The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 27 April 2019 – Living with Eternity in Mind
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TOPIC: Living with Eternity in Mind
READ: 1 Corinthians 15:29-34 New King James Version (NKJV)
29 Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?
30 And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour?
31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32 If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
34. Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.
THE MESSAGE:
Further on the subject of the resurrection of the dead, God’s word has set out for us some of the things that eternity-minded people do. They die daily (verse 31): This is re-iterating what Jesus Himself had earlier said: …if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:23).
The truth is, those who will go to heaven will not end up in heaven by mistake. In the same way, those who will go to hell will not end up in hell by mistake. Each one of us, by our conscious daily choices, is deciding where he will spend eternity whether in heaven or in hell.
Furthermore, eternity-minded people endure through the struggles of life, and they are prepared to fight the good fight of faith. Paul, because he was certain of eternity with Christ, endured persecutions and even fought with beasts at Ephesus (verse 32). Eternity-minded people are not afraid to be persecuted. They hold on to the faith against all odds. They strive to please God.
In addition, eternity-minded people carefully select their friends, partners and companions, knowing that bad company ruins good morals (verse 33). Finally from this passage, eternity-minded people do not “go on sinning” (verse 34). They know that sin is enmity with God.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to live always with eternity in mind. Help me overcome every sinful habit.
