I've been listening to the CD version of John Bevere's Driven by Eternity through my mp3, when I'm on the go. I finally completed the series few days ago, and I must say it is so helpful in strengthening my foundation in the Kingdom principles. I hope to listen and re-listen, as every 30minutes lesson is an eye-opener for me in the spirit.

Some of the truths I've learnt from it (just to give you a flavor of it):

1. Why are non-believers capable of living good lives?

While non-believers does not believe in a God, they actually fulfil 60% of God's 10 Commandments unknowingly!

Read:
#5: Honor your father and your mother

#6: You shall not murder.

#7: You shall not commit adultery.

#8: You shall not steal.

#9: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

#10: You shall not covet anything that is your neighbor’s.

But. What determines how we spend eternity can only be through the 1st 4 commandments, aka putting God first in our lives. There's a reason why there's ranking and prioritisation even within the 10 commandments. :p

But having said that, it just dawned upon me how universal the 10 commandments is. God's principles has been framing the culture and beliefs of the world at large. Amazing! But perhaps to non-believers, they wouldn't see it as such due to doubts about the universality & history of Christianity as a religion. But I know can already. ;o)

2. How does God reward us for eternity? On what basis or standards?

God rewards us by the level of obedience we show towards him. In the past, this was a burning question at the back of my mind. I didn't get a convincing answer. But now I am truly convinced. And I strive to live by God's standards, not men. :)

The reason why we may doubt our place/role in the KOG is because we are looking at God's things through natural principles. But that's wrong - we must look at God's doings through godly perspective. Note that God's Kingdom (which includes your eternity) works on an entirely different judgment system from the one in our world.

Here's the explanation: Different people have different types of callings to do different things. But the work God has called us to do hold the same importance/value in His Kingdom's master plan. A person who is called to be a pastor reaching out to 10,000 converts is rewarded by the same system as a person called to be a business man reaching out to marketplace leaders. And that's through our degree of obedience to the task given to us.

Why? Because the business man is reaching out in places that the Pastor cannot. Likewise, the pastor is reaching out to people that the business man may not be able to reach. Hence, both persons are doing things that are equally important in the Kingdom of God. But what differentiates the rewards you get in eternity from another person is whether you have acceded to your calling, or you avoid it at all cost.

Woohoo. Thank God for John Bevere. :D

3. On callings: You are not the first person to be called by God

What Smith Wigglesworth, Marilyn Hickey, Reinhard Bonnke have done, should have been done earlier by someone else whom God had called upon previously. But because these ppl have failed to be obedient to God's calling, God raises up the 2nd/3rd/4th person who is obedient to carry out His task. And so on....until God finds a person (like the above great evangelists) who finally manage to complete it.

Ezekiel 22:30 says, "I looked for a man among them who would...stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none."

I don't think fulfilment of the calling is the main issue because God being God, will get things done no matter what. The main concern for us as Man is our lifestyle and rewards in eternity...the fact that it shall be determined by our obedience to God.

ANYWAYS. I'm glad to hear this because I know that even if a person gets to know the Lord at a later stage in life, as long as he/she is obedient to the Lord, they are by no means shortchanged as compared to a young Christian. :) I'm sure my great grandma is enjoying her rewards in Heaven.

Labels: daily rantings, information