How Long Does It Take to Change?
There is an ETERNITY!
Because there is, we must consider what we will do with JESUS, while we walk on this side of our death-day. While there is breath in our lungs and God allows us to live & because—THIS LIFE IS NOT THE END!
TRULY, THERE IS AN ETERNITY!
“Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
(1 Corinthians 15: 50-52 NASB 1995 Translation)
Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”
My husband enjoys teasing me (How I know!), and because he does, oftentimes, I come face-to-face with my bodily characteristics—you know, the reactions we do without even thinking. For me, it’s the snapping of my right index finger straight out into a pointing direction as I place my second finger on my right hand against my thumb. It’s a single, thoughtless motion, one that came to me sometime during my life. Maybe it came when we were raising our young daughter or maybe it came when teaching high school students. Even though I cannot recall from where it originated, still it remains a part of ME.
“Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, . . .”
Lord, teach me to view this life with eternity in mind.
“nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.”
Lord, teach me to view this life with eternity in mind.
“Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, . . .”
Lord, teach me to view this life with eternity in mind.
“but we will all be changed,
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; . . .”
“for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”
SINCE EVERY PERSON MUST CHOOSE WHAT HE WILL DO WITH JESUS!
Lord, please keep my view this life with eternity in mind.
“For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immorality.
(1 Corinthians 15: 53-58 NASB 1995 Translation)
But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immorality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.
“O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY?
O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
but thanks be to God, who has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be steadfast,
immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”
- How Long Does It Take to Change from LOST to FOUND?
- How Long Does It Take to Change from SINNER to SINNER SAVED BY THE GRACE of GOD?
- How Long Does It Take to Change from CHILD of perdition to CHILD of GOD?
How Long Does It Take to Change?
“but we will all be changed,
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; . . .”
- It is a truth, we do not naturally “drift” toward God as we age, nor do we “drift” into holiness as we grow-up in age. Both the decision to “come to know Jesus as Savior” & the decision to “walk more closely with God” are daily decisions we must make.
- It is a truth, God numbered our days even before He gave us the first day, even before He created the first moment of our life in our mother’s womb.
- It is a truth, just as we were given life, & just as we were given days to live, we also have an appointed “death” day.
- It is a truth, EVERY PERSON ALIVE MUST CHOOSE WHAT HE WILL DO WITH JESUS!
And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples,
Even the veil which is stretched over all nations.
He will swallow up death for all time,
And the Lord GOD will wipe tears from all faces,
And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth;
For the LORD has spoken.
And it will be said in that day,
“Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us.
This is the LORD for whom we have waited.
Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”
(Isaiah 25: 7-9 NASB 1995 Translation)
- Since there is an eternity, we must consider what we will do with JESUS, while we walk on this side of our death-day.
- Since there is a decision to make, we must choose: While there is breath in our lungs & While God allows us to live & Because only this part of our life will conclude & Because this life—IS NOT THE END!
For God’s children, it’s as if the LORD HIMSELF is snapping His right index finger straight out into a pointing direction and saying to each of His Redeemed: “YOU, THERE, GET BUSY, PROCLAIMING MY RETURN!”
Jesus said:
“Do not be afraid;
(The Revelation to John 1: 17b-18 NASB 1995 Translation)
I am the first and the last,
and the living One;
and I was dead,
and behold, I am alive forevermore,
and I have the keys of death and of Hades. . . .”
THERFORE, BECAUSE ALL OF HUMANITY MUST CHOOSE WHAT HE WILL DO WITH JESUS, Lord, teach me to serve You & view this life with eternity clearly planted in my mind.