We Worship God as We Long for Our Eternal City

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:21-22

Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Insights:  Sunday I went into a brief summary about baptism and how it is a picture of salvation.  There is nothing in the baptismal waters that saves a person.  All that water does is what Peter is describing it here as doing—removing dirt from the flesh.  True spiritual baptism is of the heart and is a picture of our resurrected life in Jesus.  Even though I briefly mentioned this aspect regarding these verses, it was not my main focus.  My emphasis dealt with the last part of the verse in which we are informed about the type of reign Jesus will have in eternity.  It will be perfect and all angels, authorities, and powers will be under His rule.  From this view point heaven is perfect.  It ought to be a place that we long to be because it is our true home and true citizenship.  So, the point I was making was that we ought to worship the Lord as we anxiously await our arrival in His eternal city.  There are so much music that has been driven by this theme that it can literally overwhelm us at times, in a good way.  These songs help us to be mindful of our true destination and it helps us be upward focused on Jesus.  Beloved, take time even today and ponder your eternity.  If you are born again because you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then this ought to be to be very enjoyable exercise for you.  If you do not have such a relationship, then this ought to be a sobering time in which you evaluate your future.  If you come to the realization, because the Holy Spirit is convicting your heart, that you don’t have this saving relationship, then all you have to do is repent and receive Jesus into your heart and you will be saved.  May your future bring you a great deal of confidence as you worship Jesus.

Questions:

1.  Do you eagerly anticipate the return of Jesus?

2.  What do you think will be the most enjoyable part of spending eternity with Jesus?

Prayer: Father, I say with the New Testament authors, “Come Lord Jesus!”  May His return be soon and may we be found worshipfully serving You.  Amen.