“…and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6)

“For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.  When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable , and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:  ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.  Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:54, 55)

 “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:12,13)

Yes, my friend, forever is real.  Eternal life is available for us to enjoy!  The way has been prepared and revealed through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.  It is a relationship to the Good Shepherd Jesus that gives us the life that never ends.  Those who have this faith, a believing and personal relationship with Jesus, have the eternal life. Those who do not believe and who do not have this person experience do not. They remain under the condemnation of death. 

So, there is an option.  This “forever” or “eternal life” is available but it requires a response.  Death or Life?  This is the choice.  It has been the choice from the garden…follow God or follow your own ways. So, how did we get lost? How did it come to this?

We must remember that from the beginning we have rejected God’s sovereign rule over us and gone our own way; “…all we, like sheep, have gone astray and gone our own way” (Isaiah 53:6).  God has warned us that this would bring in the consequence of death…an end to “forever” for us.   Yet, we chose our own way. We separated ourselves from our Father and went our own path. But, God so loved us (the world) that He gave His only Son (John 3:16).  Paul said this,

“When you were dead in your sins…God made you alive with Christ.  He forgave all of our sins…He took it away, nailing it to the cross” (Col. 2:13,14)

TRUTH: The Good Shepherd does not choose to force His sheep into submission…He chooses to love His sheep into relationship. 

That great love was demonstrated on the cross when He took upon Himself the “wages” of your sin which is death.  He died so that you could live and live forever!  This is the Truth of the Gospel.  This is the pathway to eternal life.  This is how those dead in their sin…lost in this world…sheep without a shepherd…can find life and place in the family of the Lord.  Today, hear these words from your tender Shepherd,

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)