BETHANY CHURCH October 25 & 26, 2014

The Reality of Eternity Pastor Jonathan Stockstill

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT) — 11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

1. The reality of eternity

a. God is eternal. i. Psalm 90:1–2 (NASB95) — 1 Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were born Or You gave birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. ii. Revelation 1:8 (NLT) — 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”

b. Jesus is eternal. i. John 17:5 (NLT) — 5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began. ii. John 1:1–3 (NLT) — 1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.

c. We are eternal. i. 2 Corinthians 5:2–4 (NLT) — 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 2. The reality of time a. Time is to eternity what earth is to space. b. Time is the opportunity to choose God. c. Time is the womb of eternity. d. Time is the fighting match with death. e. Time as we know it will melt away. i. Revelation 6:13–14 (NLT) — 13 Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green figs falling from a tree shaken by a strong wind. 14 The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places. ii. Revelation 20:11 (NASB95) — 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.

3. The reality of our future

a. There are two eternal destinations. i. Romans 2:5–8 (NLT) — 5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done. 7 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. 8 But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. ii. Daniel 12:2 (NLT) — 2 Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace.

b. The way to eternal life is in Jesus. i. 1 John 5:11 (NLT) — 11 And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ii. John 3:36 (NLT) — 36 And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment. iii. John 5:24 (NLT) — 24 I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

c. Our actions impact eternity. i. 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NLT) — 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body. ii. Matthew 16:27 (NLT) — 27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. iii. Romans 2:16 (NLT) — 16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life. iv. Galatians 6:7 (NLT) — 7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.