When you travel to another place, it takes effort to prepare to get there. You put the date on the calendar, make arrangements, and start packing. Then you set aside travel time, especially if you want to make it to the airport without feeling rushed.
We spend a lot of time preparing for business and vacation trips. Why wouldn’t we spend time preparing for our eternity? Everything you do today matters in eternity. Our finite time on earth should motivate us for our eternal time in heaven!
Consider this small part of a prayer from Moses recorded in Psalms.
“Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12 (NLT)
Your desire for heaven will help you with your duty on earth. The more you prepare for the next world, the more effective you will be in this world! On Sunday, we’ll cover Revelation 7, which is about the grand entrance into eternity.
Chapter 6 ends with a great panic of people as the world falls apart. Chapter 7 is about the great security of believers who know Jesus. This interlude between the sixth and seventh seals is meant to contrast the security of those who know Christ with the fear of those who are of this world.
In Revelation 7, God is securing the salvation of those whom He saved. God’s seal of salvation is an eternal promise of protection. What God possesses, He also protects. We belong to Him, and nothing can take us out of His hand. Once you’re in the family, the Father will forever keep you. God completes the work He begins, and nothing can unwind what He binds.
The Holy Spirit is our “seal,” giving us a permanent place in God’s kingdom.
“The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.” – Ephesians 1:14 (NLT)
In this week’s sermon, I’ll also unpack the significance of the 144,000 and how they connect to God’s assurance of salvation. Come ready to worship.
Onward!