“A single day in hell will be worse than a whole life spent in carrying the cross.” J. C. Ryle
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I struggle to keep my eyes forward. I want to look down and am tempted to look behind me.
Luke 9:62 – Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
One key reason we need to have our eyes on eternity on a daily basis is to keep reminding ourselves of the richness of Christ. He will always fulfill what we need, if we only turn and trust Him. Often, we need our thoughts redirected to Him.
If you caught last month’s Quotes that Minister, Charles H. Spurgeon had a quote about how we need to experience some bruising in our life to experience growth. Today’s quote shows the opposite of what can happen if we refuse to grow in Christ. If we choose to grow in ourselves, to serve our desires, to live a life in rebellion to God, rejecting Christ as our Savior, we are our own savior – an eternity in Hell awaits us. (See: What & Who is the Grace of God?)
While serving self in the temporal world seems ideal (for the moment), it’s actually lonelier, emptier, and harder than the individual under the yoke of Christ. For those in Christ, we are given the promise we are not forsaken by Christ, even if we are alone in the world. We are promised He will continue to transform us and help us, even if poor and sick. He doesn’t promise our trials or sickness will end in the temporal life, but He does promise we are not alone and there is a purpose in everything – whether or not we see it.
Romans 8:28- And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
If you do not have Christ, you are alone in this world. People are not enough for us. Success is not enough for us. Money, power, fame, all are not enough for our soul. As creations, only our Creator is enough, and Christ is our Savior. Trying to fill an emptiness with sin that leads to death… only leads to more death.
Today’s quote was spoken in J. C. Ryle’s book, Authentic Faith: Rediscovering the Essence of Christianity. Can be listened to on Spotify.
The Gospel Message– The Gospel message is good news, which means there’s bad news. We all are sinners and condemned. We all deserve the just punishment of God’s wrath. Christianity is unlike any other religion because we cannot earn our way into Heaven. God saw the weakness of man and his utter depravity. Yet, He showed us grace. Jesus, God, One Person of the Trinity, became God in the flesh, the God-Man. He was always perfect and sinless. And His humanity was perfected on the cross, living the full sinless life. He became our atonement sacrifice. Dying in our place, taking on the wrath of God upon Himself. He died on the cross, and He was resurrected because death could not hold Him. Jesus is the answer. We, as guilty sinners, need His blood to pay off our debt of sin. For all who put their faith in Him – meaning eyes are opened to the Gospel, we see ourselves as a sinner, we see the need for Christ, we desire our Savior, and we see the ugliness of our sin. Putting our faith in Jesus, we seek HIs forgiveness and repent from our sins, we turn away from our old way of life. We, through the work of the Holy Spirit, continue to become convicted of sin daily. Our eyes will never be the same again. We see things in a different light, and the truth of Christ affects how we live and serve Him. Christ tells us to count the cost. Salvation is a serious topic, it is not to be taken lightly. For a breakdown of this powerful message, understanding how Christ could be God and Man, why God required sacrifices, and more -please see: Why Did A Loving God Kill His Son? (Does God Hate?)
If you think you know the Gospel, check out these questions and see how prepared you are for the day someone might ask you why you believe: The Gospel Challenge (30 Question Quiz) – Are You Ready To Defend Your Faith?
Scripture To Meditate On – (ESV) Psalm 143:08- Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
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