YOUR SERVICE IN ETERNITY

I want to offer a special word to all who have come through many floods and fiery furnaces of affliction. I believe it is possible that your time of testing has nothing to do with chastening. Rather, it is something eternal—something having to do with your life in the new world to come.

The battle you are enduring now is not about this world, not about the flesh, not about the devil. This warfare is preparation for your eternal service in glory. You are being prepared for service on the other side.

DIVINE PREPARATION

Think about it: The very day you committed your life to trust God, He knew your present trial would come. He knew then that you would love Him through everything that comes at you and be an overcomer.

I am convinced that right now everything you are facing points to the New Jerusalem. The apostle John writes about that time to come:

• “There shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him” (Revelation 22:3).
• “There shall be no night there . . . and they shall reign forever and ever” (22:5).
• “[He[ hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (5:10).

All of this speaks of activity. It suggests God is preparing us now for what He wants to entrust to us in the new world. Simply put, He has plans for us beyond our comprehension.

Paul speaks of this when he says we will serve God continually, with all joy:

“He has raised us up together, and made us sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6–7, my italics).