Things Eternal
One of my favorite gospel songs is “Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand” by the Chicago Mass Choir. The lead singer bellows:
“Time is filled with swift transition.
Naught, naught on earth unmoved can stand.
Build your hopes on things eternal,
And then hold, hold onto God’s unchanging hand.”
There’s nothing like a swift transition in your life that will sweep a rug right from under you and send you face first into a pile of manure.
What a rude awakening to realize your best friend, parent, favorite cousin, lover, child, colleague, & pastor are human beings.
When it dawns on you that this human—pick one, any one—is just like you, wrestling with their flesh, temptations, all the time. This human, your human, hurt you or disappointed you, or neglected you, or robbed you.
You’ve built a relationship with this human, shared confidences, and yet, they forsaked you. You’ve amassed fame & fortune only for it to be repossessed or stolen from you.
This song warns us to build our hopes, our relationships, our fortunes in things eternal, these Godly riches & promises that don’t return void.
So instead of investing into worldly pleasures that are susceptible to change & human error, seek to sustain yourself with treasures valuable on earth & after your death.
I went on a treasure hunt to help you find where the “Things Eternal” are.
ETERNAL LIFE: The ultimate gift of God is not merely a better earthly life, but an everlasting life with Him that does not end. You know I hate to tell you this, but we’re all going to die someday. You’d better start “estate planning” for your soul.
John 3:16 — Whoever believes in Christ has everlasting life.
John 6:27 — Do not labor only for food that perishes, but for food that “endureth unto everlasting life.”
A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD: Last August, I fasted and prayed and experienced God like never before. I KNEW I grew closer with God. I could feel his omnipresence. It’s a gift that brings comfort like no other, a relationship that I pray will lead me to eternal life with Him. I pray you experience it, too.
Jeremiah 9:23–24 — Do not glory in wisdom, strength, or riches; glory in knowing and understanding the Lord.
Philippians 3:7–10 — Paul counts former gains as loss compared with “the excellency of the knowledge of Christ.”
THE HOLY SPIRIT: Did you know that after Jesus Christ was resurrected, God gave us another gift? One of God’s greatest gifts is His own presence within believers. Yupp, that means inside of us.
Ephesians 1:13–14 — The Spirit is the seal and guarantee of our inheritance.
Galatians 5:22–23 — The Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
A METAL DETECTOR (GODLY WISDOM): What happens when you’re standing right atop of buried treasure but can’t discern what’s underneath? It’s kinds of like having access to “durable riches” and not knowing how to claim it.
Proverbs 3:13–18 — Wisdom is worth more than silver, gold, or rubies and brings life to those who embrace her.
James 1:5 — God generously gives wisdom to those who ask.
I challenge you to keep searching for other “things eternal” mentioned in the good Book. I’d love to hear about your discoveries. Share them on social media and #ThingsEternal to keep us all in the L’oop! - Lawyer K
