Live as if Jesus Rules and Eternity is Real

Today on Summit life with Judy Greer cries his wife is not a you is like going to school with the proposal.

God's right hand of God is good to be the one that shows up money is going to be on him because I believe Jesus rules now and I believe eternity is real and I got him I have it all. You have to choose life with.

As always, I'm your host Molly minutes and we are so glad you're back with us today as Pastor Judy cautioned that treating Jesus like an � la carte menu. We can't take Jesus and a little bit of this and a little bit of that is not how it works. We are continuing our teaching series called first, the preeminence of Christ in clashing. Pastor Janie titled this message as if Jesus rules the first week of the series that one of the problem is that Paul addresses in this letter is his concern that the culture of Colossae. The Colossian church was the culture Colossae had warped the Colossian believers understanding of an approach to God because he was famous. I told you for its vast array of temples and superstitious practices.

It was the virtual Golden corral of God options in the first century you could find temples and religious practices for literally whatever need you were feeling at the moment if you needed better health. Well that a God for that. If you wanted fertility or prosperity or production. There were God for those things as well. There was even a temple in Colossae to the sewer. God, I've always wondered what worship was like that temple, but they had to the religious custom in Colossae was to assemble whatever package of superstitions and rituals thought you needed to fit your needs for the Christians in Colossae understood, of course, that they were not worship pagan temples. They understood that but that general mentality of religious pluralism had influenced their approach to God as well.

So many of them.

The Colossian believers assumed that in addition to faith in Jesus. You also need about the things other rituals.

Other practices in order to gain spiritual stability and spiritual power and prosperity. Now Jesus was, of course, essential to that package right you want to be without him because you need him for eternal salvation. He was important, but if you really want to thrive in life. If you really wanted to have wisdom and power prosperity. Well, you needed other things in addition to Jesus as well. Furthermore, a lot of these Colossian Christians are grown up as Jews under the law, and so many of them believe that you wanted to be really right with God and really in touch with his power that you had to observe a lot of the old Jewish laws and customs and traditions like this. The Colossians had a Jesus and mentality to start Jesus. On the contrary, look at chapter 2 verse five. If your Bible is open hi Paul says you're very firm in your faith.

They did not discard Jesus. They were firm in their faith. They just thought they needed other stop. In addition to Jesus in order to drive Jesus and observance of the law.

Jesus and mystical rituals balls answer the book of Colossians is a simple and emphatic no know Christ is enough in Christ.

He says you got the ultimate possession of the fullness of God in Christ you have experienced the ultimate love in Christ you have overcome the ultimate enemy sin and death, and in Christ you now sit at the highest place of authority and power with Christ at the right hand of God, which is the rule of the universe, so Colossian believers.

Once you have him you have it all. You don't need anything. Jesus plus nothing equals everything that is the message of Colossians Paul first unpacked this idea in chapter 2 verse eight.

So let's take a look. Chapter 2 verse eight. Be careful.

Paul says nobody takes you captive.

What's this philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition based on the elements of the world rather than on Christ.

In other words, the elements of the world are worldly ways of obtaining security and strength and power and salvation will be taken captive by that for the entire fullness of God's nature dwells bodily in Christ you got the ultimate possession and you been filled by him who is himself the head over every ruler and authority. So if you Jesus and Jesus is on your side and why would you possibly need anything else. And then Paul goes on to address both the people were looking to the law, I'm Jewish customs to gain greater access to God resurrection of the blessing and those looking mystical practices what their portal anybody judgment about food or drink, or the matter assessable or new moon or a Sabbath day. These were a shadow of what was to come.

The substances Christ all the Old Testament. All these things walls customs all that that was all just pointing to Christ now address the people that are in the mysticism. Let nobody condemn you by delighting in ascetic practices and worship of angels claiming access to some visionary realm. No, you don't need that either his driving point is verse 20.

If you died with Christ to the elements of his world. When Jesus died, he demonstrated that there was no other way to gain blessing and favor with God only to the sacrifice that what you it was a peaceable on the world doesn't make any sense.

The neat source to his conclusion in chapter 3, verse one. If you been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

In other words you serve a Savior who sits at the ultimate place of power and he is going to rule there so why would you need anything else, because you get authority over everything you can give whatever it is you need verse two, he says, set your minds on things above, not on earthly things below don't look down here for solution and salvation. You stay up there for you.you see in your life is hidden is hidden with Christ in God. No longer should we be looking earthly things to make life work right.

We got Christ and Christ is all in Christ is everything.

We now possess the one who is himself the fullness of God in him we have the ultimate treasure is the ultimate love which brings the ultimate deliverance we have the ultimate power. If you got him you got all rights everybody say the theme of Colossians Jesus plus nothing. It was everything based on everybody I mean everybody more than just a 20% of you that you get it ready Jesus plus nothing.

It was everything. That's the message of Colossians.

Now the particular issues that the Colossian struggled with and what we struggle with in 21st century America are different. Okay, they were they were really superstitious, worldly little suspicious okay superstitions were little stitches but we typically express a Jesus and mentality by thinking that in order to really make life work in order to be happy and to be secure, then we also need other things in addition to obedience to Jesus. We don't reject Jesus.

Of course they did neither Wyoming we don't reject him. We are very firm in our faith as well. But just like the Colossians we think in order to make life work in order to be significant in order to be happy in order to feel secure. We need other things. In addition, obedience to Jesus, the chief of which I'm going to show you ends up for most of us being money to us. Paul would say exactly the same know Christ is enough what you got.

Christ you got it all. Just as a Christian doesn't need to have multiple gods. They also don't need to have multiple priorities in life you got one God and one priority pleasing him his first he comes first, and when he is first guess what everything else falls into place. The Colossians thought of their lives in you like buckets they thought the eternal salvation bucket Metro Jesus rules a rear okay then we got like security and satisfaction is significant. Well other things for this over here and Paul's answer is no. Christ is the old bucket put him first and he'll take care of everything put in first and everything and he takes care of everything now like I noted in our day. Maybe the primary place that we express a Jesus and mentality is in relation to money. I read a book recently, I called God and money that was written by a couple of Harvard business school guys who became Christians and when they became Christians.

It totally reshape the way they approached money on a fundamental level. I am a book, one of their driving themes is that when it comes to money. People tend to have one of three relationships, to give you their definitions of these relationships in one you try to see which one you most closely identify with category number one is the spender the spender these people. The authors explain. They believe money's greatest value is adding pleasure and enjoyment today so they spend their money on consumption, seeking maximum enjoyment in the moment.

Now these people might say if the responsible may take the training they might save a little bit, they might save some for the future, but money for them is primarily about pleasure in the moment spenders maximize value today.

I've got a spenders in Alta Virginia Sen. yes on its rights right opposite of them is what we call the saver. The saver saver somebody. By contrast, rethinks that money's greatest value is not adding to enjoyment. Today it is providing security for tomorrow. Thus, these people savers will try to limit consumption and they will focus instead on increased wealth accumulation over time by category number three is the steward. These people say money is only a temporary gift of God to be used for the purposes of God. The survey you some money to provide for their needs. Of course I may even get enjoyment out of those things and they save responsibly for the future. But here's the thing was that they intentionally limit both consumption and wealth building, focusing instead on giving the most money they can blessing other people to the kingdom of God that Stewart now did you figure out which one you most naturally, instinctively, are wealthy will take a little quiz to help make it even clearer. Okay, I'm to give you some questions and you have three options a beer see. And you gotta figure out which one most corresponds to you, which is one of the three that I give you higher we go? Which of these excites you more right. A a four star vacation across Europe.

B. Maxing out all your retirement accounts for the year or seek dinner with your pastor who expresses heartfelt thanks which one of those three excites you the most. Okay? So when you were a kid.

What was your tendency with new money received, not what you actually do with it or what your parents teach you to do, but what was your gut level instinct A to buy new toys or spin it on expenses. As soon as you got it or B to save it in a piggy bank or savings account that you C to spend on or did the others, or church or charities. What was instinctive for you.

Question number three. Success looks like. A. Experiencing great food and travel living comfortably and ride an electric car that is that it the successors it be retiring at 50 C extending payoff of your mortgage and forgoing some luxuries in order to sponsor a missionary family which one of those is your instinctive, like that's what success is questionable for your annual bonuses twice as much as you thought it would be much first thought first thought. A I'm headed out shopping going on vacation the I'm putting this on the mortgage.

See, thank God for this provision. I can't wait to give John that his way. I was your reaction. I number five the spending of my life. His faith into this one. A FLS I love it.

I spender this is your man. Your like I just love spend money right now saver the different BB bothersome was her to spend less savers have spend money, but I know you and your like I was a little unless I just want you know, or is it C controller feel good about the ways managed which one is best. Number six. We give you my life is A obligatory right on this guy gotta do it because of the guilty or be formulaic. Your Savior like you know going on the Formula One as you do it because it's what it's supposed to do or is it C joyfully overflowing by how many days we had a house right hand thereby IS really a as we got ABC drive Sundays) and I knew it I knew what I know what I'm doing okay right here. See, we don't want to know. Okay don't brag.

Nobody is a see instinctively that they utilize a store that's up in the gospel in the gospel of Jesus. You, Paul says, set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. What that means. Listen, if that means. Set your mind on things above are the things means don't look at money as satisfaction spender don't look at money as security or flexibility like the saver you look to Christ as worker satisfaction in your security and then you'll start to see money for what it actually is and that is a tool given to you by God for you to steward for the purposes of God, which will never get there until you set your mind on things above. Yes, you will spend the money on your family doing and enjoyed the use of that money and yes you will say for the future. But the point is, you will limit both spending and saving because you find your satisfaction and security in Christ you see money therefore has a stewardship given to you by God for the purposes of his kingdom.

Let me give you a really simple translation of what Paul means when he says in verse two.

Set your minds on things above and not on earthly things. Limited Jesus rules and eternity is real.

You need to live as if Jesus rules and eternity is frail now church with you know these things right. You know you sit here going what Jesus rules on the record now right.

Eternity is real up. I was imagining the noise writing that down. We know these things. Problem is that we are forgetful of them and forgetfulness of these things Jesus said is the primary thing that makes people go awry with money. This is you, you know you just forget it Mr. Jesus tells a couple parables that really kind of drive this home.

The first one is in Luke 12 were Jesus gets approached by a couple of guys who were in a money dispute right couple brothers in a money dispute and Jesus perceives that both of them. Their lives are too wrapped up in how much they Jesus said to them, Luke 12. Take care be on your guard against all covetousness for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Now redo this parable that Jesus told in modern terms. If Jesus were living today. This is how I think he probably told the saver. Ready stock options will need to a manager. Best of every major run-up in shareprice any thought to himself what shall I do if I already have enough saved to send my kids to college, my house paid off enough hard knocks on my 401(k) every single year and he said I will do this I will open an investment account and create a passive income portfolio and I will exercise my options and I will put the money there and I will say the muscles soul give a big enough portfolio to be financially independent.

Retire early plans and vacations and play golf. But God said to him fool is not your soul is required of you in the portfolio you bill what uses are going to be there so was the one who endlessly builds his net worth and is not rich toward God. In other words, what good is all that money going to do if you enter into eternity and have not done with that money.

The things that God gave you that money for you to set your mind on things above and not on things of the earth need to live as if Jesus rules and eternity is real. The second parable that Jesus told is a really interesting and often confusing one, so be patient with me here, but it's from Luke 16 four chapters later, retail this one in my own words as well. Okay, according to Jesus that was once an accounts manager for really rich guy who was given his two week notice got fired okay and so he starts to panic because he's like I'm too old to start a new career and I've gotten too used to this posh lifestyle I live you my five dollars part Starbucks rings I cannot go back to Maxwells. I cannot do that so I got you something.

So, according to Jesus, this man has a brilliant idea. This man begins to call up all of his bosses, clients who owe him money and he begins to say hey come to this day how much you my boss hundred thousand dollars. I tell you what what you write a check for $25,000 today and I will issue a certificate saying that you pay the full debt.

Now remember easily at his two week notice we have been fired yet, so he still got the ability to do this and he does this with all the bosses, clients, and every time he says give me a fraction of what you owe and I'll write you a certificate called it even and then he says them, but you just remember root security later, Jesus says what a wise steward he used his opportunity that he knew was coming on in prayer for the future to make friends in the new future.

This is how you should be with your money. In regards to return it. Now I have two thoughts number one first. What an awesome story. Who else would Jesus could get away with telling. I'm clearly a crooked Jesus like the, smart right but your second thought.

Did you get the point.

The point is, if you know that your timing your current situation is coming to a very quick in is it not wise to use these precious few moments to prepare for the coming reality the permanent one. If you know that life is essentially been given your two week notice, is it not wise to use these brief moment you have here to prepare for the coming eternal future. The one that will last forever.

In fact, is it not outright foolish to live otherwise right and you have to say that I was staying at a Holiday Inn for two nights after the first day I'm like you know what this room is just out of granite countertops in here now to put in a bay window right appears like you have a metal to the parking lot and I'm going to get a new bed, nice bed on the market in order to put an odd job right.

Even the manager would be like a man. I appreciate all the upgrades what you doing right. Why would you invest so much in a place that you'll be staying at for so short. What Jesus is saying in Luke 16 is why are you investing so much in these brief moments when eternity is right around the corner. Set your mind and think about things of the earth last.

What matters we can wish you don't your money 100 years accordion was she going to 10,000 years.

These can be about the kind of car you drove in this little chopper time you called life. You think it's going to be about the kind of neighborhood you live then you should lives of Jesus rules eternity was real because like to live will soon be passed like a vapor it will be gold only what's done for Christ and eternity. That's the only thing is, last only two things in your life right now our eternal number one. It is the kingdom of God.

Number two. It is the souls of men and women of people around you, the kingdom of God. The souls of men. If your wise you will invest your life there because that is the eternal reality. One of the dumbest statements in our culture.

It's so popular and so dumb. Yolo you only live once. I'm yeah I propose in its place golf you actually forever. Okay you actually get your place and we golf on, I thought about you only live once and after that the judgment of Adobe Yolo Lodge semester. This is a nearly effective date like you actually forever. Of course you do. You know that if you no doubt why would you waste your life on trivial things in this world.

Why not make your life count for eternity play Monopoly game and all you know we play Monopoly just like you knock out the rest of the day writing this I get the five or six hour game you know what happens when you're done when you're finally overplaying your obligation.

It doesn't matter what Chad doesn't it matter if you had Boardwalk and Park Place review had that cruddy Marvin Gardens on a couple of railroad roads right in matter what happens at the end of the game.

All goes back in the box right it's just coast back in the box. I got a revelation for many of you this thing called life might feel as long as I Monopoly game, but all goes back in the box at the end bosses the Colossians you have a choice to make the lives of Jesus rules and eternity is real or you live live as if you are self-sufficient to save yourself and that you live forever. There's clearly a wiser choice. He said both of my monies on Jesus and begging to Amersfoort to resist when Christ who is your life appears and you will appear with him in glory.

Christ is life is not a just like he is like knowing him is fullness of the fullness of God is the greatest possession and use of the right hand of God and he's got to be the one that shows up at the last final day in glory, and so my money is going to be on him because I believe Jesus rules now and I believe eternity is real and I got him I have it all you you have to choose. You gotta choose Faith is living as if Jesus rules and eternity is real. You gotta stop living in this World War II bucket for you guy Jesus and 1 foot in any other foot over here is that money is one thing and Jesus is another thing he is all bucket not print Job mourners for survival times is a person trying to trust in God and money is like a person sitting on a boat 1 foot on the dock so they got the photo and enjoyed.

You gotta make decision.

Listen here because as a boat start to drift away like you usually like to be two of you and is not the kind of multiplication were talking about so we don't want this, you got to choose in your life. If Jesus is first and he is your treasurer in trust for this career is because where you are right now it's just gonna rip you apart.

You look to Jesus for eternal salvation. You can also look to him for happiness in life you can look to him for security. If you took care of your eternal dad that he can take care of your temporary happiness. Why would he do the former.

He was not capable and willing to do the latter you choose and you gotta keep choosing. By the way, the word said in verse two is a word in Greek for NATO. That means continuous action is your it's from the word for Naomi to do it over and over and over and over again. Need to get up today and do it because so quickly you transfer all for Jesus and put it on lunch money you look forward to returning CU rules there there.

I promise you, your life will not be determined by the common stock will follow you with your jersey on in the rafters of the speaker. Whether you own a second home retired at 50 years old is going to be determined but one thing only one life to live is to be passed on what's done for Christ will last ministry pastor on their and theologian Jean Thurman online@greer.com range anywhere in the last few days of our latest resource meant to help them to remain steadfast in our time with God no matter what is going on in our lives and it's called smoke from the fire. That's right Molly, we have created a 10 day workbook to guide your time in Scripture it's different because it allows you to reflect and pray more independently whatever difficult emotions you may be feeling and we all go through a range of emotions every day, every day in this study is to give you a short passage of Scripture to read and reflect on the minister give you some space and some props process. What what's going on inside you think it will really help you get in touch with what's going on inside you, because that's the place of Jesus wants to get yours today as always@jdgreer.com I think it will be a big help.

After the fire. 10 day devotional in Scripture guide when you donate today to support his ministry, give us a call right now. 6633 20 Denny and request for study online Greer.com I'm only inviting you to join us again tomorrow. The message titled everything that's Tuesday on my