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Steve's Colunn
A Place Called Eternity
By
Steve Grisham
When we read The Word of God and take it to mean what it says, then we are growing in Grace
and Knowledge. (II Peter 3:18) We should be able to agree with Paul: "We have the same spirit
of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have spoken; we also believe, and
therefore speak". (II Cor. 4:13)
Take for example the scientific revelation about the Earth and the Universe as revealed in
Isaiah 40:22: "It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the Earth, and the inhabitants thereof are
as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to
dwell in". This passage reveals that not only is the Earth round, but that the Universe started all at
once as a created time piece that man is "to dwell in". (Compare Genesis 1:14-19) However Isaiah
also reveals where God dwells: "For thus saith the high and lofty One that Inhabiteth Eternity,
whose name is Holy; I dwell in the High and Holy Place…" (Isaiah 57:15) This is the only scripture
where the word "Eternity" is mentioned. It literally says that God "inhabits" Eternity as a dwelling
place, where time does not exist!
To illustrate this, let's review the day parents dread the most, as to answering a certain question by
their children. That day finally comes when you are asked, "Ok, Dad/Mom, I enjoy learning about
God, but who or what made Him? Who or what came before God?" Now this question is not
threatening and can easily be answered by showing Isaiah 57:15 to your child and letting him/her
know that they are asking am impossible question. Also, citing Isaiah 40:22 and Genesis 1:14-19,
you can show that for God, there is no "before" or "after", as He created time. God is always in
the present: "And GOD said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM "and He said, "Thus shalt thou say
unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you" (Exodus 3:14).
Also, this is another reason that God will give us a "new language" that will not have a "time-line"
vocabulary, as time will no longer exist. Notice what our Lord Jesus Christ said about this: "In My
Father's House are many Mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a
PLACE for you. And if I go and prepare a PLACE for you, I will come again, and receive unto
Myself, that where I Am, there ye may be also" (John 14:2-3). Note also that the word "Mansions"
does not appear in any other scripture. This is a special message of comfort to us, because "the gift
of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord". (Romans 6:23) In other words the
inheritance of "Eternity" is the same as being given "Eternal Life".
Our forefathers had the same calling: "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a
PLACE which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out not knowing
whither he went. 1 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling
in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; For he looked for a city
which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God, And truly, if they had been mindful of that
country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they
desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for
He hath prepared for them a City" (Hebrews 8-10, 15-16).
Notice also, in Isaiah 56:1,5: "Thus saith the LORD, keep ye judgment, and do justice; for My
Salvation is near to come,…even unto them will I give in Mine House and within My walls a PLACE
and. I will give them an Everlasting Name, that shall not be cut off". We can say along with David's
conclusion of Psalm 23: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will
DWELL in the House of the LORD for ever" (Psalm 23:6) AMEN and AMEN!
The Embassy of God By
Steve Grisham
"Welcome to the United States of America!" This is the greeting heard around the
world: in India, in Japan, in Australia, in South Africa, in Israel, in Germany, in Canada,
and in dozens of other nations. How can this be? Those Americans seeking refuge in foreign
lands only have to enter their country's Embassy for asylum from the nations that they are in.
It is where the United States may fly its flag and conduct
business under the Constitution. Also, its soil is the literal soil of the USA! According
to the Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus (1996). "Embassy" is defined as:
1. The residence of an ambassador
2. A deputation (delegation) or mission to a foreign country.
And according to the same reference work, the office of "Ambassador" is defined as:
1. An accredited diplomat sent by a nation on a mission to, or as its permanent
representative, in a foreign country.
2. A representative or promoter of a specific thing (an ambassador of peace). In II Cor 5:20
Paul proclaims that: "Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ"! How "literal" is this? Notice
verse 18: "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and
hath given to us the Ministry of Reconciliation"!
Our "mission" is to use the "Word of God" (The Holy Bible) to continue this reconciliation
of the world to God (v. 19). Remember God's "Mission Statement" in John 3:16-17: "For God so
loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever beileveth in Him should
not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him
might be
saved".
Due to this wonderful calling to be Ambassadors of Christ's Kingdom we need to always be:
"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet (suitable) to be partakers of the
inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and
hath translated us into the Kingdom of His
dear Son" (Colossians 1:12-13). Notice we are now in God's Kingdom literally and represent
another country and no longer represent our birth country. Remember that Peter reminds us that:
1
"Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an Holy Nation, a peculiar (special)
people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness
into His marvelous light: which in the past were not a people, but are NOW The People of
God" (I Peter 2:9-10).
In other words we occupy God's Embassies all over this world. Our homes and congregations
of our fellow believers are literally the "Spirit and Substance" of God's Kingdom in Heaven.
Remember that Jesus Christ
commanded His servants, "Occupy till I come". (Luke 19:13) That is, Christ went to bring back
the Heavenly Kingdom to this Earth. Until that day we are to take charge and greet those we
come into contact with be saying: "Welcome to God's Kingdom!" Let's look at two examples of Ambassadorship of God's Kingdom here on Earth. First, the
example of Abraham: "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he
should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing wither he went.
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles
with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. For he
looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God". (Hebrews 11: 8-10)
Paul reminds us that, like Abraham, "For here have we no continuing city but we seek one to come"
(Hebrews 13:14). "Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace,
hereby we may serve God acceptably with fear" (Hebrews 12:28). The second example is of the Apostle Paul who: "…dwelt two whole years in his own hired house,
and received all that came in unto him, preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching those things
which concern
the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him". (Acts 28:30-31) Notice that
besides "preaching," Paul was "teaching". This was not only an "Embassy of God's Kingdom", but
a school for training leaders in God's Church. Personally I have witnessed to judges in the
courtroom in front of many on lookers that I personally and legally could not serve on a jury as
I am literally a citizen of another country and an Ambassador
of the Kingdom of God. This witness was recognized with dismissal of jury duty! Notice carefully
what Christ Jesus prayed to our Father concerning us: "I pray not that that Thou shouldest keep
them from evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through
Thy truth: Thy word is truth. As Thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them
into the world". (John 17:15-18) Paul summarizes the
purpose of our calling: "And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; but now
in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For through
Him we both have access by
one spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-
citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
2
And are built upon the fountains of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the
chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together growth unto an holy temple
in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded
together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:1, 13, 18-22). Yes, next time we greet those at the door of our Church Services, or at the door of our own homes,
simply say, with confident conviction:
"WELCOME TO GOD'S KINGDOM!"
Copyright 2011 Steve and Lola Lee Grisham All Rights Reserved Concerning Hubble Images, Non-commercial use: For all its copyrighted materials, STScI allows reproduction, authorship of derivative works, and other transformations of the original work strictly for educational and research purposes without further permission, and subject to the General Conditions. For other non-commercial uses, permission should be obtained from AURA/STScI http://hubblesite.org/copyright/ .
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