Since we are all going to die, we should start practicing for it. In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares how to practice for eternity.
Philippians 4:9 “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Practice brings peace. Do you want peace when you think about the end of your life? Practice for eternity now.
What does the bible say about practicing for eternity?
1. This life is not all that there is.
After this life. We have one of two possible destinations: heaven or hell. This means heaven and hell are not the “afterlife,” earth is the “beforelife.” And eternity is not in the future, its already begun.
Matthew 25:31-34; 41; 46
John 14:1-3
God is a good father and heaven is a good gift. Trust Him.
For the Christian, the worst case scenario is eternal bliss.
2. God’s judgement is real, and God’s decisions are just.
Hebrew 9:27 CEV “We die only once, and then we are judged.”
Heaven and hell are a result of your relationship—you will go where your family is.
Hell was not made for people and it is not God’s desire for anyone to go there.
1 Timothy 2:4
There is more than enough room – God is not looking for ways to keep people out.
No one who should be in heaven will be hell, and no one who should be in hell will be in heaven. God is a righteous judge.
God is not being mean when he sends someone to hell. He is simply granting them their wish.
3. Salvation—including eternity in heaven—is by grace through faith, not works.
One of the biggest lies out there is that good people go to heaven.
Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
The salvation equation: Grace + Faith = Salvation + Works
We don’t work to get saved, but once we’re saved we get to work.
4. Those who think the most of the next life will do the most in this life.
Psalm 39:4
Everyone is trying to get into heaven, but God is trying to get heaven into you.
Ephesians 5:16-17 “Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”
How you live today determines how you’re remembered tomorrow.
Are you practicing for eternity?