“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” 

Psalm 90:2 KJV

The Word of God speaks much about eternity.  The word “eternal” means “having infinite duration”.   (Webster’s Dict.). Eternity is a powerful word that is used in reference to God.  It is used to describe God. It is used to describe His person, His Kingdom, and His relationship with mankind.  In fact, there is nothing about God that is not eternal.  He has no beginning and  He has no end!  (Rev. 1:8).  He is infinite in His Person, character, and nature.   The Scripture describes Him as “The Ancient of Days.”  (Dan.7:9) which is a metaphor for the eternity of God in His Person.

Because God is eternal, His character is eternal, His love is eternal,  His ways are eternal,  His purposes are eternal and His judgments are eternal!  Everything God does always has the eternal perspective in mind.  He never changes.  (Malachi 3:6).  His love never changes.  His grace never changes.  His mercy never changes.  His joy and His peace never changes. His power never changes.   And His eternal purpose never changes. 

That means His purpose toward us never changes.   His purpose toward us is always for our good.  (Rom. 8:28).  In a world that is constantly changing, He is the constant that never changes. He is the anchor of our soul and the constant light and beacon of hope in the midst of a dark world. 

Because God is our creator and we are made in His image or likeness (Gen. 1:26), He has also “put eternity in our hearts.”  (Ecc. 3:11 ESV).  There is this innate longing in our hearts for life!  We all long to live forever!   It is God who gave us that longing!   And the Good News of the Gospel is that  Christ has made that longing a present reality!  The Redeemed of God do not die! (John 11: 25-26).   We simply move from this finite life into eternal life!  What a blessed hope we have!   What a joy we have!  What an awesome God we have! 

Rev. James W. Black 

“When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.”   

2 Timothy 1:5 NKJV

There is not a more powerful ministry anywhere than the ministry of a godly mother. The ministry of bearing children and raising them is difficult and challenging.   It is hard.  It is often thankless.  It is not in the limelight.  It often goes unrecognized.  But a godly mother has the opportunity of impacting the next generation for the glory of God!  When a godly mother teaches her children the Word of God, how to know  God, the ways of God, and the truth of God and seeks to model that before them,  she will equip her children with a foundation that will carry them and sustain them throughout the rest of their lives. 

Timothy’s life had been profoundly impacted for the Lord by his mother and grandmother. It demonstrates the powerful influence a mother has on her children. 
Timothy’s mother, Eunice, had no doubt been impacted by her mother Lois.  Lois taught her grandson Timothy the importance of knowing the Lord and following the Lord.  Three generations had been impacted by a godly mother!   Timothy, no doubt, was used of the Lord to impact the lives of others for the Christ as he ministered alongside the Apostle Paul. Paul entrusted his ministry to Timothy when he knew that he would soon lose his life for Christ.  Only eternity will reveal the full impact of Lois on her family.  And her ultimate impact upon the world!   The world never noticed it, but the Lord did!   

And that is the most important thing to remember.   The Lord sees what you do as a mother.   He knows the sacrifices that you make.  He is aware of the work that you do.   He sees your frustrations, your disappointments, your challenges, and your tears.  He knows your burdens and your concerns.    But He also sees how you love and care for your children through all of it.  It is important to remember that He entrusted you with the care of specific children!   He designed you and gifted you for that purpose. And as hard as it can be at times, He knew that you could do it with His help! 

James W. Black 

“And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed his last.  Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” 

Mark 15: 37-38 NKJV

The veil in the Temple was a massive curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.  It was the most sacred place in the Temple.  God’s Presence filled that place!  Only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies.  He could only enter once a year on the Day of Atonement, when the sacrificial lamb was slain for the sins of the nation.  The High Priest would then take the blood of that lamb that had been slain and place it upon the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies. Scholars tell us that the thickness of that curtain was as much as 6 inches.   The veil separated the people from the Presence of God.

When Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the Temple in Jerusalem was torn in two from top to bottom!   It was torn from top to bottom because God was the One who tore it open.  Not man! Jesus had become the sacrificial Lamb of God on the cross!   The torn veil signified that access into God’s Presence was now open for everyone!   

Now that the veil is torn, anyone who has surrendered to Christ has the Blood of the Lamb applied to their heart!   That Blood now makes one Holy in the sight of God!  Because the redeemed have been made holy through the Blood of Christ,  we now have access into the very Presence of the Living God.   We can come without fear, guilt, shame, or condemnation!   What a great blessing it is to have access into the very Presence of God!   May we take the opportunity of entering into His Presence daily. 

“I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Gal. 2:20 KJV

In this passage, Paul uses the present tense to describe the genuine reality of the Christian life. He declares, “I am crucified with Christ…”.  Crucifixion meant death!   The crucifixion of his own life was not something that was going to happen.  It had already happened!   It was a past, present, and ongoing reality in his life.   Paul had experienced the power of the crucified life!  

All of his life, Paul had sought to please God by being religious, knowing and keeping the Law of God. But he was also painfully aware of his inability to fully keep the Law. He sought to find acceptance before God by striving to keep the Law better than anyone else. But despite all his efforts, he still was not certain he had done enough to be pleasing and acceptable to God.

But when the risen Christ confronted him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9,) everything changed. For the first time in his life, he understood the full weight of his sinfulness. And at the same time, he understood the powerful grace of God that forgave him and cleansed him of his sin!   On that road to Damascus, Paul had died.  He had been crucified with Christ.  And a new man was now alive in him, the risen Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).   As a result, Paul was radically transformed by the power of Christ. 

To be crucified with Christ means that we have died (in Christ) to the old life of the old man and are now surrendered to the new life of Christ who now lives within us!  This life is an ever-present, daily, ongoing reality in our lives. (1 Cor. 15:31).  It is the only place of liberty and the only place of life (Rom.14:8).  To be crucified with Christ means we have died to ourselves and are now alive in Christ and have the privilege of knowing Him, following Him, and experiencing Him in our daily life!   

James W.Black

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust…”

Psalm 18:2 KJV

David’s description here of God is from a warrior’s perspective. In this Psalm, David expressed his absolute confidence in the Living God. David had fought many battles. He had been attacked at various times by many different enemies who were intent on his destruction. But in every battle, in spite of the size and strength of his adversaries, he was victorious over them. If you study David’s life you will learn that he never entered into battle without first seeking the Lord (1 Sam. 23:4).

When David declared that the Lord was his rock, he was picturing a warrior standing upon a massive boulder. Standing on top of that rock, he could see his enemies
preparing to come against him. From the vantage point of the rock, possessing the high ground, David knew he could face and overcome a much larger force than his own. In standing upon the rock, David knew he could defeat them. Being firmly established on the rock enabled David to stand with confidence against his enemies.

David knew that the Lord, the God of Israel, was his fortress. The Lord Himself was David’s refuge. David knew that his strength was in the Lord, not himself. David knew from experience that the Lord was unshakable, unmovable, and unchanging. He knew that the Lord was completely reliable and dependable in every circumstance. That is why David could declare with confidence that God was the “rock of his salvation” (2 Sam. 22:47).

The good news is that this same Lord is also our rock! As He was with David, so He is with us! David demonstrated for us how to depend upon the Lord. If we take our refuge in Him (Psalm 91: 1-2), we too, will be able to stand against the assaults of the enemy. As David stood with confidence, so can we. For victory is assured. When we align ourselves with the Lord, the victory is already won! We simply have to stand and see the salvation of the Lord. (Exodus 14: 13-14; Eph. 6:13).

Rev. James Black

A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.”

Psalm 37:16 KJV

It is interesting to observe that although we live in the wealthiest nation on earth, there are so many who have not discovered joy and contentment in life.   What I mean by that is simply learning to enjoy and be thankful for what we have instead of being envious, bitter, resentful, or angry about what we do not have.  It is easy to be discontent if our focus is upon ourselves and upon things.  In the pursuit and acquisition of things, we often find that once a particular “thing” is acquired, the joy and contentment it brings does not last very long.

We are often like children on Christmas morning who are excited about the gifts they have received, but within a few days, the excitement has worn off and they are bored with the new toys and now wish for something else. 

Contentment, satisfaction, and fulfillment in life is not found in possessions or achievements but ultimately in a Person. (Luke 12:13).   And that Person is Jesus!   He is the embodiment and example of contentment and the ultimate provider of contentment. (John 7:38).    When Jesus lived in His physical body on the earth, the only thing He owned were the clothes that He wore. (Matthew 8:20).   He had nothing else.  And yet His joy in life was so contagious that multitudes of people flocked to hear  Him and wanted to be around Him. (Matthew 13:2).

 His contentment was the result of His relationship with God the Father. (John 10:30).   He knew the Father intimately.   He trusted the Father completely.  He depended on the Father totally for everything. And  He wanted to please the Father in all things.  Everything He did was always with the Father’s will in mind. His focus in life was not upon Himself, but rather in doing the will of the Father.  (John 5:30).

Our contentment is found in having the same relationship with the Heavenly Father.   Jesus came to enable us to have that relationship.  It is in the intimacy of that relationship that we discover that in Him, we have everything that we need. (Psalm 23:1). 

Rev. James W. Black

“And he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put  in everything she had, all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:43-44 NLT).

Jesus was observing people as they gave their offerings in the temple. Many who were wealthy were giving large sums.  But this poor widow cast in two copper coins worth only a penny.  That was quite a small sum compared to all the others.  But in the eyes of the Lord, what she gave was of greater value than anyone else because she gave everything that she had. 

Have you ever felt totally inadequate?  Have you ever felt that your talents, gifts, and abilities were so small in comparison to others that what you do and what you give is irrelevant and won’t make any difference?   Most everyone experiences this at one time or another.  After all, our adversary is constantly reminding us of our inadequacy!

It is important to remember that the Lord is the One who created us!  He is the One who has given us our abilities and resources.   He does not expect us to measure ourselves against others.   He simply wants us to offer unto Him that which we have.  This widow gave more than anyone else because she gave everything that she had.  She held nothing back.

Finding joy, fulfillment, and contentment in Christ, and in life,  begins by offering unto Him everything that we have.  In return, He offers unto us everything that He has!  That is a great exchange!  We become the greatest beneficiary!  While all that we have is small in comparison to the Lord, what He gives in exchange is immense!   We literally exchange our inadequacy for His adequacy!   We exchange our weakness for His strength.   We exchange our inability for His ability.  (Phil. 4:13).  The Lord takes that which is offered, and multiplies it and uses it for His glory!   And what is done is far greater than anything we could have possibly accomplished on our own! 

Rev. James W. Black

“How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord?  Forever?  How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?”   

Psalm 13:1 KJV

David was in a desperate situation.  King Saul and his army had surrounded  David and his small band of men in the wilderness. Although they had not yet been discovered, there was a real possibility that he, and all those who were with him, were going to die! (1 Sam. 23: 24-28).  He did not know what to do.    David had cried out to the Lord, but the Lord had not answered.

Have you ever been there?  If you haven’t, you will.  Life has a way of forcing us into difficult situations.  There are times when our circumstances can be overwhelming.   And in the midst of them, we can feel as if God has abandoned us!   Our adversary will certainly be quick to tell us that He has!   What can we do in those times?

We must learn to do what David did. We must choose to trust the Lord in spite of the circumstances. We must intentionally fix our eyes upon the Lord instead of the circumstances. (2 Chron. 29:12).  In the midst of this trial David declared:  “But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.  I will sing unto the Lord because he hath dealt bountifully with me.” (Ps. 13: 5-6 KJV).

Even though God had not yet answered, David believed that He would!  Because the Lord had answered in the past, David believed that He would somehow answer him now!  He continued to trust!  And he determined to sing praises to the Lord for his faithfulness both in the past and even now in the present! 

So, let us continue to trust in the Lord and continue to worship Him, honor Him, and walk with Him!  He has not abandoned us!  Nor has He forsaken us!  (Deut. 31:6, Heb. 13:5).  The Lord will answer at the best possible time!   And that time will be so amazing that He alone will get all the glory! 

Rev. James W. Black 

“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even a he is pure.” (1 John 3:3 KJV).

In this passage, the Apostle John explains to the followers of Christ what our hope in Christ actually does for us.  If we have truly put our hope (our confident expectation)  and trust in Christ (that is knowing who He is and who we are in Him) then we are motivated to live a life that is a reflection of Christ. In other words, we will desire to live a godly life that represents Him to an unbelieving world.

That does not mean that we are perfect.  None of us are. But it does mean that we seek to honor the Lord to the best of our ability with His help.  It means that we surrender to the Holy Spirit and allow His fruit to be manifested in us and through us. (Gal. 5: 22-25).  And whenever we fail, and there are times when we all do,  we then do everything we can to make things right with the Lord and with others.  It means that we walk in humility before the Lord and before men; not boasting in ourselves, but boasting in Christ alone.

The NLT makes this very clear.  “And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure just as he is pure.” (1 John 3:3 NLT).  If we are hoping to see Jesus soon (and we will because life is short) then we will not be engaged in things that would dishonor Him or bring a reproach to His Name!  We will live in joyful expectation of His coming! 

Knowing that we will see Him soon motivates us to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord so that we will not be ashamed to see Him when He returns or when He calls us home! That is what our hope in Christ does for the redeemed people of God. 

Rev. James W. Black