Confronted with Eternity — E.A. Johnston

C.T. Studd’s Sacrifice for the Gospel

C .T. Studd came from a wealthy family, and when he gave his life to Christ, he was willing to do what the rich young ruler would not, and he gave away his vast inheritance. He went from growing up in one of the largest mansions in England at Tedford to living his last days in a thatched hut in the jungles of Africa so he could reach the lost and perishing heaven with the gospel.

“Only One Life” and the Call to Live for Eternity

Studd penned a poem that has become famous as it has inspired thousands of Christians for several generations, and it goes like this. Only one life, which will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last.

And every time I read that poem, I am confronted with eternity, and that's the title of my message today, friends, Confronted with Eternity. It's easy to be absorbed with things that consume our energy and time, whether it's a demanding career or a pursuit of something.

Most people live their lives unto themselves and leave this earth hoping to leave some impression upon it, but very few live for eternity, and ironically, life is brief and eternity is forever. At times, God can place someone in our life who has a godly influence on us and who God can use to change the course of our life for Christ and the sake of the gospel.

Stephen Olford’s Influence and a Life Transformed

I'll never forget the day I sat listening to Dr. Stephen Olford preach a Holy Spirit anointed message, and something inside of me transpired as I heard him quote C .T. Studd by ending his sermon with, Only one life, which will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last.

And I chewed on that for a while over the next few days as I was challenged to do something for Christ Jesus. At the time, I was a wealthy businessman whose main pursuit was money and the world. All I wanted to do in those days was to make money, travel, and play as much golf as I could.

I had a fine, sprawling home filled with fine art, and I owned a second home in Florida. I spent most of my leisure time playing golf at my country club, and all was well in my world until I heard Stephen Olford preach that day, for it disturbed something inside of me.

Those words, only what's done for Christ will last, made me realize I had done absolutely nothing for Christ with my life. I realized that what had incurred inside of me was the fact that I had lived my life for this world, but now, through Dr. Olford's preaching, I was confronted with eternity.

Mark 8 and the Cost of Discipleship

And it so shocked me. It literally turned my world upside down. I remember I was sitting in my study, reading my Bible in Mark's Gospel, Chapter 8, and verses 34 and 35, which state,. And when he had called the people unto him, with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. And as I read that text, the words, whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel, leaped right off the page and burned in my conscience like a hot iron, I made a vow to God that day as I wrote in the flyleaf of my Bible the following words, What is my life, that I should keep it, selfishly for me?

I choose to lose it, so completely, and have it found in thee. Little did I know at the time, what deep waters God would place me through, by tragedy and adverse circumstances, in the following years that would make that verse a reality in my life, my world as I knew it was lost for Christ and the sake of the gospel.

Risking Everything for Christ

I believe, friends, that God is on the lookout for the person who would go all out for Christ, and who will venture his all on Christ and the gospel, and that entails a willingness to lose all for him, so he may be gained.

It's true, friend, that we only have one life, and how we spend it will impact our eternity, and I know for a fact that only what's done for Christ will last. Perhaps God will be pleased to jar your life by his spirit and confront you with eternity.

Are you willing to lose all for Christ and the gospel, or will you hang on to what you have, and what you feel is too important to risk on a life lived on the out-and-out for Christ? Self-preservation goes against Mark 8, 35.

Losing One’s Life to Save It

For whosoever shall save his life shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. But I will say this, friend, once you are confronted with eternity, things will never be the same again.

Let us pray.