When our time on earth has come to a close, how will we feel? Will our Father say, “Well done faithful ones. Well done?”
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. John 4:14
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. John 5:24
The ultimate promise made to us by our God is the promise of our salvation. God promises eternal life with Him through the blood of Jesus Christ. The previous 11 weeks of promises have helped us to understand what God promises us through our journey in following Him here on earth. This last promise is the promise of all promises. The promise of eternal life is the greatest gift our God has for us. This promise is the foundation of all other promises. When we choose to follow Him, serve His Kingdom and choose Him daily, He promises to give us life everlasting with Him.
Our God loves us so much He sent His Son to live a perfect life here on earth to die on a cross to cover all our sins. This world is not as our God intended for it to be. From the Garden of Eden, things changed. Our world broke. Sin entered. Temptations arose. We are still living in this fallen world and battling the daily challenges that come from it. In an effort to overcome evil, as our God always does, He sent His son, Jesus, and saved us. He created a way for us to know Him, to follow Him, and to choose Him. Our God is available for our access at all times through His word, prayer, and His Holy Spirit. He has given us an advocate in Jesus and His presence through the Holy Spirit.
All our God asks of us is that we come, we seek Him and we stand for His truth. We do not have to come clean, perfect and ready. Our God simply asks that we come with a willing heart to know Him and serve Him.
One of my all-time favorite songs is I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe.
I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk, by your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
When you face is before me
Surrounded by You glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of You be still
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine when all I will do
Is forever, forever worship You
I can only imagine
One day, the temptations of the world, the brokenness, will be gone. I can only imagine what awaits us. Jantzen wraps up our STAY study by saying, “Let’s sit for a second in the price that was paid for our sins. Even when we are dead in sin, and undeserving of the gift of salvation, Christ still died for us. His death was the prophecy-fulfilling pardon for our crimes. May we remember the loving, faithful, all-powerful promises He keeps, and glorify Him in our lives so that others can know these promises alongside us!”
We encourage you to look back through your STAY study, your notes in the takeaways and my thoughts sections and to dig into where the Lord has equipped you to be a light in the world for His Kingdom? Which promises were the hardest for you to believe? Which promises do you need most? What have you learned about Christ through our time of studying these promises of:
- A Purpose and a Plan
- Strength
- Comfort
- Protection
- Direction
- Peace
- Rest
- Forgiveness
- Wisdom
- Loyalty
- Love
- Eternal Life
What have you learned about yourself in your personal time of reflection?
God, we pray for eyes to see we are stronger than we believe through you. God, thank you for walking us through these mighty promises you proclaim over our lives. Thank you for bringing this community of women together over the last 12 weeks to study your truths together and to be empowered in your strength. We pray continued blessings and truths over each woman reading this devotional today. Would you strengthen them so they might go out into the world and be a light for your Kingdom and your glory? Amen.
Thank you for joining us in this 12-week study of STAY: An Invitation to Purposefully Focus on God’s Presence and Promises. We hope you have enjoyed diving in with sisters to better know our God as a community of women seeking and desiring Him. We pray that you will meditate on these promises and come back to them over and over again.
Brittany and Jantzen