Eternity – Word for the Soul

Tragedy Unites

September 11, 2025September 10, 2025 Loring Schultz

“I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God” John 3:3 NLT

On September 11, 2001, tragedy united the citizens of America. A sudden terrorist attack came to shores of the United States. In New York city, Washington, D.C. and in a rural community in Pennsylvania four jet planes carrying innocent passengers to their destination were brought down by radical religious extremists. Innocent workers, by standers, and those who just happened to in the buildings suffered the same ill-fate of those on the planes. It was a day that is etched in every American mind as to where they where when they hear and saw the news, I know I do. Also what is remembered is the unity of spirit among people immediately brought about by this tragedy.

Tragedy has a way of uniting people and reminding them what is truly important. Christians are already united through the Holy Spirit, brothers and sisters in Christ, but there is a tragedy that should unite us stronger together and is the fate of those without Christ. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (Jn.3:3 nlt) This are Jesus’ words, not mine. The tragedy that awaits those we know, and love is real and should unite us in reaching out to the lost. Believe it or not, it is a tragedy far worse than ‘911’ as it is known in the United States. There is something we can do to avoid this tragedy for many people and that is follow Jesus’ last command to us before He ascended to heaven. “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” (Mt.28:19 nlt)

The way we make disciples is to share the good news of the gospel. There is a tragedy on the horizon for all those who do not know Christ as their savior. It is a tragedy that will last for eternity if not dealt with in this life. This good news needs to be presented to them while there is still time, for none of us know when our last day on earth will be, as those on September 11, 2001. Let this upcoming tragedy unite all of us in Christ to lead those without Christ to His saving knowledge and advance the Kingdom of God.

A Christian Perspective

2131

September 6, 2025September 4, 2025 Loring Schultz

On this day 30 years ago, history was made in major league baseball. Cal Riken Jr. nicknamed ‘Iron Man’ surpassed the ‘Iron Horse’ Lou Gehrig for the most consecutive games played at 2,131. Gehrig’s record stood for 56 years and never a thought that it would ever be broken, but on a late summer evening in September the record fell and another set for the next ‘Iron Man.’ Riken Jr. continued the streak to 2,632. Many are now saying that record will never be broken, and I agree with that.

Human achievements are celebrated worldwide. ESPN had one the most watched games on the network as it was seen in and outside the United States. President Bill Clinton was in attendance along with other dignitaries and a sold-out Orioles Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore. All were waiting to witness history in the making when the game became official after the fifth inning. History was made, a great human achievement recognized, celebrations galore, and a new record placed in the history book. But this record like all others in history will not stand forever. There is one who will come to rule that will wash away all human achievements.

Biblical prophecy predicts the future reign of Jesus Christ on the earth in the millennial period. Past achievements may be remembered, but they won’t matter. What will be reality is Christ ruling on the earth in peace and justice with all the glory going to Him. The Bible also says after the millennium there will be a new heaven and a new earth. (Rev.21:1) It is said records are made to broken and that is true. All earthly accomplishments and records will be broken and vanish forever, even the ‘Iron Man’s.’

A Christian Perspective

In the beginning of eternity

July 19, 2025July 15, 2025 Loring Schultz

Everything has a beginning; your life, a relationship, a new year, a new school year, a semester, a job, an idea leading to a new consumer product, even this essay. Everything has a beginning to point to. Unfortunately, everything also has an ending, after all, nothing last forever, but ‘not quite.’

The most recognizable quote of ‘in the beginning’ is in the Scriptures of the Holy Bible. Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The earth and all of the universe had a beginning. There was a time when the universe did not exist but then came into being. This is not a debate as to the origins of the planets and the universe, this view is to be understood God created in the beginning, in the beginning of our time.

What exactly is ‘our time?’ NASA’s explanation of the universe is as follows, “The universe is everything. It includes all of space, and all the matter and energy that space contains. It even includes time itself and, of course, it includes you.” (1) Our time began when God created the universe, when He created all of space, matter, and energy. Our time began when God created man in His image, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Gen.1:27 nkjv) We had a beginning.

While we had a beginning, our creator had no beginning. There is no time in which God did not exist. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Who has done such mighty deeds, summoning each new generation from the beginning of time? It is I, the LORD, the First and the Last. I alone am he.” (Is.41:4 nlt) Identifying Himself as the ‘First and the Last’ constitutes God existed before the universe began and will be around after it is gone. Jesus, God the Son, also identifies as the ‘First and the Last’ in the book of Revelation for He said “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.” (Rev.1:11 nlt)

While we contemplate our lives having a beginning and an end, it is often hard, if not impossible, to understand God who never had a beginning and will never have an end. Don’t even try, it can’t be done. It is accepted only through faith in the God of the Bible. Once we have accepted God, His true Word, and Jesus Christ His Son for salvation it becomes clear that God is from eternity past and future, although we still can’t understand it. But this should also be a great comfort to us for He has all things under control and knows our deepest needs both now and in the future. He was there in our beginning and will be there in our end and this is where the ‘not quite’ comes in.

Everything will certainly come to an end one day, except for a couple of things; the triune God, His Word, and the souls of people. We may have had a beginning in this life, but we were created with a body and a soul. The body will come to an end due to our sin nature, but our soul lives on into eternity. Those who have confessed and repented of their sin accepting Christ as Savior will spend eternity in the new heaven and the new earth, those who have rejected Christ will spend eternity in the lake of fire with Satan and his demons. “Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever……And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Rev.20:10, 15 nlt)

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

When you were born, you were born for eternity. Your body will die, but your soul will live on. You are living in the beginning of eternity. Where will you be living when your earthly life has ended? Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (Jn.14:6 nlt) The time is now to make the choice where you will spend eternity while you are still living ‘in the beginning.’

(1) https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/what-is-an-exoplanet/what-is-the-universe/

Devotionals

Living with an Eye on Eternity

November 5, 2024November 4, 2024 Loring Schultz

“He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” Titus 3:5-7 NLT

People are always looking for something to better their life. It may be a move to a more desirable neighborhood. A change in vocation is an often-desired life change for many. Healthy choices are also at the top of the list such as regular exercise, a well-balanced diet, adequate rest, and avoiding dangerous situations. These are all sound choices to pursue in life and will help you live a satisfied, safe and healthy life. But how many of the choices you make in this life pertain to your next life? Are you living with an eye on eternity?

James tells us that, “Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.” (Ja.4:14b nlt) The psalmist writes, “Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away.” (Ps.90:10 nlt) So, maybe it is time for us to think ahead.

Living with an eye on eternity helps us keep our focus on what really matters. The motto for ‘Word for the Soul’ expresses this, ‘Only Two Things Will Last Forever; The Word of God and the Souls of People.’ The main priority in this life for all Christians is based on those two things. The way we live our lives matters. We are going to be in eternity a lot longer than our life here on earth. There is only so much time for us to complete the Lord’s work here on earth, and the work we do here will either be rewarded or rejected in the kingdom. (1Cor.3:10-15) But praise God our salvation is secure in Christ as Paul writes, “He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy…… Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” (Titus 3:5a, 7 nlt) For all of us who have eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord let us now live with our eyes on eternity.

Devotionals

Nothing Last Forever, not so!

August 26, 2024August 25, 2024 Loring Schultz

“The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8 NLT

The summer months are not officially over, but here in the United States the Labor Day holiday marks the unofficial end of summer. There will be three weeks left until fall begins on September 22^nd, and I might add it has become my favorite part of the summer season since relocating to southeastern Pennsylvania. But shortly after autumn begins the change of the season starts to become evident. You do not need to mow your lawn as often, the leaves on the trees begin to change color, the evenings and early mornings are much cooler, the last of the garden vegetables will be harvested, and the flowers begin to fade. Living in an area where the seasons change you are aware that whatever season it is, it will not last forever. We also see God’s faithfulness in the changing of the seasons and we are guaranteed the passing season will return. Summer may only be for a season lasting three months, but God makes sure it does last forever as He brings it around nine months later.

Unfortunately, there are things in life that do not last forever, in fact many things. Some leave a scare on our hearts, others are bid a fond ado, and still others are dealt with mixed emotions of what has faded away and is gone forever. Living life is hard without having a constant you can count on always being there, something or someone that will last forever, at least in your lifetime. There is such a constant available to you, something and someone, both in the same package.

The Lord God is eternal. He had no beginning, and He will have no end. God is responsible for the changing of the seasons. He has been faithful being right on time in changing the seasons and has never missed a year yet. God has also given us His written Word which He also guarantees will last forever. In a complicated changing world, it is a sigh of relief and comfort to know there is God who is always there and never changes, and He gave us His unchanging Word that will stand forever. As the flowers fade in your garden this autumn do you have the assurance that you too will be brought to new life in eternity as the flowers will return in the summer season.

Our earthly lives will not last forever, but our souls will live on in eternity according to God’s Word which stands forever and never changes. So, where will you spend eternity? If you’re not sure, why not make sure today. Eternity is forever!

“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (Jn.14:6 nlt)

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Ro.10:9 nlt)

Devotionals

Going for Eternal Gold

July 22, 2024July 19, 2024 Loring Schultz

“All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:25 NLT

The XXXIII Olympiad will commence on July 26, 2024, in Paris, France. Athletes from all over the world will arrive in hopes of capturing that Olympic Gold Medal. Events will take place over the next seventeen days from track and field, swimming, gymnastics, skateboarding, volleyball, basketball, equestrian, boxing, 32 sports in all with 329 medal events. That’s a lot of gold. Individual athletes train for years for the opportunity to go for the gold. Members of team sports keep themselves in shape hoping to get that invitation to try out and be part of the Olympic dream. A lot, if not all, of personal pleasures and pursuits are put on the sidelines during the training process. There are two goals, to make the cut and to earn a gold medal.

The apostle Paul used athletic imagery quite often in his writings. He referred to his preaching as running in a race as he addressed the churches at Galatia. (Gal.2:2) Paul told the church at Philippi he pressed on to finish the race to receive the prize the Lord had for him. (Phi.3:14) He told Timothy to fight the good fight for true faith, and always be careful to compete by the rules. (1 Tim.6:12, 2 Tim.2:5) Paul also put in perspective the value of the goal he was trying to reach. He was going for eternal gold.

Paul commended the athletes of his day by noting their extensive disciplined training. Their goal was to win a wreath of greenery at the Isthmian games in Corinth. Obviously, this prize would not last the test of time, but they strived for it, nonetheless. Paul seems to say how much better the eternal prize would be. He was not dismissing the value of going for the gold in this life, but to have our priorities in order. Even a gold medal may lose its value one day and we certainly will not outlast that product of gold in our lifetime, so let us also go, with Paul, for eternal gold.

Devotionals

Living in the Moment

July 1, 2024June 28, 2024 Loring Schultz

“We don’t remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now.” Ecclesiastes 1:11 NLT

Social media has masterfully crafted ‘living in the moment’ as a way of life. Our lives are captured moment by moment on our social pages for all the world to see, or if cautious for your friends only, all 2,000 of them. Granted there are special occasions and unexpected events we all like to share. Unfortunately, this has become an obsession with some to share everything, and a desire to know everything about everybody. People follow those they like, those they don’t like, those they admire, entertainers, politicians, sports figures, news organizations, cultural influencers, and just about anybody to get the latest happenings in the moment. Hear what the preacher says in the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, “Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.” (1:8 nlt)

Living in the moment has its moments but then they’re gone. They do not last. The preacher also says, “We don’t remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now.” (Ec.1:11 nlt) Insignificant events will not be remembered. Events on a major scale eventually lose impact over time such as September 11^th and the Holocaust. They are still remembered but the effect felt over the world begins to fade. There are occasions when a moment of time is etched in history, but most do not come to mind without the help of Google.

Living in the moment today on social media is frivolous, especially if those moments are meaningless and have no significant impact. Living every moment for the glory of God will have a major impact for eternity. Our entire lives are only for a moment compared to eternity, “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” (Ja.4:14 niv) If we are going to live in the moment, let us make every moment count for eternity.

A Christian Perspective

In The Beginning

August 19, 2023August 18, 2023 Loring Schultz

Everything has a beginning; your life, a relationship, a new year, a new school year, a semester, a job, an idea leading to a new consumer product, even this essay. Everything has a beginning to point to. Unfortunately everything also has an ending, after all, nothing last forever, but ‘not quite.’

The most recognizable quote of ‘in the beginning’ is in the Scriptures of the Holy Bible. Genesis 1:1 say, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The earth and all of the universe had a beginning. There was a time when the universe did not exist but then came into being. This is not a debate as to the origins of the planets and the universe, this view is to be understood God created in the beginning, in the beginning of our time.

What exactly is ‘our time?’ NASA’s explanation of the universe is as follows, “The universe is everything. It includes all of space, and all the matter and energy that space contains. It even includes time itself and, of course, it includes you.” (1) Our time began when God created the universe, when He created all of space, matter, and energy. Our time began when God created man in His image, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Gen. 1:27) We had a beginning.

While we had a beginning, our creator had no beginning. There is no time in which God did not exist. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Who has done such mighty deeds, summoning each new generation from the beginning of time? It is I, the LORD, the First and the Last. I alone am he.” (Is. 41:4) Identifying Himself as the ‘First and the Last’ constitutes God existed before the universe began and will be around after it is gone. Jesus, God the Son, also identifies as the ‘First and the Last’ in the book of Revelation for He said “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.” (Rev. 1:11a)

Everything will certainly come to an end one day, except for a couple of things; the triune God, His Word, and the souls of people. We may have had a beginning in this life, but we were created with a body and a soul. The body will come to an end due to our sin nature, but our soul lives on into eternity. Those who have confessed and repented of their sin accepting Christ as Savior will spend eternity in the new heaven and the new earth, those who have rejected Christ will spend eternity in the lake of fire with Satan and his demons. “Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever…..And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:10, 15)

When you were born, you were born for eternity. Your body will die, but your soul will live on. You are living in the beginning of eternity. Where will you be living when your earthly life has ended? Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (Jn. 14:6) The time is now to make the choice where you will spend eternity while you are still living ‘in the beginning.’

https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/what-is-an-exoplanet/what-is-the-universe/