I want the world to get the real deal. I want them to get it better from me. I want to validate my new birth with greater authenticity in my family, my neighborhood, my church, and this world. (John Piper “You Must Be Born Again: Why This Series And Where Are We Going” — November 18th, 2007)

I had an amazing day today. For the first time (I believe) in almost ten years, I spent THREE HOURS at church in the most authentic , loving, genuine and true expressions of Christ-exalting, God-honoring worship. And tonight, as I began working my way through a series that John Piper preached on the New Birth, I was struck by a statement that encapsulated why today was so beautiful for me and what I long for Eternity to be.

I want Eternity to be a place where:

  • People worship in un-hindered ways following the prompting of the Holy Spirit
  • People truly pray “on the spot” and we don’t just spend “a time of prayer” (code for let’s give lip service to prayer but let’s move it along because the timer is going and we have to get done in 75 minutes)
  • People are able to confess and ask forgiveness not just of God but of each other and know that grace and mercy are freely given and received
  • People know each other deeply and passionately and what they’re hopes, dreams, fears, and needs truly are
  • People hear the Bible taught, proclaimed, and worshipped over because it is how the God of the universe had chosen to reveal Himself to us
  • People are thinking more of what Jesus is doing at that moment than whether or not the roast will be burned when they get home
  • Jesus is so real that the idea of being plastic with either God or each other is offensive and rebuked.
  • Passion for Jesus consumes us.

In essence, I want Eternity to be a place where people who are truly born again can live out their lives in radically sacrificial and generous ways.

And on the flip side, I want Eternity to be a place where those who care more about the world than they do about Jesus are overwhelmed and tremble at the expression of love, sacrifice, generosity, grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, justice, and zeal evident in those who have been born again and laid all down at the feet of King Jesus.

I want Eternity to be different. I want me to be different.