eternal – Page 2 – Jim Gallagher

Oh, Gravity!

July 11, 2015January 8, 2017pjimgallagher1 Comment

2 Chronicles 24:20
“Thus says God: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, He also has forsaken you. ’”

Isaac Newton is credited with discovering certain laws governing the natural world. These laws cannot be broken. The law of gravity simply states, what goes up must come down. We prove that to be true each time we toss something into the air and watch as it lands back on the ground. Just as there are natural laws determining the course of nature, so there are spiritual laws that will determine the course of our lives. One of those laws is expressed here.

“Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper?”

To prosper means succeed, flourish or get ahead. Zechariah essentially declares, it is impossible to ignore or trample over the commands of God, and succeed in life. You might be able to gain much in life apart from God, but in the end, the only thing which will truly matter is what has been laid up for you in heaven. Jesus told a story of a man who acquired great wealth in this life, only to find torment in the next. All of his luxury was of no benefit to him when he stepped into eternity.

Some, who have trusted Christ for salvation and been freed from eternal punishment, still live in disobedience. They transgress many of the commands of God, and wonder why their lives seem to be filled with so much turmoil and confusion. Keep in mind, if we break the laws of God, there are always consequences. If you choose to ignore Him and do things your own way, you cannot prosper. If you choose to look into the pages of His Word and live obediently, you cannot fail.

Pastor Jim

Be Prepared

May 20, 2015January 2, 2017pjimgallagher1 Comment

2 Samuel 17:23
“Now when Ahithophel saw that his advice was not followed, he saddled a donkey, and arose and went home to his house, to his city. Then he put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died; and he was buried in his father’s tomb.”

It is remarkable how many Biblical phrases have become part of our everyday lives. When a person is diagnosed with a disease that advanced medicine has no hope of curing, it is common for this passage to be quoted. They are told to “put their house in order.” Sadly, Ahithophel made preparations to die, without giving the proper consideration to what he would face after death. Too many still approach life that way. It might be, you have purchased life insurance, set aside a nice little nest egg for your family, and even reconciled with all who were at odds with you; while neglecting to give the proper consideration to what is ahead. We cannot wait until death to prepare for eternal life.

Take a few minutes to consider the following:

Have you recognized, you are a sinner and Christ is the Savior?

Have you confessed Christ as your Savior?

Have you surrendered to Christ as Lord, and begun to live life seeking to please Him?

Are you making investments in eternity, by investing the Gospel in others, and serving the Lord with your time, talents and treasures?

Or are you living life like Ahithophel, without giving the proper regard to the things of eternity?

This life is like a puff of smoke. It will soon be over and we will be face to face with eternity. If you are not living for Christ, it is time to make the decision to put Him first in your life, and begin to prepare for eternity.

Pastor Jim

Invest In The Future

December 13, 2014January 5, 2016pjimgallagherLeave a comment

Proverbs 13:7
“There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing;
And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.”

Solomon is suggesting it is possible to have earthly possessions and yet to possess nothing of true value. At the same time, it is possible to have next to nothing, and have great wealth. He is not saying wealth is evil and poverty is good, but that within God’s economy, some things are of much greater value than others. The Bible teaches us there are three things that are eternal, and investments made in these areas will give a person lasting riches.

First off, God Himself is eternal. Before the universe existed, there was God. He is the un-caused cause that brought all other things into being. He is the source of all life, and the one who holds all things together. He is the one to whom we will give an account when our lives run their course. While it is not wrong to make capital investments and to store up for your family’s future, we must not do it at the expense of investing in a relationship with God. The most important investment we make is a decision to follow Jesus Christ.

Second, the Word of God is eternal. The writer of Hebrews explained that one day the heavens above us and the earth we stand upon, will be folded like a garment and replaced, but the Word of God will last forever (Hebrews 1:11-12). Every promise of God is eternal, and every investment of the Word of God in our lives, will bring eternal benefits. Often, the thing that keeps us from investing time in the Word, is the fact that we do not think it makes a difference. The reality is, when time has run its course, and the things of this life are a distant memory, we will still be reaping the benefits of our investments in the Word of God.

Finally, the Bible teaches us that the souls of men and women are eternal. God has done everything possible for each and every person to spend eternity with Him. He sent His Son to die for us, His Spirit to draw us, and His church to be an influence to win us. When we realize how much others matter to God, and we seek to influence them for eternity, we are making investments that will outlast time. The most important place where these investments are made is within the home.

There is nothing wrong with making earthly investments. There is nothing inherently wrong with riches, or with enjoying much of the pleasures that come with wealth. However, there are things of much greater value than stocks, portfolios, profit margins and real estate holdings. The things that matter most, are the things that last forever. Don’t neglect to store up riches where they really matter.

Pastor Jim