Three Eternal Truths

[0:00] So three eternal truths tonight. Peter says that we are to bless God for three things. We praise God for three blessings, if you like, three eternal truths.

[0:14] So we're going to start from 1 Peter 1 verse 3. It says, Let's pray.

[1:40] Lord Jesus, in your name we pray. Amen. So we're given here three great promises I put to you. Three eternal truths that we can take heart in. Essential truths, biblical truths, truths that are unique to Christianity.

[1:55] And 2 Peter 1 verse 4 tells us how God has given to us exceeding great and precious promises. Exceeding great and precious promises.

[2:06] It's interesting doing a word study, the word exceeding. There's a lot of content there we could go into. But we'll save that for another time. But the first truth I put to you tonight is the truth of regeneration.

[2:19] Regeneration. These are the promises of God, unique to Christianity really. To Bible believing Christians. It says, Verse 3, Praise the Lord.

[2:43] He's risen, isn't he? He's risen indeed. That's what makes Christianity different from all other kinds of religions really. Is that it shows us the truth of the resurrection and the like truth of the new birth.

[2:56] The new birth regeneration. We can be regenerate. Regenerated. We can be born again. In fact we must be. We must be born again. It's an imperative.

[3:07] Now you could go to some churches and not hear this message. But really it's a must. And when something's a must we must declare it. And we must believe it. It says you must be born again.

[3:19] You must be born again. People can go to church morning, noon and mid-week and every night and day but miss this. And they might think, well I go to church, I'm a Christian. It's just like if you sit in the garage long enough you can say I'm a car.

[3:34] But it doesn't apply really does it? You can go to church and not be a Christian of course. And the Bible says you must be born again. Our Lord Jesus says it's an imperative. We must be born again.

[3:45] There's no ifs or buts. We must. And so one of the essential truths of Bible Christianity is that we must be born again. And God does make us born again.

[3:56] God gives us new birth. We are born again. We have new life. We are given the life of God. And God has made us alive that know him, that trust him. I know there's some saying tonight there are new believers.

[4:09] So that's a blessing isn't it? To have a brand new start, a brand new heart, to be born again. And God gives us a new heart, a new spirit he puts within us. And we have a reason to praise God because we're begotten again.

[4:21] We're born again. Because of his abundant mercy isn't it? Because of his vast boundless compassion. Because of his great mercy towards us. He has regenerated us that believe.

[4:34] And you might, I mean it's almost hard to unpack it. But it's so simple and true that by faith we can be saved. By grace through faith isn't it? It's the wonder of salvation.

[4:46] The wonder of that rebirth. That God can affect us being born again. Made brand new. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature. Old things are passed away.

[4:57] Behold all things have become new. That's his promise for us. And so we see this essential truth of regeneration. And it's tied in here with the resurrection. As we've read there how he's begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

[5:15] Not only did Christ die for our sins. But he's risen from the dead. And we too can be made alive in him. We can die to sin and be made alive unto God. And Christ's resurrection pictures our own spiritual resurrection that takes place in our soul.

[5:30] When we trust Christ we're made brand new. We're made children of God. We who were once dead in trespasses and sins. He's made us alive. It's an amazing reality isn't it?

[5:42] That we're in effect spiritually resurrected. We who were once dead in trespasses and sins. He's made us alive. And so when they came to that tomb of Christ our Lord they were told that glad news of his rising again.

[5:55] The wonder of the resurrection. He is not here. He is risen. And that God works in his resurrection power in our own lives. It says that we receive a lively hope.

[6:07] There's a living hope. There's a hope that's alive within us. A life of hope. And a hope that lives on. It's an eternal hope that we have in Christ isn't it? And this word hope is not a hope so as if it's an uncertain thing.

[6:22] It's it's got the very much an assured confidence to this hope. That's the sense of this word hope as it's as it's located here. Is that it's an assured hope.

[6:34] It's a certain hope. It's a blessed hope. It's a blessed assurance that we have. That hope that we have. Because that hope that we have is that trust that Christ did die for our sins.

[6:45] And we've trusted him. And that hope that we have in him. It fills us with confidence and with assurance. Now a personal question I could pose for you tonight concerning this new birth.

[6:58] Have you experienced it? It's a very big and important question isn't it? In these three essential truths. Have you had a regeneration? A regeneration.

[7:09] So there's a regeneration. A new birth. Secondly we see in this passage that there is a reservation. A reservation. A reservation has been made it says in heaven for us.

[7:22] In verse 4 this is another exceeding great and precious promise. It tells us of an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled. And that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you.

[7:36] It's incorruptible. This is not an inheritance that will corrupt or corrode away. It's got a certainty. It's got a lasting quality to it. It's not one that is defiled.

[7:49] It's not stained. It's not damaged. It's not fading away. It's the opposite of that. And what's more it's stored in heaven. It's reserved for us in heaven.

[8:00] It's stored up for us. Believe it here tonight. You can have that assurance. And it's not an assurance that's based on presumptiveness or of your own mindfulness.

[8:12] It's because of God's promise. That you've taken God's word as red. You've taken it. It's red. It's in black and white and red. It's in the word of God. And I believe it. That settles it.

[8:23] We've got a hope. A regeneration. We've got a reservation. A reservation has been made for us. Now when you're going somewhere. Some of you might have gone on a trip somewhere.

[8:34] And you want to make sure there's a reservation. Especially if you're on a country road. And there's only so many places you can have an accommodation on the journey. And the Bible says we can have a reservation in that ultimate journey.

[8:47] That ultimate destination. We can know that a reservation has been made for us in heaven. And we can be assured it says of his inheritance. Of that treasure. Of that promised home.

[8:58] Of that prepared mansion. We can have a confidence there. Because this is another exceeding great and precious promise. It's a promise of God. It says that there's a reservation that has been made for us in heaven.

[9:10] That trust him. So it's telling you here. But brother and sister. Fellow believers here. It's telling us that eternity is for sure. It's certain. It's a certain hope. It's been reserved for us in heaven.

[9:22] Again a personal question I could pose really. Is concerning this new home. Have you made heaven your home? For sure. And as a believer you can say yes.

[9:34] Based on the authority of God's word. Based on this is the record. It says that we can know that we have eternal life. It's not a presumptiveness. It's saying I believe God's promises.

[9:45] And I've claimed them for myself. And I have made that promise mine. In trust in Christ. That we that know him. It says that you know that you have eternal life.

[9:58] It's an assurance that you can have. And so you know some people. Even some who would have some believing in Christ. Sometimes live in this state of doubtfulness. This doubtfulness.

[10:09] Have I done enough? Am I saved? Am I saved? Because they're trying to trust in their own. Being good enough. But we know it's none of that. It's not any of that.

[10:20] It's not by any virtue. Or any commendation. It's not by any credit we're due. Or any working of our own. Because the Bible's very plain. That it's not of works. Lest any man should boast.

[10:31] It's not of works. It's not of works. Lest any man should boast. It's for by grace he is saved through faith. There's that assurance there. So the question for everyone. Is have you made heaven your home? For sure. It tells us here as we read.

[10:42] It's an inheritance. It's an inheritance. That's promised. And it says that it is incorruptible. Incorruptible. We could put it also. Inheritance. That's promised.

[10:53] And it says that it is incorruptible. Incorruptible. We could put it also. That it does not decay. This is a promise of God.

[11:06] This is a declaration of God. That is eternal. It is undecaying. It can never perish. It cannot rot away. It cannot be destroyed. Because it's God's authority behind it.

[11:19] It's a promise of God. It's incorruptible. It will not decay. It's also undefiled. There's no stain of sin there. It's pure. It's stainless.

[11:30] It's unspotted. It's unpolluted. We've got God's crystal clear absolute signature under this. This promise of a reservation.

[11:41] It's undefiled. Because God's hand has given it to us in His grace. It's unfading. It has a beauty that will never fade away. We know through life we all age and fade away.

[11:55] Ultimately like the leaf and the flower. And we fade away. We wither away like a rose. But this promise of God is unfading. It doesn't fade away. The ink doesn't fade so you can't claim it anymore.

[12:08] It's never going to fade away. It's written and it's forever for us that believe. It's very clear. It will not fade away. Time is not going to erase it or weaken it.

[12:20] Because it is an eternal promise. And then it says it's reserved in heaven. Reserved in heaven. Think of it. I don't know. I'm sure some of you have got gold ingots under your bed.

[12:32] Or you've got some bank account with multiple zeros behind it. But it doesn't matter what you might have here on earth. Because we know the bank could just say boom it's all gone.

[12:47] You know the stock market crashes or whatever it be. You think of super these days. It's all petering away. But it tells us that this benefit will never be lost.

[13:02] It's reserved. It's reserved in heaven. In other words it's kept safe. It's kept stored for us. It's guarded. 24 by 7. By the greatest security guard you could ever wish for.

[13:15] It's cared for. It's preserved for us. In other words the promise of God here. It's for us. It's heaven. And heaven is everlasting. Heaven will last forever.

[13:26] It will not decay or fade away. Someone said in order to be heaven bound we have to be heaven born. We might say a lot of people say I'm going to heaven when I die.

[13:37] But they haven't been heaven born. You've got to be born again to be heaven bound. It's very important. We can have trusted Christ. We can have an assurance and it's safer than a bank.

[13:49] Think of that. It's safer than any bank. It's safer than any treasure storage. Any storage. Any, what do they call it? A safety deposit box or any safe that you could have that's supposedly vandal proof.

[14:04] If you've got that assurance of that heavenly mansion, that reservation, that it is assured for you. Safer than any bank. It's certain.

[14:15] It's secure. And it's an inheritance that's received because of birth or a special gift. In Hebrews 9.15 it talks about the promise of an eternal inheritance. There's a promise of an eternal inheritance.

[14:28] In verse 5 it tells us that we are kept by the power of God. There's a promise here that there's a keeping of God. We are a people that are defended.

[14:40] Like people that are inside a fortress or a castle. That God is keeping us. He's watching over us carefully. He is our stronghold. God is at his post as a military guard.

[14:53] It says we are kept. In other words we are garrisoned. We are guarded. We are protected. We are shielded by God's mighty power. And it's got the sense too of a continuous process.

[15:04] In other words he's a continual guard. He's on continual duty. We are kept. That trust Christ. We are kept by God himself and his very power. It's got the sense that we're under his continual care.

[15:17] Under his continual watch. His watchful care. So the inheritance is kept and the heirs are guarded. So not only is our inheritance reserved for us. Kept in heaven.

[15:28] But we the inheritors. The heirs of the inheritance. Are guarded by God. He's keeping us by his power. We know in Matthew 6 19 through 21.

[15:39] It talks about lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth. As we touched on earlier today. Where moth and rust doth grow up. Where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.

[15:52] Where neither moth nor rust doth grow up. Where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is there will your heart be also. And I was talking with someone from Hellbank today.

[16:03] Saying that people are jumping their back fence and breaking in. You know it doesn't matter where you live. That there's a danger of thieves. Breaking in. It could be out of come out of the blue.

[16:14] It happened to us. Where we live in Craigmore. At one time. That we got broken into. And we came home one day. And the fly screen was torn away. They broken through a window that we'd left ajar.

[16:26] And took a whole lot of stuff that we lost. But friends I tell you that this treasure. This heavenly treasure will not be broken through by thieves. There'll be no moths there to eat away.

[16:38] As I know sometimes you get those moths in your wardrobe. Who's had that experience. And you go looking and there's holes in your jumpers and things. The moths. There's not going to be any moths there.

[16:50] Not going to be any thieves there. Not going to be any rust there. Because heaven is for sure. It's for certain. It's forever. Now it's been said the man who expects to go to heaven. Should take the trouble to learn what routes will get him there.

[17:04] Some people will have a hope of heaven. But they don't know the way to heaven. And it's very important that we know the way to heaven. And of course who is the way? He says I am the way, the truth, the life.

[17:16] No man cometh unto the Father but by me. So we can put our trust in him. So friends we see of heaven it tells us. We can't really picture what heaven is like.

[17:28] But it's reserved. And that reservation is in heaven for us that believe. It says 1 Corinthians 2 verse 9. But as it is written, I have not seen nor ear heard, neither have answered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for them that love him.

[17:46] We can't put it into human language. How sweet, how beautiful, how eternal heaven is. We can know that we can have peace. We can trust and we can be safe.

[17:57] Because God assures us of that. And that's not something that we take for granted. But we do take his word as read. And we believe his promises for that. So we can ask really another personal question when you bring it home to yourself concerning this wonderful inheritance.

[18:16] Where are you laying up your treasure? Is your treasure laid up there? Do you know that you've got a reservation made as it were in that ultimate destination that you would want to be heading to?

[18:29] Because if you haven't made a reservation there, then there's a reservation in the other place. Because the Bible says that really there's only two destinations.

[18:40] So you want to make sure that heaven is your destination. That you've made that reservation. So we can know that God promises a regeneration. He promises a reservation. And thirdly, we see that there's a revelation.

[18:53] Another unique Bible promise for God's people. Another and exceeding great and precious promise is that there will be a revelation.

[19:04] A revelation. We see in the days we're living a lot of fear, increasing trauma and concern about where the world's headed.

[19:15] I suppose there's always been that to a degree, but it seems like it's heightening in these days that we live. But friends, I put to you tonight that there will be a revelation. There will be an appearing of Jesus Christ.

[19:27] It's promised in his word. Peter tells of a time of manifold temptations or trials. We can expect some testing along the way. Peter says, get ready for some trials.

[19:39] But there will be gold. There will be gold. Ultimately, the gold will shine through. In verse 7, it reads, that the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

[19:59] The appearing of Jesus Christ is not far off. It's interesting. This word appearing is apocalypse. Apocalypse. People use that a lot these days, don't they? The worldly media talks about it's apocalyptic.

[20:12] It's Armageddon. You know, the politicians are using phrases like Armageddon. That's the word here is the apocalypse. The appearing. The appearing. We are living in apocalyptic days.

[20:26] But an apocalypse, the apocalypse, is not something that is bad for us. Amen. The apocalypse is something good. The apocalypse is something good for you that believe.

[20:37] I want to assure you, the apocalypse is the revelation. It's the appearing of Jesus Christ. That is for us that believe it's something to look forward to. Isn't it? If you have been born again, you should be looking forward to the apocalypse.

[20:51] The appearing. The revelation of Jesus Christ. Now for the meantime, for the now, we've got a gold making process going on. And something much more precious than of gold.

[21:02] As we read here, the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth. Your faith is more beautiful, it's more precious than gold. Because gold is going to perish.

[21:13] It's something much more precious than gold. It's being made by God. As you're tested by fire. As there's a purifying. And our faith, it says, is of greater worth.

[21:25] It's of greater value. Your faith is much more precious than pure gold. And we, in our life of faith, we're going to face some trials and tribulation.

[21:36] But we will get through. So believer, don't be discouraged when you get some of that heat, as it were. As you're in the furnace, as it were, at times. And I'm not making light of it.

[21:48] We know, I know there's some friends of mine who have lost loved ones just this last week. There's times of loss and suffering. We know there's some going through some real testing times with their health at this time.

[22:00] Life can be filled with troubles and trials and testings and trauma. Horrible things can happen to Christians. But it shouldn't put us off. It should make us stronger. It should be like the furnace makes the gold brighter.

[22:13] Because one day, brother and sister, we're going to see his appearing. We will see his appearing. Our Christian faith and life, for the meantime, is going to be filled with challenges and tests. Don't let it deter you.

[22:25] It's sad when we're going door knocking, witnessing at times, and you get some folks say, I don't believe I was in Vietnam. Look, they'd have seen some horrible things in Vietnam. It doesn't mean you don't believe.

[22:37] Or I've been in a church school and saw horrible things go on, whatever it be. Oh, the church, wicked priests and such things. Some people get these horrible, graphic, difficult moments of life that somehow stop them from believing in God.

[22:56] But, yeah, it should be all the more reason. We see the wickedness of this planet. That we must trust the Saviour, the Redeemer, the one who's going to make it all right. The one who's going to right all the wrongs.

[23:07] The one who's going to help us through. Let our faith get through those times of testing. The proving of our faith. The quality of our faith. It'll be all the better. It'll be all the stronger for all these tests and challenges.

[23:18] The times are going to come our way. They're going to dog our steps. We're going to feel disciplined. We're going to feel like there's a purging out of the dross. But it's going to help you through.

[23:29] When you get through, brother. When you get through, sister, you're going to shine brighter and stronger for the Lord. So be encouraged in that. You know when there's been disasters in the past.

[23:40] I think I might have referred to this example not long ago. But in Italy, at Pompeii, there was a volcanic destruction. And there's relics now of that catastrophe. But there's nothing made of wood there.

[23:52] Only metallic objects survived the volcanic eruption at Pompeii. And so there's ornaments and jewellery that survived.

[24:03] Because they were made of gold, silver and precious stones. But there was no wood, hay or stubble that were left. They were destroyed in the heat of the catastrophe.

[24:14] And of course we know the Bible talks about that. Gold, silver, precious stones. Talks about wood, hay, stubble. Talks about the works. Our works are going to be tried with fire. We see verse 6 that in these things you greatly rejoice.

[24:29] So through that time of testing, through those times of trial, it says that you can rejoice. Even if there's heaviness, even if there's manifold temptations, various trials.

[24:43] It says in these things you greatly rejoice. We've got something that will get us through the trial. We've got something that will get us through the tests of life. We've got something that will help us to manage, to know his strength, his enabling.

[24:59] It's got the sense here, you could put it, verse 6, in these things you jump for joy. In these things you jump for joy is the sense of it. It's a leaping for joy.

[25:10] That's how joyful it is. It's a great rejoicing. Even though you're distressed by various trials. Even though, if it be so, there's a time of heaviness for you.

[25:21] So I just want to encourage you tonight, if you're feeling as one of God's people, it's hard for me right now. I'm weighed down. There's a heaviness happening. There's manifold temptations.

[25:32] There's all these trials going on. You can, even in that, greatly rejoice. You can even jump for joy because your joy is not found in the circumstance. It's found in the Saviour.

[25:43] It tells a precious faith here that it will come forth as gold. George Mueller, that man who was much used of God in standing by faith and supporting orphans and trusting God for supply through prayer, George Mueller said this.

[26:02] He said, It's called a great trials.

[26:34] So, believer tonight, Who knows what's happening Monday morning? I'm not putting it on you, but, you know, Don't be deterred if tough things happen for you. It should make you want to be stronger.

[26:45] It should make you want to hold his hand firmer. It tells a precious faith. The fire and testing that life can throw our way will help us. It will bless us. It will make you stronger. And we know even when we do something for God, I know we can be criticized.

[27:00] I've heard of people getting criticised when they're doing something for God. They're putting their time and energy, their love, their devotion, their heart into it. And they get knocked and criticised and backstabbed and bad-mouthed.

[27:14] It's life, isn't it? You get that. Don't be afraid. Don't let anything deter you from standing for Christ. Don't let anything put you off. Don't let anything dog your steps. Press on. The trials of life will bring some great benefits.

[27:27] And it's another sure promise of God for you. There's a joy and rejoicing. You're going to greatly rejoice, even in the middle of the trial.

[27:39] There is a joy and rejoicing. There's a joy, there's a reward, and there's a greater blessing. It says we will greatly rejoice in this time between now and His appearing. Even if there be some trials, even though there be manifold temptations, in other words, various trials, there is a revelation coming.

[27:56] There is an apocalypse coming. Amen? Aren't you looking forward to the apocalypse, the revelation, the appearing of our great Saviour, when God's great purposes will all be revealed and everything will be clear?

[28:10] At the appearing, it says, the appearing of Jesus Christ, the appearing of our Saviour, it says there's going to be praise and honour and glory.

[28:21] At that unveiling is the sense of it. It's like He's pulling aside the curtain. He's going to step out from behind the curtain and He's going to be unveiled. He's going to appear in the manifestation of our Saviour.

[28:33] And it talks here about praise, honour and glory. When the revelation comes, when the apocalypse comes, there's going to be praise and honour and glory for you that are the Saviour.

[28:45] There's going to be something wonderful happen in that day when our Lord Jesus is revealed. And He will be unveiled. He's going to step out from behind the curtain and we shall see Him.

[28:57] And He is coming as the judge, as the rewarder. And Isaiah 40 verse 10 says that His reward is with Him. Friends, it's going to be worth it all when we see His face. He will be revealed.

[29:08] And He will reveal all of our sin. If we are unsaved, it says our unforgiven sin will be revealed. Those that are not saved.

[29:22] So we want to make sure that we keep our heart right with God. That we are saved and that our sin is forgiven. Once we are saved, our sin can be forgiven. But if we are not saved, then it says that He's going to reveal the things that are done in secret.

[29:39] There's going to be no hiding. There's going to be a shame and a loss. It says every one of us shall give account of himself to God. That's Romans 14 verse 12.

[29:51] Every one of us will give account of himself to God. That's a big thing, isn't it? And it says God is going to search our hearts. He's going to reveal our soul. Everything will be revealed. The things done in secret.

[30:01] Everything will be made manifest. Will be opened and exposed. But for the believer, our sins are covered. Our sins are forgiven. Our sins have been paid.

[30:13] As the penalty was paid at the cross. For we that trust Christ. And for us, the apocalypse is the blessed hope, isn't it? Essentially, the revelation of Christ.

[30:24] And may it be that when He comes, when we see Him, that we can be to His praise. That we can be to His honour and to His glory. May it be that each one of us that are believers here tonight, that we can be a God praising people.

[30:41] We can be a God honouring people. We can be a God glorifying people. There's an assurance for us. Now, again, to bring it down to each one of us personally, concerning this time of judgment, are your sins forgiven?

[31:01] If you're a believer, yes, they are. If you're not a believer, your sins have not been forgiven. And there is a sense where even there will be a trying for us that do believe.

[31:13] That fire will try our works. Our works of faith will be tried. And so there's a need to make sure we get things right with God. It's been said, many are looking for the signs of Christ's coming when they should be looking for souls.

[31:30] The disciples were gazing up into heaven when they should have been going. And we can maybe dwell too much on, I know some believers, I know that they're always on about the signs of the times and the end times.

[31:43] And I think we should be alert. We should have our eyes wide open to all the sinister things and all the really conspiracy stuff. The world would say is conspiracy, but we know it's real, that there is a conspiracy against God and God's people.

[31:57] And there is evil of all kinds, Freemasonry, you name it, all that stuff. There's a whole lot of evil going on. But our job is not to be gazing, as it were, and distracted, but we should be going.

[32:11] We should be reaching the world for Christ. We should be doing our utmost to reach souls while we can. Moody said this, I have felt like working three times as hard since I came to understand that my Lord is coming again.

[32:28] Think of it, brother and sister. We've got the revelation. It's just around the corner. I can't put a time on it, but you wonder, you could almost think, well, it can't be too far off, surely.

[32:39] Nuclear war, you know, who knows what's going to happen next. These are horrific realities that were in this present time. But for us that believe, there's exceeding great and precious promises.

[32:52] And these are unique to Bible Christianity. Are you prepared for the appearing of Jesus Christ? I put to you that it's not far away. Repent.

[33:02] Repent. The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Yeah. It's time to get prepared, isn't it? Are you ready for this day? Have you experienced, number one, have you experienced regeneration?

[33:14] That's the ultimate and absolute. Are you saved? Can you say, yes, preacher, I'm saved today. I've trusted Christ as my saviour, that Jesus is my Lord. I'm going to heaven because I've trusted that he has paid for my sin and I've trusted that payment for my sin.

[33:30] I'm a forgiven sinner by grace, through faith. Have you experienced regeneration, the new birth? Have you made a reservation? Are you knowing for sure, you that are saved, yes, by heaven, it's assured for me by the promises of God because it says, this is the record.

[33:49] These things have I written unto you that believe, 1 John 5, 13, on the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life, that you may know that you have present tense possession.

[34:03] You have it. By the promises of God, you have eternal life that you may believe on the name of the Son of God. You don't have to walk in doubtfulness or that lack of assurance or am I going to measure up enough?

[34:16] Am I going to persevere enough? No, you've got the promises of God that you have eternal life because of the promise of God. You that believe, based on the authority of the Word of God, have you made a reservation?

[34:28] If you've made a reservation, then heaven is for sure for you. It's assured by the promises of God. And are you ready for the revelation? Are you ready for the revelation? Because certainly the revelation, the appearing of Jesus Christ is close, I'll put it to you.

[34:42] I'll put it, it's close. We don't know, I can't put the exact time frame on it, but I'm sure that it's closer today than it was yesterday. And tomorrow it's going to be closer still. And the point is, are you ready for it?

[34:55] Because Jesus is coming, amen? And like Moody says, I felt like working three times as hard since I came to understand that my Lord is coming again. It should be a motivator for us, shouldn't it?

[35:08] To get things right and to get going for the Saviour. So I urge you tonight to dwell on these thoughts. We're talking about really three eternal truths.

[35:19] These are Bible truths and they can be your truth. They can be God's truth applied to your life. You can claim these promises, these exceeding great and precious promises. Let us pray.

[35:30] Lord, we thank you that you do promise such grace to we that trust you, that we can know these promises are yay and amen. And Lord, that we have your guarantee because your word, it is clear and it is resounding.

[35:46] Lord, the words of eternal life. Lord, we come to you and ask you, Lord, for each soul here gathered, those that might be watching, Lord, that we might have that assurance of eternal life, that regeneration, that we might know we've got that reservation.

[36:00] By faith, we know heaven is our home because you're preparing a place for those that love you. And Lord, that we can be ready for that revelation when history wraps up and we're all facing you one-to-one, face-to-face with you, our maker, Lord, that we can know that we have eternal life and that we'll be ready for your appearing.

[36:22] And it will be to your praise and honour and to your glory. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.