Category Archives: Eternal Life

Decision Making and Guidance, Eternal Life, Holy Spirit, Your Identity in Christ

Realign your Identity with The King of Kings

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)

As a Christian, I take it seriously that I am and remain allegiant to the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. The book of Revelation, penned by the Apostle John, given to him straight from Jesus Christ in a vision, gives guide me the perspective of self-identity. When I read the scripture below, I think of the fascination many have with the Tudor Episodes, the historical plays of Shakespeare, the Game Of Thrones, and many others of this ilk. I also am a British history buff, and nerdy buff of the Baird, yet I am deeply humbled and awed when meditating on this scripture – I take it from John, written for me: Revelation 1: 4-7 NKJV:

Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

Catch a Vision of the Son

I hope to help you realize that you are the masterpiece that scripture indicates that you are. Many Christians suffer from a Spiritual Identity Crisis that can undermine self-confidence and success in every area of life. Your effectiveness, as you seek to live your best life in a socially sensitive culture can be affected. Many look daily for recognition — some may seek approval by being liked on Facebook, for example. If we understand our identity as a son or daughter of God, we can retain our confidence while having no problem, insofar as we commit to discern how we are affected by and respond to the influence of our culture and its social media in the context of being an eternal spirit.

I have appreciated the guidance of Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and run my scheduled life by his outlined strategies. I appreciate His wisdom in areas relating to personal growth in my relationship to Jesus Christ, and in my business life. Behind The 7 Habits material, that sold over 25 million copies, lies Covey’s life view:

You and I are God’s own children. We have infinite potential, infinite worth, and we should not compare ourselves with others in any way on the basis of status, position, appearance, fashion, or any of the world’s value systems. All of these systems are false sources of self-definition, and we are surrounded by them. We live in a media-saturated world that continuously tries to define who we are. Unless we counteract these false scripts, they become deeply planted in our hearts and minds and also in the hearts and minds of our children.  Dr. Stephen Covey

It is important to identify ourselves correctly — define your sense of who you are as a redeemed child of God, purchased by Christ who gave His life for you — yes you were individually called into His kingdom.

If we don’t see our identity as a child of God, our view of ourselves can become shaped by culture. Covey aptly notes: “…if we do not have a deep sense of our true identity as a daughter or son of God the Father — if our basic sense of self, comes from other people, we may develop a false view of life, based on scarcity rather than God’s love or abundance”.

Give yourself an identity checkup.

If you were going to Toronto and you used a map of Vancouver, you would get lost. If you felt confused and sped up, you would get more deeply lost! Similarly, if we use a map of the culture for our life, directed by the scripting of others — of parents and friends without Christ, as a Christian we will get lost.  Conversely, all of your decision-making and planning can now be mapped using God’s GPS with His view of His children’s pathway — our heavenly mindmap. Let the Holy Spirit and the Word of God be your guiding principles in all that you do, going forward. Can you commit to this? Commitment can save you from being sucked back into the confusion of false identity.

The Psychologist James Marcia developed views on identity statuses, commitment to your identity being one,  expanded on here by Susan Krauss:

The four identity statuses are built from high and low positions on two identity dimensions. Dimension one is “commitment.” People high on commitment have a firm sense of who they are and feel strongly about the choices they have made. People low in identity commitment have an uncertain sense of self.  Susan Krauss Whitbourne Ph.D., Psychology Today article

I like what Covey says: “A scarcity mentality is the tendency to define oneself in terms of being better than, or not as good as, another person”, yet if we know that we are a child of God the Father, as a brother or sister in Christ, we are protected from the world’s false ideology of self-identity. Don’t become a slave of others who try hard to define you through their filter of the world! YOU are a child of God!

We can get derailed from doing important thinking — self-examination important to our destiny. Krauss writes:

At the opposite pole on both dimensions, people low in commitment and exploration fit criteria for “identity diffused.” People high on exploration but low on commitment are in a category that Marcia called “moratorium.” This means that they have placed a hold on making the major decisions in their lives.  They’re thinking hard about what they want to do but aren’t ready to commit.

These scriptures below, beautifully depict you as a child of God.1  Hold them close and believe that you are indeed a masterpiece of God! I and my brothers and sisters in Christ are royal king-priests and queen-priests, and Christ is our King of Kings, a Royal priesthood. In identity, I am fully committed to Jesus as my Lord and King-Preist who loves me.

Scripture articulates your identity and defines who you are. If you are not fully committed I appeal to you, consider who your potential below. You are:

BELOVED: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

A CHILD OF GOD: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)

DELIGHTED IN: “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

FORGIVEN: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)

WASHED CLEAN: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

FREE: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

A TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19)

ADOPTED INTO GOD’S FAMILY: “The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” (Romans 8:15)

CO-HEIR WITH CHRIST: “Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” (Romans 8:17)

RIGHTEOUS: “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

NEW: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: The old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

A SAINT: “You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11)

SET APART: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession.” (1 Peter 2:9)

AN AMBASSADOR OF CHRIST: “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)

A CO-LABORER: “For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:9)

A SWEET AROMA: “For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” (2 Corinthians 2:15)

NEVER ALONE: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

A MASTERPIECE: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10)

WONDERFULLY MADE: “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139:14)

BOLD: “Since we have such a hope, we are very bold.” (2 Corinthians 3:12)

HAVING GUARANTEED VICTORY: “You have given me your shield of victory. Your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.” (Psalm 18:35)

HOLDING A SECURED FUTURE: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11)

WHOLE IN CHRIST: “In Christ, you have been brought to fullness.” (Colossians 2:10)

1 I want to thank Ben Malcomson, Assitant to the Head Coach of the Seattle Seahawks for compiling this scripture list — one of many on the Identity of Christians Listed Scriptures above are of the NIV. 

Eternal Life

Death has passed unto all men: Learn how to be ready.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 NIV)

No matter what our age we have this in common with all men: We all are one day closer to death and the grave. We are closer to eternal life, or eternal damnation. Some emphasize a hell, others view the final lake of fire that the unrepentant who do not accept Jesus will face as their final judgment.

  • Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned”. (Romans 5:12 NIV) The good news of the gospel is that death does not have to be the end of the road.
    Though we die physically we have an eternal dimension to our spirit that God gave us at birth. Indeed, “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 NIV) You can make an exchange from a hopeless death and the final fires of judgment by making a simple exchange, if for nothing else for personal gain. God will start with you right now, wherever you are if you can accept what Jesus is offering you. The text reads, not death when you believe “but the gift of God” which is “eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
  • Make the Exchange You can make an exchange from a hopeless death and the final fires of judgment by making a simple exchange, if for nothing else for personal gain.

Death is a result of sin Speaking to Adam, the first man, God said:

“Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from…The very ground is cursed because of you; getting food from the ground will be as painful as having babies is for your wife; you’ll be working in pain all your life long. The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you’ll get your food the hard way, planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk, until you return to that ground yourself, dead and buried; you started out as dirt, you’ll end up dirt.” (Genesis 3:17-19 MSG)

  • The ancient prophet Job noted that life is fleeting. “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and they come to an end without hope. Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again. (Job 7:6-7 NIV)
  • Every person will face death. “We’ll see death soon enough. Everyone does. And there’s no back door out of hell”. (Psalm 89:48 MSG)
  • The death of Christians is precious in the sight of God. “Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His godly ones”. (Psalm 116:16 NASB)
  • Christians enter perfect peace with God at death. “Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death. (Isaiah 57:1-2 NIV)
  • Christians are welcomed into the presence of the Lord Jesus when they die. “And while they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, Lord Jesus, receive and accept and welcome my spirit!” (Acts 7:59 AMP)
  • God provides eternal life. “God’s gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master”. (Romans 6:23 MSG)
  • When you believe in Jesus Christ, you never really die. “Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying”. (John 11:25 NLT)
  • Jesus will raise everyone who has died. “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him”. (1 Corinthians 15:20-23 NIV)

Make the intelligent choice: Using the stock market as an analogy

For men approaching or in retirement, it is important that our investments do well. It often comes down to good choices when you weigh your investment options. Compare this to believing or not believing the Bible when it states that Jesus Christ is Lord of your life and all created life. Death and judgement without Christ could be viewed as a market crash! Conversely, life in Christ can be viewed as your life prospering, getting better and succeeding abundantly. Again look at the hope here: “in Christ all will be made alive”! That’s not a bad personal investment – better than buying into a good stock versus being a sucker to buying a lousy stock.

  • Why death is like a deadbeat investment. Again look at the hope here: “in Christ all will be made alive!” That’s not a bad deal. Like selling off lousy stock to buy good stock. Bad stock sucks the life out of your portfolio. Good stocks eventually pay off long term. Don’t get hoodwinked by the crowd of cowards who prefer popularity over repentance, and staying obstinate in disbelief. Simply sell the lousy stock, and repent. I prefer the end-game, in the profitable margins of the market of life. Just don’t buy the crappy stock offerings that other unbelievers might serve up.
  • Simply repent. Why would anyone remain in the sin of disbelief instead of repenting and accepting Jesus as your loving Saviour? Accept the profitable margins of eternal Life. Just don’t buy the crappy mental-stock offerings that other unbelievers might tell you will win and make you spiritually prosper. Dump that deadbeat investment. Like a smart investor weigh your options.
  • Living in heaven is better than living on earth. “It’s what we trust in, but don’t yet see, that keeps us going.” (2 Corinthians 5:7 MSG) Death is not the end of a person’s life, it is a transformation to renewal in Christ. We may not understand how this will be physically achieved. It is easier if you see the creator as in control of all atomic physics in time within a limitless spatial universe. All true mathematical formulas and scientific theory are under His control.

The offer is for your taking simply by believing. As the creator, Jesus is given full control over his universe, and over death. This is very important to understand before you die, in order that you also may have eternal life:

“For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live'”. (John 5:21-25 ESV)

We all must prepare our spiritual life for death. My own dear mother held to the hope that Jesus, as He promised, had a place prepared for her. (see John ch. 14) Our hope in Jesus caring for our soul after death: “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 NIV)

“And just as it is destined that each person dies only once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died only once as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again but not to deal with our sins again. This time he will bring salvation to all those who are eagerly waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:27-28 NLT)

  • All our boasting will end. We don’t know how long we’ll live so let’s not boast about tomorrow: “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” (James 4:13-14 NIV)
  • God will destroy death. “He will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying, or pain. These things of the past are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4 CEV)

If you have any comments or would like me to visit with you or pray with you, please write Glen Jackman.

Decision Making and Guidance, Eternal Life, Purpose Driven Life for Yahweh, Wisdom & Knowledge

Consider your days that remain.

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90: 12 ESV)

Psalm 90 is a prayer offered by Moses on behalf of Israel as he considered the 40 years that they had wasted in the wilderness, frequently disobedient to the Lord. The main problem was that they would not trust God enough to move into the promised land. Rather they became fearful and complained, despite the encouraging report given by Caleb and Joshua that “we should go up and take possession of the land for we can certainly do it” (Numbers 13:30).

We can lose our most effective timing and greatest blessings while whining and complaining. This first Exodus generation wasted 14,600 days (40 years) due to fear, which the Lord viewed as contemptuous behaviour. God judged Israel for their mistrust (verses 14-12, 20-23)

In his prayer Moses asked the Lord to redeem the lost time for the next generation of Israelites: “Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil.” (Psalms 90:15) Steve Jobs, though he was a highly successful man, faced a terminal illness — a shrinking lifespan. Being a meditative man, contemplating his remaining time, he became very focused:

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything—all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure—these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.” Steve Jobs

David praised the Lord when he fathomed God’s presence in his foreordained life and acknowledged His creation of him. He also knew that his time remaining was preordained and measured: “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Ps 139:16 ESV) The following table depicts the approximated remaining 24 hour days left based on our current age, knowing that the Lord has numbered our particular allotted time on earth.

Days-to-age

Charles Stanley, a great leader, and preacher continues to minister weekly. In his eighties, he frequently warns those who have deferred acceptance of Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour from sin. He admonishes to accept the gift of  eternal life, emphasizing that “you may not be alive tomorrow”. If you are not yet a Christian, this will help you find peace when you wondering “how long do I have?” or if you face an illness. When we begin to comprehend God’s Grace we are moved by love, which alone is The Motivation for Accepting Jesus

Consider your age and consider the days that you have remaining on this earth to serve the Lord and expand His kingdom, advocating the Gospel, helping the poor, encouraging others, while meeting your goals. Let’s learn to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Moses was 120 years old when the Lord took him. Don’t gamble your time away without rational purpose. You may not have quite that long.

If you doubt or fear death: The Manifesto of God’s Love

Using our time wisely: Living in view of the Second Advent of Christ

Why I take time seriously: My Testimony