Living in light of eternity

  I’m on the last day of a short mission trip. We were in Chicago for several days before  Memorial Day.  I joined with 65 international students from around the world. It was a great week to visit because of all the vacationers coming to this beautiful city. In the mornings, we had training sessions, encouragement, worship, and motivation. Every afternoon we went out around the city to parks, lakes, college campuses, and other locations where we could easily meet people and engage in spiritual conversations. I think everybody was a bit nervous as we went out, but that nervousness  didn’t last for long. In the parks and locations were people just sitting around with nothing to do. They were very agreeable to talk about philosophical questions, the nature of life, where do you find purpose, and other topics that easily lead into the gospel.    What was surprising to me about this week was how deeply satisfying it was. When I was falling asleep...

Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and  the kingdom of God is at hand ; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mk 1:14-15)   Throughout the Bible we see accounts of God at work.  Certainly, God’s sovereignty is always active, but there seem to be times and places where His influence is more keenly felt. This was true during the earthly life of Jesus.  As the coming King, He often proclaimed the coming of the Kingdom of God.     This term, “The Kingdom of God” primarily refers to God’s kingly power exercised over creation and people. His message and His miracles were demonstrations of His kingly authority.  He had a new message, one that went well beyond the law and the prophets of the Old Testament. And He saw a dramatic response to this message.  Those who responded were literally "pressing into" His kingdom.   Now the Pha...

  Over the years I have noticed a slow transition in church and parachurch ministries.  In the early days discipleship was emphasized as the strategy at the heart of many ministries. Young leaders who were growing in their faith were challenged early to start bible studies with their friends.  About a year after I came to Christ as a freshman in college, I was encouraged to start my own discipleship group.  I asked, “Are you sure I am ready?”  They answered, “Sure.” Previously, I had been led to Christ by an older student at Penn State.  A different student followed me up by sharing the basics of the Christian life with me: assurance of salvation, God’s love and forgiveness, confession of sin, how to be filled with the Spirit and walk in the Spirit, how to pray, etc. He also took me out witnessing on campus.  After showing me how to use a little booklet called the 4 Spiritual Laws, he said to me, “Now you try it.” ...

  Currently, Jesus reigns in the hearts and minds of all who trust in Him.   But one day soon, the kingdoms of this earth will also be under the direct reign and rule of the Lord Jesus Christ.   We see this predicted by the prophet, Daniel. “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed. (Dan 7:13-14) In the book of Revelations, we see a future reign of Christ over all earthly kingdoms.   His reign will be an everlasting one. Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will re...