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            One residence for an eternity awaits every living soul on earth—one is by faith and the other no faith; one by belief and the other by unbelief—in an unseen God.  Staying in these places is permanent, endless, perpetual, and forever!  Jesus comforted Martha on the passing of her brother, and said John 11:25-26 “I am the Resurrection and the Life; he who believes in me, even if he has died, he shall live; and every one who is living and is a believer in me shall never, never die.”

            This place of unimaginable beauty and happiness—lasting forever and ever, is reached by a believing and trusting faith on the Atonement Blood of Jesus Christ.  We must follow through with what Jesus told us to do Matthew 7:24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

            If we will act on what Jesus told us about faith, we will be inspired by the Holy Spirit to put our trust on the Atonement Blood Jesus shed for us.  The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to understand the principle of trust involved.  If we choose to listen—we will learn.  John 10:16 “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.”

            Every living soul has a beginning—but no ending.  Eternity is the state into which our eternal soul passes when this life is over—but then continues forever—in either the blessings of Heaven, or the tortures of Hell.  Two places—one by believing and one by rebelling.  It is the most important choice we will ever make.

            The alarming aspect is that our spiritual condition from the beginning is only ready for Hell.  From the day of birth, our soul is directed to and assigned to that tortuous place.  Someone has to intervene Hebrews 7:25 “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”  Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

            We began life valuing things of earth far more than faith in God.  Financial resources that would keep a person during their retirement years and beyond is a primary concern for the world.  Spiritually-harmful things—like laid-up money, real estate, weapons of protection, medical treatments, human plans, self-trust, immoral desires, and insurance policies are of much value to the world.

            1 Corinthians 2:14 “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”  The natural heart will naturally trust any thing or anyone but God.  Only the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit can enable us to see the principle of trust on the sacrifice of Atonement Jesus made for us.

            Pilate asked the people if they wanted him to release Jesus, but they wanted a criminal instead John 18:40.  The apostle later rebuked them Acts 3:14-15 “Ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted to ye; And killed the Prince of life, whom God has raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.”

            Saul of Tarsus persecuted and prosecuted believing Christians, but after his conversion, his priorities changed dramatically, and he became a believer.  He now said Philippians 3:8 “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.”  Living with Jesus forever in Heaven, meant far more than any temporary pleasure on earth—he wanted to know what trusting God in faith actually meant.

            He gave up worldly friends, laid-up treasure, outward religion, inward resentment, and anything else that was not faith on the Atonement Blood of Christ.  His only desire was to know what being in Christ really meant, because outward religious gestures are worthless.  He wanted Philippians 3:9 “That which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.”

            God alone knows our heart, and if we are willing to believe His Word, and to trust Him in faith, He accepts us as His child.  He wants everyone to repent and trust Him—that is why Jesus said Matthew 12:20 “A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench.”  If we are willing to trust and obey we give evidence of being His child.  It is following His easy instructions on—forgiving others; trusting God for protection, for healing, and for finances each day; etc.  Jesus said John 15:8 “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”

            The Christian life is a serious battle with a vicious enemy; and a serious race with a goal.  1 Corinthians 9:24-25 “In a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to get the prize.  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.  They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

            We are to Philippians 3:14 “press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:16 “Whatever be the point that we have already reached, let us persevere in the same course.”  We are in Christ when our trust is on the Blood.  Eternity is forever and the fire is never quenched.

            Jesus was invited to dinner.  Luke 7:37-38 “When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears.  Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.”

            Simon was offended by her, but she loved the Lord and wanted to worship Him.  Jesus said to Simon 41-42, “Two men owed money to a certain moneylender.  One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both.  Now which of them will love him more?”

            43-47 “Simon replied, ‘I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.’  ‘You have judged correctly,’ Jesus said.  Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman?  I came into your house.  You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 

            “You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.  You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.  Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much.  But he who has been forgiven little loves little.’”

            The soul is eternal and the flames are never quenched, so maintaining a position of trust on the Atonement Blood of Christ is vital.  The horrible suffering of Jesus for the converting our heart is a poignant reminder of keeping our faith on what that sacrifice did for us.  Jesus Romans 4:25 “was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.”  He accomplished both for us.

            1 Peter 2:24 “The burden of our sins He Himself carried in His own body to the Cross and bore it there, so that we, having died so far as our sins are concerned, may live righteous lives.  By His wounds yours have been healed.”  We now have an atonement right to ask God for health, healing, protection, provisions each day, victory over the devil, or anything else—by faith.

            The young ruler knelt before Jesus and asked a very important question Mark 10:17-19 “‘Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?’  So Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good?  No one is good but One, that is, God.  You know the commandments… [names six].’”

            The man had kept them.  Mark 10:21 “Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.’” Financial trust on God was lacking, so he had to get rid of money resources on earth and transfer them to God in Heaven.

            The man was not willing to accept the advice that would save his soul.  Mark 10:22 “He was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.”  When Jesus said earlier 18 “Why do you call me good?” the man should have replied, You are God, so Your advice means eternal life—then the man would have been glad to get rid of anything hindering his preparation for Heaven.

            When God speaks, there is no doubting, hesitating, or rebelling—just immediately doing—like Noah and Abraham.  Eternity is forever—why would anyone hold on to earthly treasure, when it could be exchanged for eternal life!  Jesus then made a surprising statement.  Mark 10:23 “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!”  Then He repeats that 24 “Children, how hard is it for them that trust in [trusting on] riches to enter into the kingdom of God!”

            The man was given the opportunity of a lifetime—he could have been heading toward Heaven, but he did not realize the value or the endlessness of eternity!  He would not get rid of those things Jesus told him to get rid of.  The carnal mind values the lake of fire more than the streets of gold.

            All the property and possessions in the world will not provide a moment of peace, if God says to get rid of something, and we will not do it.  The value of trusting God in faith every day is without price—it is the guarantee of eternity.  Unbelievers think living by faith is foolish or impossible, but Mark 9:23 “All things are possible to the one that is believing.”

            True disciples follow in faith.  1 Peter 1:8-9 “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”

            John 12:48 “All who reject me and my message will be judged at the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken.”  Everyone will be judged on whether they believed and trusted in faith, or disbelieved and rejected His truth.  John 12:50 “I know his instructions [of believing and trusting on His shed Blood] lead to eternal life.”  When God speaks —we must listen.