Our future is in God’s hands. He is interested in our future and wants us to attain eternal life with him through Christ Jesus our savior. Eternity without Christ Jesus is worrisome. Hebrews 10: 31 says it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. God will not be merciful after death or at his judgment seat, therefore, he has shown us the way to the future.
What is the way to eternity?
Jesus is the only way. Christ Jesus showed the way and said in John 14: 6, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Jesus means we must accept him as Lord and savior, submit to him for cleansing by his precious blood, and thereafter maintain our salvation by his Holy Spirit in word, thought and deed in all circumstances. He is the only way, John 14: 6. How can we maintain or keep our eternity with Christ Jesus?
We must exercise faith in Jesus
Jesus does not want us to stumble so said in Matthew 18: 8-9; Mark 9: 43-47, if your hand or eye or foot and by extension any part of the body causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away as a better option to eternity (summarized). Jesus wants us to be firmly rooted in him. He said to his disciples in Mark 11: 22 have faith in God. We must not be lukewarm with Jesus for he has said in Revelation 3: 16, so because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. We cannot travel the way without exercising true and unwavering faith in Christ Jesus.
We must prioritize rightly
Jesus said in Matthew 6: 33 strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. The way of Jesus is to set our priorities right before God and to do the needful. God’s priority is to opt first for his kingdom before worldly pleasures. However, a number of us have reserved the order and placed worldly pleasures and comfort above heavenly requirements. Which of the two options comes first in our lives? Striving connotes making serious or unfailing efforts rather than relaxing and expecting results by a natural course which is not the way of God.
We must listen to, and obey God
God spoke at Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 17: 5; Mark 9: 57; Luke 9: 35; this is my Son, the beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him. God’s express instruction is that we must listen to and obey all that Jesus says. He also wants us to respect him because he is his beloved Son and well pleased with him. Consequent upon that trust, God has given him all deserving authority as Jesus confirmed in Matthew 28: 18, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. John 3: 35 says the Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Do not deride God and fall foul out at his judgment seat.
We must go the way Jesus went
Jesus said in John 4:34, my food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. We must complete God’s will on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus knew and completed his assignment. He said on the cross in John 19: 30, it is finished. Part job done contrary to an agreed full job deserves no wages or reward or recognition. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4: 7, I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Jesus said in Revelation 22: 12, see, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work. What is our attitude towards our God-given assignment?
We must take the yoke of Jesus
The way to the cross is to learn from Jesus. He said in Matthew 11: 29-30 take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Jesus cited aspects of his yoke as gentleness and humility which enabled him to obey God, the father in heaven in all circumstances contrary to the way of the world. Jesus said in Matthew 18: 4 whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Are we humble to the extent of obeying God in all circumstances?
We must be alert in prayer
We are in a spiritual warfare and we must always be prepared. Jesus said to the disciples in Mark 13: 33, beware, keep alert, for you do not know when the time will come. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 16: 13, keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Jesus identified two ways to the future for life and death. He said in Matthew 7: 13-14; Luke13: 24, enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Let us enter by the narrow gate.
We must not strive with God
We were not made to rival God but to serve him. Even Jesus who was God incarnate humbled himself to God. Philippians 2: 6 says though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited. Isaiah 45: 9 warned that woe to you who strive with your Maker. God can do what he wants with us just like clay in the potter’s hands, Jeremiah 18: 6. We question God because we allow Satan to infiltrate our thoughts. Paul asked in Romans 9: 21 has the potter no right over clay, to make out to the same lump one object for special use and another for ordinary use? Rather James 4: 7 says submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Our choice of the way to eternity starts from here on earth by our deeds encompassing our thoughts and utterances which cannot be hidden from God. On which of the ways are we travelling and through which gate? Is it the broad or narrow gate? It is not reversible after death.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, we have come to the truth that we are only sojourning here on earth. This world is not our home or our final destination but just passing through. You are the way, the truth and the life without any dispute. Give us the strength and grace to overcome the odds along the way and show us the way by your light. Let us hear you when you speak and humble our hearts to obey you. Let the narrow way be our preferred option to eternity so we may be with you. We pray in your holy name, Amen!!
