Jesus did many extraordinary things while on earth as a human. One such extraordinary event that occurred was Jesus meeting with the supposed long-dead Elijah and Moses. This episode explains the reason for this meeting and its significance to all believers. Interestingly, Jesus selected Peter, James, and John to accompany him to view His transfiguration
“And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.” Matthew 17:2-3, Mark 9:2-3 & Luke 28:28-29
Jesus had already shared with the disciples His mission on Earth, that he had to die but then He would be raised to life but the disciples did not understand the full extent of what God and Jesus were accomplishing for mankind.
The fact that Jesus was transfigured before them confirmed His heavenly origins, as well the appearance in a glorified state of Moses and Elijah who had been dead thousands of years confirmed life after death. It is interesting that Peter, James and John knew who Moses and Elijah were without Jesus having to introduce them. Hence this event and its timing was important in the progression of Jesus revealing who He was and His mission on Earth.
How do we live in the light of eternity and see beyond the moment in a world of increasing darkness?
God has enabled us to look beyond today to see what lies ahead. Jesus made it possible for our Heavenly Father to send the Holy Spirit to indwell all believers. Our bodies are now the temple of the Holy Spirit. All believers have received the Holy Spirit to be their counselor, comforter, and teacher. We are Holy Spirit enabled.
We have a spiritual lens through which to view the world from God’s perspective.
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, butthe Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” 1 Corinthians 2:12
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
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Considering we are living in the “last days” when persecution of Christians will increase. It is essential we live Holy Spirit-enabled lives. He may not reveal what immediately lies ahead but we live our lives knowing He is in control of coming events. Moreover, we will not be taken by surprise, His Word tells us exactly how the “last days” play out before Jesus returns.
“Living eternal now” is a way of travelling in the here and now, with our spiritual vision fixed on God and eternity so we are submitted to His will.
Remember, our days are numbered. The psalmist says, “So teach us to number our days, so that we may gain a heart of wisdom” Psalm 90:12 Hopefully, this admonition, will affect how we use our time, and how we decide our priorities, so we don’t waste time.
Paul also tells us, that we are now alive to the spiritual realm, we see what is important from an eternal perspective, and we don’t dwell on earthly matters which are temporary: ” while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18
The preceding verses tell us how being Holt Spirit enabled, we know that whatever God allows into our lives, we will be able to see it as “light affliction” because we know it is for His glory.
“Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,” 2 Corinthians 4:16-17
If we are living Holy Spirit-enabled lives then the fruit of the Spirit (9) will be evident in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, kindness, and self-control. The fruit of the Spirit demonstrates how far along we are in the sanctification process, submitted to God’s will.
As well, we will be operating in the gifts of the Spirit (9). The gifts of the spirit are the ammunition that the Holy Spirit provides for our use as we walk Holy Spirit-enabled lives. The miraculous will truly be evident.
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Note the counsel Paul gives concerning neglecting and quenching the Holy Spirits work in our lives.
“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21
Do not neglect the gift that is in you… Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.1 Timothy 4:14
Are you living eternal now? If not why not?
One aspect of living eternally now is based on our expectation of the hereafter. Where will you be, and what will you be doing? Sadly, most people’s view of eternal life is not that appealing. They view it as an eternity in heaven but have no idea of what they will be doing there e.g. plucking harps and praising God. As a result, not too many are anxious to leave this life and go there. If you would like to know more about what Christians who are raised from the dead will be doing next then I suggest you go to my website http://www.millennialkingdom.net
“For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 5:1-5
Social media was saturated with a beautiful video featuring a former prima ballerina in a wheelchair. In this viral clip Marta C. González Saldaña, who has Alzheimer’s, was filmed listening to music from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake.Remarkably, when Saldaña hears the music she is able to remember and relive the choreography of the ballet she once performed. Seated in her wheelchair at a senior residential facility in Spain, she moves her arms to the music with a look of pure joy on her face.
The video, which was shared by numerous celebrities, intersperses footage of Saldaña with a young ballerina dancing on a stage. Although their ease of movement is somewhat juxtaposed, both women display the same passion for dancing. When Dan Walker, a British TV presenter shared the story, he said: “It shows the power of music and is a beautiful reminder that there is a person behind the disease.“
We seem to inherently know there is more to a person than the surface-level brokenness we initially see at the beginning of this video. And I think this deep truth finds a home within the biblical world view expressed in the verse from 2 Corinthians 5:1-5.
The fire that torments forever or The fire that consumes or The Fire that purifies
How often do we hear mention of Hell and its purpose in God’s plans for us, His creation. The creation He loves so much, He sent His son to die in our place that we might be restored as His sons and daughters, and even reign with His son Jesus in a new heaven and earth.
Is what the Bible teaches on the eternal fate of the unrepentant what the traditional church now teaches on the their fate? They teach eternal conscious torment is what they will endure. Does this line up with what Jesus taught? Does it line up with God’s justice, His mercy. let alone God is love? The wages of sin is death and the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus. Eternal life only comes from believing in Jesus blood sacrifice for us. God alone is immortal as revealed by Timothy: “He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honour and everlasting power.” 1 Timothy 6:16
“For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13)
“The one who sows to please the sinful nature from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the spirit, from the spirit will reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:8)
“The truly righteous man attains life, but He who pursues evil goes tohis death.”(Proverbs 11:19)
Given that life in immortality is a gift to the righteous alone, and that the soul, not being innately immortal, exists only as long as God wills it to exist (as the early church father, Justin Martyr argues), will anyone argue that a loving God would wish the soul of any human being alive throughout endless ages for no other purpose than to inflict upon them perpetual torment?
Listen to the humble American Christian theologian and lawyer, Edwin Fudge, best known for his book The Fire that Consumes. He has been called “one of the foremost scholars on hell” by The Christian Post. He is also subject of the 2012 independent film Hell and Mr Fudge.
LIVING ETERNAL NOW 