Keep Eternity in Mind in Everything You Do — Santosh Poonen

Circumcision of the Heart and the Necessity of Faith

We heard it a few times, who is going to circumcise our heart? The Lord your God is. The old covenant you had to do the circumcision yourself or have somebody do it for you. But it was a picture of inner circumcision and inner circumcision that the Lord said he would do.

In the book of Philippians you read about, Philippians chapter 3, the true circumcision and the false circumcision. And if you are trying to circumcise your own heart, what does that mean? Trying to live up to God's standards and somehow think that you're doing a little bit better this time or trying a little harder this year will somehow make it.

The only thing I can pray for is that you'll quickly come hit a brick wall or come to an end of yourself and things will get so desperate that you'll say, Lord I can never in a million years ever circumcise my own heart to love you.

It's impossible. I can never live a life that's pleasing to you. And that's when we reach faith and we thrust ourselves on God and say our Father and say, Lord I'm incapable of it. You must do it in me and He will.

That's when the miracle begins. Thank you primary class. They've completed the book of Romans chapter 8. Great job. I loved hearing the top verses that you all picked. Some of you picked difficult, excuse me, difficult ones.

Some of you picked easy ones. Regardless, I hope that these verses you've memorized in Romans chapter 8 will be, will stick with you until the end of your life. I really believe that's our purpose in getting you to memorize it.

And it helps us to hear it. I like that we spend a good 15 or 20 minutes hearing the memory verses. 15 minutes or so. Hearing the same ones over and over again. And maybe in some other churches they would think, well that's a waste of time or something like that.

But for us it's not. We want to spend as much time as we possibly can hearing our children also speak God's Word. So we really enjoy that we spend that time together. I want to ask you family how the Bible reading and book reading is going.

Don't give up. Keep at it. And I hope we'll, we hope to keep reminding you periodically about it. The Bible reading plan we've shared. And for those of you online that want to join us in that Bible reading, you don't have to wait till next January 1st.

Start now. It's more important that you read something every day. And the devil will come up with all kinds of excuses over why not to read the Bible. I tell you often, isn't it crazy how when you want to do one of two things.

Spend time in God's Word or spend time in prayer. Immediately the phone will ring or you'll think, oh I need to do that other thing. And something or the other will suddenly become more important. The devil wants to do everything he can to keep you from this book.

And don't let him. Don't let him. He knows this is the one weapon you have. This is the sword that can destroy his work. Don't let him keep you from this book children. And the book reading, as you know we're reading that book A Good Foundation.

We heard from Kezia last week how that book opened up her eyes to so many things about the truth of God's Word including ultimately understanding what baptism really means. And so it's good for us to, if you feel like you've already laid that foundation, check it again.

See if the foundation that's been laid in true repentance, in true faith and your old man being crucified with Christ and baptism being a picture of that. The baptism of the Holy Spirit. The importance of that.

Fellowship in the body of Christ. All of these fundamental foundational things are taught in that book. And so that's why we've chosen that as the first book for this year. When we go through these 30 odd books or so that we're going to go through over the next three years.

36 books I guess. Well no. I think some books will take more than a month. So about 30 books or so we're going to go through in the next three years. And I've shared also with you and family that it's a good practice if you can to read it together.

Maybe before dinner, after dinner or something. Just a chapter or so. I think this book is 11 chapters. So you have about 11 days to finish it before the end of the month. Again it's not a school. This is not.

Nobody's checking up on you. We're not going to have you report to us whether you did or not. We think it'll help you and it'll help your children as well. So take it seriously. I hope you do. Yeah. Let's turn to 1st Peter chapter 1.

Eternity, Christ’s Sacrifice, and Living Without Regret

I've been thinking about some things over the last few weeks I would say. And it's been burning in my heart. I thought I would share from that burden with you all. I tell you family it's very easy to preach in this church.

Because I believe you are one with us elders in our desire to please the Lord. We're not looking for anything earthly. We're not looking for. We don't have any earthly ambition. Where we see it cropping up every now and then we are quick to put it away.

Lord I don't want anything on this earth really. And little by little the Lord does show us every now and then a little bit of a selfish earthly ambition. And we try to deal with it radically. But knowing that you all are here by choice.

And almost all of you have been here for some time. Gone to know us and hear the see the vision and the burden of our hearts. And the direction we want to go individually in our marriages in our homes.

And as a group of people that God has called together to be knit into one new man that's heading in that direction. Not pulling in multiple different directions. It's a wonderful thing. And it's very easy to serve and to teach God's Word in the church like this.

Where even the children are growing up with a desire for that. What a precious thing. I don't take that for granted. And so thank you family for the support and the prayer that you all do for us. Who teach in us all of us elders.

That's really making a difference. I see that you know Paul would pray often. Pray that I would have utterance. That I would have freedom to speak. You think Paul don't you know you have all the doctrine.

Isn't the Holy Spirit giving you a word. He says yeah but I still need a freedom. And I've sometimes been in places where I've had to preach and there is a spiritual battle. And I'm laboring through the message.

Not here. Actually sometimes here in the years ago. But at other times in other places. And I sense Lord I hope somebody's praying for me right now. That knows that I'm here traveling in this place. Because there's a battle going on.

But I thank the Lord over the years it's become easier and easier to to pour out the heart of us elders in our in our messages here. And you know as we were singing some of the songs today. And especially that last one that where it's talked about behold the man upon the cross.

My sin upon his shoulder. And it was my sin that held him there until it was accomplished. It's very moving words I agree. But what does that do for you? And I've had times in my life. Songs move me to tears often when I sing.

And it's a good thing. But there have been times in my life where I could sing a song like that. Weep and just say thank you Lord. And go out and hours later just live for myself. And I hope that's not the kind of life you want to live.

I hope that when we sing a song like that the result of that is that you like Jesus says you sit down after and say Lord I can't stand anymore. I need to be quiet. Because I want to see how my meditation and and you're opening my eyes afresh this morning to see the sacrifice that you paid for me is going to change the way I live my life.

There's another song an old song we sing. By and by when I look on his face what do you think will happen when you see Jesus? The man you know we say behold the man upon the cross. Yeah you can visualize it.

You can read God's Word. Maybe you've seen a movie or a picture a painting or Bible story. You've been told yeah Jesus was there and and that's what he looked like and his face was scarred and beaten bleeding and they thrust a sword in his side and blood poured out water poured out and and all that.

But what will it actually be when I see him face to face? When I look on his face the man who died for me. Like we sing in that old hymn. I believe I was struck afresh when we were standing there. I wish I had given him more.

By and by when I look on his face when he actually when I see him I will be like him. We read in 1st John 3 my favorite verse in the Bible. When we see him we shall be like him. That verse has been an anchor for my life for many years.

I praise God for that. And me being conformed into the image of Jesus as I will be. I believe with all my heart committed to that work that the Holy Spirit is going to do is doing in my life. But when I see him having been fully conformed into this image I know without a doubt I wish I had given him more.

I'll think back to some date I think. I think Lord that day when I chose what I wanted because I felt like this will be what I want. This will make me feel better. When I chose for myself out of selfishness and self-centeredness I wish I hadn't done that.

That moment when the temptation was there and I yielded to sin because it was an outlet for me. I wish I hadn't done that. Now I believe it is possible to live in heaven without regret. I believe that.

But I tell you the only way that that is possible is if we live in such a way on this earth. We say Lord I don't want to have any regret in heaven and I want to tell you I wish I could look at every single one of you from the youngest to the oldest in your eyes put my hand on my shoulder and tell you it's not too late.

Today is the day of salvation. It's not too late. If you decide today and you say Lord I'm going to give myself fully completely to you it's not at all too late. So that in eternity you can stand there with Jesus without any regret.

If I read the Bible carefully the Word of God carefully I think there are some who are going to be in heaven with regret. I don't I can't explain it and people I've said this before and people have tried to explain it to me that somebody who lived in a completely selfish self-centered life all their life and then barely made it into heaven.

1st Corinthians 3 talks about this. Where his entire life's work is destroyed because it was wood, hay and straw. His own ideas and his own interests not gold, silver and precious stones. His entire life's work is burned up but he makes it barely.

Do you think such a person will not have regret? Where they stand there and they says I barely made it by the skin of my teeth but the whole life that I lived for myself is burned up. I can't imagine that such a person would not have regret.

But I want to tell you again the reason I want to believe that that that that is a real possibility is because the Bible says so in 1st Corinthians 3. Read it carefully and talks about different stars having different degrees of light but I'm not going to make that the basis of my message this morning to try to convince you of that but I'll tell you this I would rather believe that that's possible and live with such abandon and give my life so fully to Jesus today not because I don't want to have regret in heaven but because my eyes have been opened a little bit more to see exactly how much he gave up for me that he gave himself so fully so completely and it's heaven is irrelevant in that perspective I say Lord Jesus you gave yourself so fully so completely how can I live with seeking my own interests and living for myself even for one more minute on this earth and I wish I could go back and start over and live my entire life for you from the day I was born and this is where the beauty of the message of justification comes in if you have faith and you live in the faith of the justification that Jesus Christ has won for you he looks as if you today if you believe it and I tell you if any one of you is willing to believe this today it'll it is so because God said so he looks at you as if you were righteous all along as if from the very first day you followed him this is the finished work of Jesus Christ that he's done for me that I'm not sitting here thinking oh I wish I could have redone that yeah there's lots of things we could have redone I tell you God knows that and he chose you before the foundations of the world knowing all those things that you would those sinful years you would waste.

And that's why he sent his son the only one who could do such a perfect complete work that today if you believe him and you might be I don't know however old you are today if you believe and he says guess what.

You were righteous all along because Jesus righteousness who was righteous all along has been imparted to you. And when you see that does that say okay yeah. Fine. Then let me go on sinning some more because yeah Jesus has done it all right.

Then you haven't seen true justification. And you'll get a wake-up call in heaven or in hell. Probably first Peter chapter 1. We read in verse 17. If you address as father how deep the father's love for us.

Fear of God, Judgment, and the Precious Blood of Christ

We just sang it. And if you addressed him as father the one who impartially judges according to each one's work you see that let's read it slowly. The one you call him father and you say Jesus finished the work for everybody.

It's the finished work of Jesus. But if you call him father and he is an impartial judge according to each one's work. One who gave 1 barely made it in one who gave 100 God is going to judge each one's work impartially.

And the one who lived for himself or herself and just says oh well Lord the finished work of Jesus covered me. Right. I was righteous all along. He says I'm going to judge you by your work. And I'm going to judge that other person by their work.

If you address his father the one who impartially judges according to each one's work. So what should we do conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth. Why does that make you want to say I'm afraid.

Is this a message of fear. God has not given to us a spirit of fear. Is that the response of your heart. Ask God to open your eyes to say Lord what does first first Peter 1 verse 17 mean when it says that I should conduct myself in fear during my stay on this earth.

I'll tell you I spoke a little bit about that. The fear that I will have regret in heaven when it's too late. Let me when I face that situation where I say I could choose what will feel good for me. Or choose what is pleasing to the Lord.

Help me never to please myself. Help me to reject that not out of the love of God. Yeah the love of God can do that. But I've said this often in the church it's the kindness of God that lives us. It leads us to repentance.

But I believe it is the fear of God that keeps us from sin. Please remember this dear family. Yes the kindness of God the love of God leads us to repentance. But it is the fear of God that will keep us from sin having repented.

And you'll hear a lot in Christendom about the love of God. Come back the love of God. He'll go out over the mountains he'll chase you he'll round after you. And I believe in all of that with all of my heart.

I know the love of God is why I'm here today. But I also believe it is the fear of God. The fear that this verse talks about that keeps me from sin today. And it's no wonder that you hear almost every day some other pastor that is exposed with all kinds of evil sin who preached about the love of God and preached about the love of God and ran did evangelistic sermons and drew people sinners into God's house and all of that.

But they didn't fear God. So they themselves fell into sin and adultery. So it is conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth. Why is it. Because God is angry at you and about to hit you over the head.

No read. Let's continue. There's a semicolon or a comma at the end of that sentence at the end of that verse knowing conduct yourselves in fear during your time on this or the time of your stay on this earth knowing what that you weren't redeemed with precious things like silver and gold.

No that's how the Bible reads perishable things. Peter picks the most valuable thing that the world thinks of silver and gold. And he says listen. You weren't redeemed with a whole bunch of gold. Imagine if you were supposed to be put to death but somebody paid a large amount of money to set you free from that death.

You were sentenced to death death sentence. You're walking to the the chamber where they're going to strap you down and and put the fluid into you. And you're going to be killed put to death. And then somebody says hey listen.

I'll buy his soul. I'll buy him his life. And somehow the judge agrees to it. Okay. It's gonna cost you a lot. And this there's this room full of gold and silver which this person had to pay so that you're alive today.

And every day you have to walk by that room and you see in there wow that's a lot of gold and silver. That's why I'm alive today. And Peter says imagine such a large room full of gold and silver which is the reason why you're not in hell today.

And remember that is perishable. That's like dirt. That's like dung manure compared to what it was that Jesus had to pay for your soul. Let's read it carefully again. Conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth knowing that what you were not redeemed with perishable things earthly things just loose care light things cheap things like silver and gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers but with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless the blood of Christ.

Now take that same room and imagine that it's a big huge vat. You know the vat is a big bowl a big basin big basin transparent basin. And you walk by that every day. And you see it's blood. It's a whole basin a big bucket big huge bucket.

You know sometimes you go to these water parks. I think Chilson has it too. It's like big bucket fills up with water and after a while it slowly tips over this whole bucket dumps over on you. And it's fun.

But you know there's a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins. That is the reason that I'm redeemed today. That's what Peter is saying. It's like now I drew the picture of a room full of gold and silver.

You can think oh yeah that's. But that's perishable. Now you see this picture of a big huge basin full of the blood of Jesus and his blood had to be drained completely from him to fill that vat. That big huge bucket that could wash me from my sin.

The Lamb Who Was Slain in Revelation

Let's turn over to Revelation chapter 5. This is what singing about beholding the man upon the cross does for me says Lord. I want to live in fear. I don't want to take sin for granted. I don't want to ever again choose what feels good for me.

I don't want to please myself ever again because I've seen what you what the price you paid. Revelation chapter 5. This is John writing verse 1. I saw on the right hand of him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back sealed up with seven seals.

Book written inside and on the back sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a long voice. And I want to tell you what I believe. This book says on the back. It said it doesn't tell us.

This is this the picture I've got as I reading it just this morning I got on the back. It says inside are the names of those who are redeemed. That's written on the back. You can see what's in the back but something's written inside.

You can't see what's written inside. That's how I pictured it. A book written inside and on the back sealed up with seven seals. And what do you think your desire. What would be your response if I showed you a book and says hey inside is the names of those who are redeemed.

He says can I look. Is my name there. That was John's response as well. Let's continue reading. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice but it's sealed up. Remember there's a sealed book and a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals.

Loud voice in heaven. And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. Then I began to weep. You get a picture of what this is John. John has walked with Jesus for 60 years 65 years.

He's 90 years old. At this point he grew up the son of a God-fearing parents. I believe his mom was a disciple of Jesus. His dad also I think raised him in the fear of God. John walked with God leaned his head on Jesus at the age of 90 plus God gives him this vision of what was going on in heaven.

And he sees this book. And he knows his name is written in this book and he's not sure. And he says Lord is my name there. He says is there somebody that can open the book and write my name. And they're all confirmed that my name's in there.

And there was no one. And he began to weep. I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it. And then one of the elders said to me hey stop weeping. See this is John looking from.

He's still on earth. He hasn't really fully seen clearly sort of like he can see a little bit. He's seeing pictures here and there of what's going on in heaven. He's saying I'm wondering Lord is it me.

And there's no one to open the book. And then an elder comes to him and says listen it's okay. One of the elders said to me stop weeping. Behold the lion that is from the tribe of Judah the root of David has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals set to rest put to rest.

I hope you see that. I hope that does something for you. Not that you say oh that's great. Next time I'll sing a little bit louder. No Lord I want to conduct myself in fear when I'm here on this earth because it cost you the lamb.

It cost you the lion who's from the tribe of Judah. The lamb who was slain. He continues to say in verse 6 I saw between the throne with the four living creatures and the elders a lamb standing as if slain.

Verse 7. He came and took the book out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne when he had taken the book. The four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the lamb each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of instances.

Now we can sing. This is the meaning of it. Have you seen the lamb that was slain. Have you seen the precious blood of Jesus. And what it cost you does it cause you to want to live in fear here on this earth.

Then break out the harp and sing loudly. But sadly what's going on in a lot of Christendom is yeah just all you need is a good is a guitar and drums and a keyboard and some type musicians. And you can sing about and write all these love songs to God that are meaningful if they don't result in us living in fear in our days that are here on this earth.

They broke out the harp and the golden bowls full of incense and the prayers of the Saints. And they sang a new song and they said worthy are you to take the book and to break its seals. For you were slain and purchased for God with your blood with your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people a nation.

You have made them to be a kingdom priests to our God. They will reign upon the earth sometime. Read the rest of that chapter. I didn't plan to read it but I was sitting there after we sang and thought this is what I must start with.

It must result in a changed life otherwise it's meaningless. There's a memory I've had recently for the I've been reminded of for the last few weeks and that is it's one of my favorite childhood memories.

The Coming of Christ and the Train Platform

And that is of waiting on a train platform in India. In Bangalore usually at the train platform and we were going to go on a journey. I love trains. Trains are you know just the sound of the train the click-clack on the tracks and the sound of the and you know with each progression in technology I feel like that romance is gone.

The old steam engines had it the best. And then the diesel engines and then all the electric ones there they miss it a little bit. Okay. But I remember the first time I went on a train. It was a steam engine back in the day you see the guy putting coal and stoking it up and then this plumes of smoke coming up.

And anyway that was one of my favorite memories. But I the Lord took me back over the last few weeks recently to that memory of standing on the train and peaking. You know you don't get too too close to the edge of the platform because you you might fall over.

And of course my parents were always making sure I don't get too close. But you want to see. Is the train coming. Is the train coming. And that's the picture I've been reminded of recently of how we must live on this earth.

The train is coming brothers and sisters family trains coming. Jesus is coming very very soon. And if you're living on this earth without that peaking desire that says Lord I is it today. Will you come today.

Perhaps. Or is it. Oh yeah today I've got this job and I've got these meetings lined up and I've got that other thing to do. And I've got that other thing too. And our sense of eternity is completely robbed because of the busyness of the life we live.

And that's I caught myself a little bit with that in the last few weeks. I say Lord I never want to lose sight of eternity. I don't care whether it's good or bad in the earth's in the world's view if my day is a good day or a bad day that's irrelevant.

Eternity is coming. That's what matters. There's no longer good days or bad days. It's a day that I'm here. One more opportunity one last chance. Perhaps before Jesus comes the king is coming. The king is coming.

I can hear the trumpet sound it sings. And I'll see his blessed face soon. Are you. Are you listening for that trumpet sound. More than the phone that rings and the ding because you got a text message or some other social media post or an Instagram follow or something that are you listening for the trumpet sound.

And it is a trumpet. I'll tell you that but it's you won't hear it unless you're listening for it. And I thought about what it was like on those platforms in India. There was vendors selling things. You know you could buy lovely cup of chai or Indian coffee or some snacks some somebody else make trying to make a little bit of money because there's people on the platform all of these little things as pictures of what's going on in the world today.

It says that Jesus said the coming of the Son of Man will be like the days of Noah. When what were they doing. Yeah there was sin going on. But you know what Jesus said they were just living everyday lives marrying giving in marriage doing business.

And then the Son of Man came like a thief of night. The flood came like a thief in the night and the Son of Man will come like that. There were vendors there beggars people wanting a little bit of money there on the platform.

I remember thinking if you had to go to the restroom you better hurry up and do it before in case you miss the train because the train comes and you know it was a particular train station that we would go to which wasn't like the main you know the main terminal it was like a station along the way and so the train would only stop for a couple minutes.

I mean literally I think it was like two minutes and it was a short train stop because it was a stop along the way the main destination was quite a distance from our home so we would usually not be able to go there.

And can you imagine my parents with us for kids and all our bags. We're getting ready. And literally I remember my parents having a little bit of nervousness and like okay we got to be ready. Be ready because the train comes.

You've got literally a short amount of time to get everything on otherwise you're being left behind. And that's the picture I've been reminded off over and over and over again for the last few weeks. Are you ready.

Have you set matters right. Have you forgiven everybody that needs to be forgiven. Or is there baggage. Is there something that will be left behind. Some matter that will be set right when you get on the train and then you realize the trains left and it's too late.

If you had to go to the restroom it's like quick I don't go in there. Quick you know mom would rush us in and like okay go to the bathroom quick come back on. Or actually I don't remember ever getting to go to the bathroom on the platform.

It was like nope forget it. You got to hold it till you get on the train. If you didn't go before you left home. Tough. That's that's the mentality. I believe we need brothers and sisters. There's no time to waste on things that are irrelevant.

Set it right now. Don't wait till next week. Don't wait till next month or next year. You're not guaranteed that you'll have it. Set it right now. Luggage. Make sure everything's there. Ready to go. You got your hand halfway on the bags ready to go because the trains coming.

It's not oh the one bags over here one bags over there. And and I thought about those bags like our homes our children our responsibilities the things that God will call us to give account for. Do you know where they are.

Do you know well your flock brothers and sisters. Fathers. Do you know your hearts of your children. Mothers. Do you know the hearts of your children. You know what's going on in them. Your hands on the bag handles as it were.

Because God has entrusted that to you. They won't get left behind. Let's turn to Psalm 39. Psalm 39 begin reading. In verse 1 I said I will guard my ways. Look at this. This is David in the Old Testament.

Measuring Life by Eternity

He doesn't have the Holy Spirit living within him. He's had experiences of the Holy Spirit coming upon him but the reverence he has. This is a song. You know I wish we sang more songs about the fear of God.

You don't see too many of that. But this is David writing a song. David. I imagine David in the pastures with the sheep. And the Lord tells him hey David. I notice you've written a lot of songs about how you love me and I'm your shepherd.

All that. But have you written one recently about guarding your ways. David says okay Lord give me a song that Santosh RLCF will read 3 ,000 4 ,000 years from now. He says I said I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue.

I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle while the wicked are in my presence. I was mute and silent. I refrained even from good. And my sorrow grew worse. My heart was hot within me. While I was musing the fire burned.

There was a burning within him. Then I spoke with my tongue. Why did God instruct him to put a muzzle over his mouth. Why does James say it's. Be slow to speak and quick to listen. Take time before you spout off at the mouth before you just say that.

Be slow to speak. Say less. Whether it's in the home or in the workplace or here in our meetings. Be slow to speak. Be quick to listen. Why. Because he says in verse 4 look at what happened to David. This has been my prayer.

Lord. I want to be slower to speak. I want my words to be few. We sing in another song. You are God in heaven. Here I am on earth. And so let my words be few. You're God in heaven. I'm here on earth. Help me never to forget that.

Help me never to think that I can lift up my head and say how dare you God. Let my words be few. You're God in heaven. I'm here on earth. He says Lord verse 4. Make me to know my end. And what is the extent of my days.

How long are my days. Help me to know that. You see the quietness that came upon David as he was singing the song. Because God showed him David. I know you're a great singer and all that. But you've got a short amount of time here on this earth.

Verse 5. Behold you have made my days as hand breaths. That's a hand breath right there. I think it used to be 10 inches. My fingers are getting shorter. It's about nine and a half inches. Now hand breath children the next time you want to know how long your life is.