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. (17) If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. (18) He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 2. The result of Christ's obedience was that the Father brought eternal salvation to the human race through the Son. 3. As God's people are obedient to make their lives available to God in the same way His Son was available to Him, God will work through them to accomplish His eternal purposes. Based on these Scriptures, describe Jesus' obedience to the Father: Jesus obeyed the Father in every area of His life. He only did what the Father told Him to do; He only spoke when the Father told Him to speak; He only taught what the Father told Him to teach. 6
Remember that God desires to create or build this same obedience into our lives. This is what Jesus prayed: Joh 17:17-19 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (18) As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. (19) And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. He wanted His disciples to be "set apart for God," as He was set apart for God. This is God's eternal purpose for each of our lives also, in this our day. This is a very serious and eternal purpose of God, to be worked out in our lives, as it was in Jesus' life. So God is seeking to develop in us the character of His Son. It is important at this time in our study to examine this key passage in Romans: Rom 8:28-30 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he 7
justified, them he also glorified. This truth carries with it so much of the "why" of our being called of God. Such character is developed through our relationship with Him as He works out, in our life, His eternal plan of redemption. He calls us into a relationship with Himself, so that in the relationship we can come to know Him and experience His working in us and through us. In that relationship, and only there, does He develop character in us in preparation for an eternity with Him. 8