Eternity: Reclaiming a Passion for What Endures by
Joseph M. Stowell
My rating:
5 of 5 stars
Joseph Stowell is a wonderful Bible teacher. In this book, "Eternity," he helps the reader learn how to focus on the Kingdom to Come. I will leave this one quote, but will add more to my blog as time permits. Malcolm Muggeridge observes, "The only ultimate tragedy we can experience on earth is to feel at home here." I highly recommend this book!
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Below are some great quotes from this book:
We
think that we are in the land of the living going to the land of the dying when
in reality we are in the land of the dying headed for the land of the
living. p. 7
If
all we have in this world, then revenge, bitterness and hatred will be our
response when deep injustices come upon us. If, however, we understand that
this world is prone to offense and cruelty but that in the world to come God
will guarantee that every wrong will be made right and that justice will be
done, we are suddenly released from the pressure of dealing with the issue
ourselves. Yielding the tension to God for His care, we can be free
emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually to love even our offenders. This
is exactly what Paul commands that we do in Romans 12 where he says that we are
not to render evil for evil but to put wrath in its proper place. That proper
place is at the throne of God who lives today in heaven and sees all that
transpires on this earth. Knowing, then, that God will deal from the world
beyond with our enemies, we are free to respond in peace. If our enemies are
hungry we can feed them, or if they’re thirsty we can give them a drink (Romans
12:17-21). p. 22
Redemption
has liberated us to citizenship in another world, with an insightful view of
this present world and fortified by a redeemed world within. We are called to
view the reality of this present world clearly, embrace the world beyond, and
live by the instincts of the resurrected world within. p. 26
At
the funeral of former president Richard Nixon, Reverend Billy Graham closed his
message with an intriguing story from the life of Winston Churchill. The
British prime minister, as he was making plans for his own funeral, asked to be
laid in state in the heart of London in that great architectural masterpiece of
Sir Christopher Wren, St. Paul’s Cathedral. He requested that his casket be
placed under the massive dome in the center of the cathedra. Churchill then
asked that two trumpeters be stationed on each side of the balcony that circles
the dome. It was his wish that at the close of the service the trumpeter on one
side would play taps. When he was finished the trumpeter on the other side
would play revile. pp. 52-53
The
only ultimate tragedy we can experience on earth is to feel at home here.
~ Malcolm Muggeridge p. 77
I
believe that the life of our Messiah was spared in His infancy because three
wise men during a brief visit gave their resources in worship to the King of
kings. How else could Mary and Joseph, who were simple, common folk, be able to
afford a long journey and residence in Egypt for two years to escape the wrath
of a seething Herod who had decreed that all two year-old boys throughout the
land be killed? p. 88
If
we think that our reward will be on this side of the grave, we will be easily
discouraged and cease to persevere in doing what is right. But if we know that
what we do for Him here counts for eternity, though the results may be unseen,
we continue to steadfastly carry on for Him regardless of our circumstances
(see 1 Corinthians 15:58). A clear view of the other side enables us to
persevere on this side. p. 91
German
theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, when he was led to be hung for his commitment
to righteousness in the face of Nazi atrocities, confidently spoke these last
words: “Oh, God, this is the end; but for me it is just the beginning.” p. 92
Our
government spends millions of dollars each year on its witness protection
program to change the identities of those whose lives are endangered. People
who have testified against criminals and put their lives at risk are relocated
and given a new name and identity. Having been relocated into the kingdom, we
too have been given a new identity and, I might add, at a great price.
Embracing this new identity is the first step in managing our place in the
kingdom. Understanding who we really are transforms all that we do. p. 126
Today
in our more liberated Christian environment where many have discarded codes of
behavior that smack of legalism, we continue to miss the genuine marks of
eternity. Values such as generosity over greed, servanthood over
self-centeredness, people over things; the eternal over the temporal and
pleasing God over self-satisfaction still elude us. We are short on kingdom
traits such as compassion, truth, and the importance of a consistent and
compelling testimony. All of these are unique characteristics of a life ruled
by Christ, not driven by a sense of responsibility but rather by a glad
preoccupation with our eternal identity. pp. 127-128
Parents
who have a kingdom identity will be pleased with their children when they live
godly lives and use their calling in life to please the king. Students who have
embraced a kingdom identity see their studies in light of the eternal truths of
their eternal God. They see His fingerprints in the study of creation, biology,
anatomy, geography, and astronomy. History becomes the story of the sovereign
direction of the King. Mathematics, physics, and geometry reflect to them the
fact that the world is governed by the laws that were instituted by the King.
Arts and literature reflect the creativity God has placed within us, as we are
made in His image. Philosophy, political science, and behavioral studies are
evaluated in terms of the principles and perspectives of the kingdom. A student
with a kingdom identity sees education from the King’s perspective and is
committed to developing his or her mind for maximum use toward the eternal
goals of the kingdom. A future career is a launching pad for kingdom gain. A kingdom
perspective never lets us see our career as a means to self-gratification and
persona advancements but rather as a platform from which Christ is consistently
seen and from which His work is advanced. We choose not to compromise the
kingdom value of integrity for a raise or promotion, displaying to all that the
kingdom is not about wealth and power but about righteousness and peace.
Retirees who live in their kingdom identity will not envision their remaining
years reclining on a chaise lounge but rather investing their wisdom,
accumulated goods, and skills to advance the cause of Christ. They will live
with an awareness of their privileged place in His kingdom and volunteer their
time and talents to Christian organizations or in their local church. Short-term
missionary stints are an exciting and enticing kingdom option for retirees.
Grandparents who have found their identity in eternity are committed to
spending time with their grandchildren, to help support their children in
rearing a new and godly generation. pp. 130–131
There
are no “steps up” in the kingdom. There are only servants who are sovereignly
assigned to strategic places in the vineyards. This sense of identity unifies
us as one in Him. p. 132
The
power of His character—in fact, the complete righteousness of all that He
is—consumes the culture of the kingdom. And those of us who admire Him
assimilate the customs of the King into our lives. Isn’t that the call of the
Spirit in our lives, to be like Christ? It is the measure of our maturity and
the mark of the kingdom. p. 146
Righteousness
is related not to the standards of our politically correct world but rather to
who God is and who defines the standard. All of our responses to life, whether
social, economic, emotive, sensual, or material, are measured by His correct
character and nature. This means we can be unrighteous by both being more
strict than God, as it were the Pharisees, or more tolerant than God.
Strictness is not next to godliness if it is stricter than He, and liberty is
not freedom in Christ if it is a license to leave the righteous center of God.
p. 147
Kingdom
living relates to whether our lives are governed by what is right before God.
In this case we put the needs of others before our own desires; just as Christ
the King put our needs before His desires. p. 148
There
are at least seven kingdom virtues reflected in Christ’s life. They are best
understood in contrast to the earthbound value with which they complete. They
are truth,
as opposed to tolerance; grace rather than greed; love, rather than
self-centeredness; servanthood, in contrast to significance; self-control, as opposed to
sensualism; justice, instead of oppression, humility as opposed to
haughtiness. These seven virtues, when we embrace them, forge kingdom character
that gives our lives a compelling uniqueness. pp. 153-154
Christ
goes on in this Sermon (Matthew 5:13-16) to relate that we are to live as salt
and light in this world. Salt functions as a flavoring agent. It seems evident
that Christ is saying that our practice in this present world needs to deepen
and bring richer, truer taste to life. p. 176
Salt
has a preserving element as well. During Jesus’ day, many of the soldiers
received part of their pay in salt, a valuable commodity that would preserve
their food from spoiling. As salt preserved meat, so kingdom people are to
preserve truth by promoting the principles of righteousness. When we manage our
world within a way that expresses the kingdom practices of righteousness, we
function as a preservative in this present world. Through a righteous presence
in both proclamation and practice, we help to preserve the sanity and safety
that only comes when a society lives righteously. The salt of our righteousness
preserves an otherwise decaying world through parents who rear godly children;
employers who apply Biblical ethics toward their employees; voters who support
righteous causes; citizens who cry out against violence and injustice. p. 177
Spurgeon
learned what another generous believer once said: “I shovel out, and God
shovels in, and He has a bigger shovel than I do.” p. 185
The
trouble for kingdom travelers is that as people of virtues and righteous
actions, our very presence is a source of reproof. The light is less than
welcome when the world loves darkness. p. 210
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Burden Of Truth: Defending Truth In An Age Of Unbelief by Charles Colson
