“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." - Matthew 6:25-29.
Jesus Christ, in one of his sermons, revealed to his disciples the importance of connecting to eternity. He illustrated this with the comparison of the dis-connected soul, to that of the Lilies in the fields. We know how beautiful and glorious these flowers are in their prime, not even Solomon "in all his splendor" was so arrayed, even though these flowers are only there for a season, and then fade away.
David buttressed this point during his prayers in Psalm 144: 4- "man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away". Delving deeper on this, Solomon, even all the wealthy and powerful Kings, Conquerors, and Emperors, of all times, despite their conquests, riches and glory; did fade away. New generations, of powerful men equally rose and faded. One thing however, that got some of these men registered in the Hall of Eternal Fame however, was their connection to Eternity.
Abraham, would have been forgotten, and remembered only as a man who wandered off his ancestral-land, to an unknown place. Telling anyone who cared to listen, that an 'a then unknown God', told him to leave his Father's land, with a Promise, that He (God), would take him to a land which He would give to Abraham, and his seed for ever. In line with his obedience to this promise, Abraham prospered. He is famous, as a man of great Faith. Today, years after Abraham walked the earth, his name, is recognized through all generations. In other words, he is still living in his seeds scattered all over the world.
Mary, a hitherto unknown Jewish girl, was in her home, when she encountered a Divine visitation. Many would have thought it was just one of those rare visions of Angels, that most religious people occasionally have, just to keep their faith alive. But somehow, peharps through divine revelation, Mary caught it. She knew her life would change from that moment, from just another devout Jewish woman, to a name that will, through generations be mentioned.
Through her response: "be it unto me according to your Word" Mary yielded to a covenant with Eternity. She took it further to say in her prayers "...behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed". - Luke 1: 48b. Mary caught the revelation that she had connected to Eternity.
Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and King David to mention but a few. These great men of their times, caught the revelation. Some how, they knew that by keeping the covenant/ relationship with God, which started with their fore bearer Abraham, they were connected to eternity.
Generations passed, and God re-affirmed his Eternal Promise, to the seed of Abraham. God swore to David, that his throne will be established forever. "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: 'I will establish your descendants for ever, and build your throne for all generations." - Psalms 89:3,4. To bring this to pass, God HIMSELF came in the person of Jesus, the Christ. HE, is indeed Eternity.
Progressively, to establish God's faithfulness to 'HIS WORD', promised Abraham and David, the first chapter of the book of Mathew took time to trace back, and re-connect Jesus's human genealogy to Judah. As it was written "The Scepter shall not depart from JUDAH nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until SHILOH comes” -Gen. 49:10; and Matthew one verse one.
Talking about man's quest for immortality, an adventure that has over time, led great men to perpetual destruction, instead of eternity glory. In their acts, great-men-of-old, failed to acknowledge that only a connection to true Divinity can guarantee eternal life. Some of the men were however simply ignorant of God's existence. Majority, after having attained a certain standard of fame and greatness, as is peculiar with the human-nature, wanted more. Somehow they knew there was more to simply existing, and conquering territories and empires. There is this deep desire for something greater than us, which I have come to recognize as the hunger for an intimate relationship with God; to be like God. After all, Man was created in God's Image (personality), after HIS Likeness (capability). Like the scripture states: "Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me" - Psalm 42:7.
In the beginning, Adam and Eve had this relationship with God. God would come down to connect with them in the cool of the evening. As much Human as they were, they were originally created to live forever, in their youthful state. The devil, being a spirit being, knew this deep human desire for something greater. The desire for greatness, and doing what he knows best, which is to destroy, used this (originally innocent) nature, on Man's ignorance.
This deception, saw the introduction of occultism, and misled men, over the years, as they tried to connect to what they thought was Divinity. The desire for greatness, propelled many into insatiable quests for protection, uncontrollable acquisition of wealth, through and by any means possible. It was thought that great wealth could lead to great power and immortality. Many ended up losing it all, others have their names remembered in history, while their posterity is totally forgotten.
I consider this generation, more-advantaged, than the older generations. What they traveled far and wide, performed all manner of rituals to attain, we have at our disposal. More-so, through history classes, and technological advancement, we have access to almost every information we need, therefore we know better. We get to stand on the shoulders of giants gone, to see farther and better. We are more privileged to learn from their experiences, mistakes and falls. We have been equipped, to avoid their mistakes.
Only true connection to the Creator of the Universe, of human beings and every thing seen, heard and felt, the One and only True Divinity, God Almighty, will lead to Eternity. For "As many as received Him, to them gave HE POWER to become the sons of GOD, even to them that believe on HIS Name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" - John 1: 12- 13.
Like Mary, when we yield to God, turning our WILL over to HIM, by acknowledging HIS existence, and receiving HIM into our lives, we automatically enter into the eternal covenant, made with Abraham. And when we passed-on from this sphere of life, there is no fear, for as HIS own, we simply enter into Eternity, to a beautiful life, without end. For "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” - 1 Corinthians 2 vs 9.
Obianuju Mbanusi writes.
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