Similarly, life is impermanent, yet as Brother Alvin Leong pointed out in one of his sermons a few Sundays ago,
"There is the permanent that opposes the tide and current of the impermanent."
Leong added,
"God has put permanent meaning in our lives as God has put eternity in our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11). We can't fathom all God does but we can accept the uncertainties of life because of the eternal in our lives."
This is sure hope! It is the assurance we have in Christ. Salvation we have through Jesus Christ brings everlasting life.
People may think that when they hear the pastor or minister pronounce "dust-to-dust, ashes-to-ashes" over a body at a funeral that that is finality. Those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ have that sure hope of going to be "with Christ" and that for all eternity. That is infinite permanency.
All this was made possible because of Jesus' suffering. He left His Heavenly home to be born into this world into humanity. Let's not forget that Jesus is fully God and fully man. He went through all the trials and troubles and temptations of life yet remained sinless and blameless.
Jesus also viewed all the suffering of mankind. He even wept at it. He knew it didn't have to be. If only Adam and Eve had obeyed way back when. All creation has groaned since then until His time on Earth and even up until today, it still groans.
Jesus came to pivotally change all that. He healed the crowds of their diseases, illnesses, physical disabilities; cast out demons, confronted injustices and inconsistencies (usually with the religious leaders of His day); and wonder of wonders, raised people from the dead. You can read about all these in the gospels from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the Bible.
However, the most important action of severe suffering was when Jesus died on the cross for all our sins: all those wrong and unwholesome thoughts and actions that went against God's holiness, will and ways.
The gift of God to mankind, whom He loves with all His heart, and with whom He seeks to have relationship. Jesus' suffering for us swallows up the curse of sin, which is death. His suffering swallows the sting of death. It is swallowed up in His victory over death. He rose again from the dead! He self-resurrected!
Since Jesus resurrected, there has been the sure hope, that we too, will resurrect. He will raise us from the dead, to suffer NO more! We will go to be with Him to live in permanent imperishable bodies, forever and forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NIV) states,
"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. according to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words."
When we are raised, what had previously been perishable, will put on immortality. It's a sure thing. Look at what the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 (NIV)...
"I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed--in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
How triumphant! Doesn't this bring you overwhelming feelings of hope, and gratitude? You can have this in the here and now. This is NOT a process of many rebirths. You can have the one and only rebirth, that of being born into God's family. Become His child through the salvation Jesus procured for you by His death on the cross and His resurrection.
1 Corinthians 1:30 reveals this to us...
"It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption."
The Buddhist wants all of these; pure minds characterized by them.
Romans 12:12 NIV talks about hope...
"Be joyful in hope..."
It is a sure hope but be joyful and patient until you reach your heavenly home.
Life still has its troubles and pins us down. Romans 12:12 continues,
"...be...patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
Yes, suffering continues here on earth but we look forward to that day we will be with Christ, that place of no more pain or tears.
What about the prayer part?
Prayer, not just to give that proverbial "grocery list" to God of things we want or need, BUT to commune with Him. Build your relationship with God, who really does exist. That's what He wanted with Adam and Eve and that's what He wants with you and me.
This communing with God through and in the Name of Jesus Christ our Savior will bring about an ever increasing and progressing holiness. The sanctification of our thoughts and minds that will govern what we do and say.
If you have read most, if not all, of the preceding parts of Burning Quest, you will have uncovered the fact that this is what a Buddhist craves. Good and wholesome thoughts and actions spontaneous; actually more than that, they want to eradicate all the bad and unwholesome thoughts and behavior. Praise God, a person does not have to strive at this alone. The follower of Jesus Christ has the Holy Spirit of God indwelling their spirit and soul. He convicts, leads and guides in God-pleasing direction. He or she also has the Word of God, the Holy Bible, that steers into God-centered living.
In conclusion, this Burning Quest now has a sense of purpose and of "mission accomplished"; at least for me. I do hope and pray it will spark and flare into flame a thirst to know for yourself. A thirst so parched, you'll search this out for yourself. You will seek God, know He is real and that He loves you, cares about you and wants a permanent relationship with you through Jesus Christ. It is through Him, God's righteousness will be revealed to you. May you come to know Him and accept Jesus as your Lord and personal Savior. He has earned your salvation in your stead. He will confer those merits to you. You just have to ask.
Pass the knowledge along to the next generation. They need to know Jesus's love and salvation is permanent and pushes against the tide of our transient life here on earth. Followers of Jesus Christ will emerge on the other side of time to a glorious forever future with Him. It is a sure hope. May God's eternal life be in each of your hearts.
~ERC May 2019~
P.S. Let's close with three songs:
Who You Say I Am (a Hillsong)
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross as sung by Bill and Gloria Gaither singers
There is a Fountain, as sung by Bill and Gloria Gaither singers
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