Tag: eternity

Celebrity Deaths and Life-essential Questions

People Magazine reported this week that 14 prominent American celebrities had departed this life so far in January. Those didn’t include David Crosby of Crosby, Stills, and Nash and Gina Lollobrigida of classic movie fame, both of whom died after that issue’s publication. The remains of all these celebrity bodies are still with us. But they themselves are somewhere else…still aware, still active, forever! That raises lots of life-essential questions. Find the answers at http://www.terrythompson.org/eternity.

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Just How Important Are You?

Thoughtful young man

As we launch into a new year, a new decade!, most of us give at least some thought to adjustments we need to make–some shedding, some pursuing. Self-examination is in order as to who we have been, who we are, and who we will be. This can lead to gut-level contemplation of our reason for existence. Just how important are you? Let’s consider that.

Since the beginning of mankind, every person in your direct ancestry bloodline through hundreds of generations had to survive and produce your subsequent ancestor in order for you to have been born. If any one of those ancestors had not produced your next ancestor, or had died childless, you would not exist. Therefore, your chances of being born were like one-in-a-million. Looking ahead, if you have children, you will likely be responsible for producing over 40 descendants in the next century–none of whom would exist without you. You will have made a major contribution in shaping their physical and spiritual character. What might some of those descendants accomplish for mankind? You are very important to God!

As in the movie, It’s a Wonderful Life (you did watch it again didn’t you?), think of whose lives and what circumstances would not have had certain positive impacts had you not been a part of them? Even minor improvements you have made in the destiny of a few others will be your legacy for an inestimable number of generations. You are very important to God!

The minute you were miraculously born began a life that will never end. Your relatively momentary life on this planet will soon transition into eternal existence. I like the illustration of the line and the dot.

___________________._______________________________________________________________________

The dot is your life on earth. It seems so brief and insignificant. Yet, it is the product of your ancestry and history over time represented by the line to the left of the dot. That line actually would extend off the page and for several yards relative to the time of your dot. The line to the right of your dot is your eternal life after death. It would actually extend off the page into the next county, next state, and around the world…and it would just be beginning. It never ends. You were born to live forever! Suddenly, that seemingly insignificant dot has significance beyond our comprehension. You are very important to God!

God tells us in His Word that He knows you more intimately than anyone else. He says He knows the number of hairs on your head. He knows the good, the bad, and the ugly of everything about us. He wants to give us personal peace. The God who created the universe gave us birth, knows everything about us, and still wants us to spend eternity with Him. Sadly, relatively few will have that privilege due to their own decision to disregard it. Those who do not give attention to their spiritual condition and God’s gracious invitation will still live eternally but tragically separated from Him. God is very important to you!

As you enter 2020, you could commit to nothing better than securing a personal relationship with Jesus if you haven’t settled that yet. If you are in that relationship, commit to growing in it and understanding more about just how important you are to Him. Much of your importance is in your sharing God’s love and desire for those important to you. Take time to meditate more on these truths by visiting https://terrythompson.org/eternity. This year, let’s renew our joy in how important we are to the One who created us to live for Him and how important He is to us.

Have a Happy New Year!

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The Best Ever New Year’s Resolution

 

Regardless of whether you are a new year’s resolution person, everyone needs to take some time at the threshold of a new year to self-evaluate just where you are in life. Then consider what changes might be in order to attain greater quality of life and sense of purpose. Resolutions are usually in categories such as health, finances, family, and personal habits. However, there is another category of resolution that will reap more rewards than anything you have probably thought of.

Most of us need to be more fit and in better shape. We should quit some bad habits. Some family relationships should be strengthened. And who doesn’t need to spend less and save more in the coming year? However, almost all areas of life change are linked to the one most important adjustment we can make–a spiritual renewal. If our spiritual condition is not in shape, it affects everything else in our lives. Here are some suggested initiatives for making 2019 the year of spiritual renewal.

First, if you don’t have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, you are in critical condition spiritually and in dire need of getting that most important aspect of your life settled once and for all. I invite you to visit my “Eternity” page on this website: http://terrythompson.org/eternity. Start 2019 right by making it the year you turn your life over to the Lord and begin growing in your understanding of His best for you.

If you are just not sure of where you stand with God and have doubts about your eternal destiny, you need to have that absolute assurance in order to live life to its fullest. I invite you to start 2019 by reading the Book of First John (not the Gospel of John, but the short book near the end of your Bible). Read it several times pausing at each statement that describes the actions and thoughts of those who truly belong to the Lord. Evaluate your life according to those descriptions. If you can’t identify yourself in this reading, your condition is that of the previous paragraph.

If you are convinced of your salvation according to First John, the best resolution you can make for 2019 may be to devote more time to Bible reading and prayer. Nothing conditions you spiritually more than time spent with Him in reading His Word and communicating with Him. I encourage you to read the entire Bible through in 2019. It only requires about three or four chapters a day. There are several Apps that help and motivate you to do this. Just search the App Store for “read the Bible in a year” and choose one you like. Yes, it takes some extra time each day, but anything worthwhile has to be given priority over something less important.

It is obvious that consistent church attendance in America has been trending downward in recent years. Yet, the Bible is very clear that Jesus established the church and works through it to relate to His people and minister to others. The church is His stated strategy for changing the world. Christians worshiping, praying, fellowshipping, and ministering together within the church is the only way to experience the fullness of what God desires to give us. The Bible teaches that each of us is given special capabilities to be used for Christ particularly through the church. Recommit yourself to serving in your church in 2019.

Finally, even if you are comfortable in your level of spiritual maturity, you spend ample time with the Lord daily, and you are active in church, God will always desire a more abundant life for you and to prepare you even more for eternity with Him. Invite Him to delve more deeply into your life in 2019 showing you little pockets of needed improvement and refining. Let Him cleanse you even more thoroughly for greater works in His kingdom. Allow Him to reveal shortcomings you may not even be aware of, but that need to be confessed and corrected.

There are many ways to improve your life through resolutions in 2019. But, the resolution to renew your life spiritually will improve everything.

Please “like” and “share” this post to wish many others a more abundant life in 2019.

 

 

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