God Must Prepare Us for Eternity - The Warrior's Journey®
Devotionals

God Must Prepare Us for Eternity

Author: Chaplain, COL Scott McChrystal, USA (Ret.)

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“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ …in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.(Titus 1:1-2) 

It’s interesting that God promised eternal life to humanity before humanity even existed. We weren’t yet on the scene to claim it or benefit from it. But there was never any need for concern, as if God’s promise of eternal life might suffer the same fate as an unclaimed lottery winning. For God’s promise of eternal life has no expiration date. God would keep this promise safely stored away in His heart, along with innumerable other promises and blessings which God has in store for believers. They were all safe and secure in God, awaiting the time of our creation and redemption. 

God’s promise of eternal life before time began demonstrates another truth. Long before humanity sinned, rebelled against God, and destroyed its way on the earth, God already had a plan in place to save us and reconcile us to Himself. God was not surprised by humanity’s sin and fall from grace. He knew everything that would happen and planned accordingly. Christ, who executed the Father’s plan of creation, would also execute the Father’s plan for our redemption. So that all those wonderful things He promised before time might ultimately be given to us. 

Another facet of this amazing truth is that whatever God promises to us He will make us able to receive it. Therefore if God promises eternal life to us, it’s not merely a blessing that we enjoy until we die. Not at all. When God promises us eternal life it comes with the guarantee that He will make us able to receive and enjoy it fully. Eternal life endures forever, therefore God will grant us immortality that we might possess it.   

Jesus hinted at this when He alluded to Moses at the burning bush in His debate with the Sadducees over the resurrection. Jesus reminded them that God said to Moses, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”  If God gave Himself to these men as a possession, then – of necessity – He must also empower them to receive and know Him eternally – as He is eternal. Christ makes all of this possible through His redemptive work on the cross. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus put away our sins forever, satisfied God’s justice, reconciled us to God, clothed us with His righteousness, and is now in the process of making us fit for the heavenly city He prepared for us. It follows that whatever God gives to us – the New Heaven and New Earth, eternal life, His eternal glory, His infinite love, even His every Being – He will empower us to receive and enjoy them all. He will clothe us with immortality and the power to behold His glory and enjoy Him forever.   

REFLECTION 

  • Christ is preparing a place for us in heaven. But He must also prepare us and make us fit for that place. Are we allowing Him to do so?   
  • Christ needs to perform His miraculous work of sanctification in us. Are we cooperating with Him or resisting Him?   

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