Living for the Eventual: Judgment is Coming

Devotional

Day 1: Living for the Eventual, Not the Immediate

The call is to live with an eye toward eternity, letting the certainty of Christ’s return and coming judgment shape our daily choices and attitudes. Rather than being swept up in the urgent demands and distractions of the present—like the world’s obsession with “Black Friday” over the true meaning of “White Christmas”—believers are urged to assess whether their lives reflect anticipation of Christ’s return or a fixation on temporary pleasures. This perspective brings both joy and sobriety, knowing that judgment is coming for all, and that our present living should be marked by readiness, hope, and a distinct difference from the world. [43:44]

Matthew 24:36-44 (ESV)
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are living for the immediate rather than the eventual? How can you shift your focus today to reflect the hope and urgency of Christ’s return?

Day 2: The Battle with Sin and the Call to Holiness

Though Christ has broken the power of sin, believers still contend with its presence, like an old landlord who now lingers as a troublesome tenant. The struggle is not to achieve sinless perfection, but to continually assess and deal with sin, refusing to let it dictate our actions or priorities. This ongoing battle is evidence of belonging to Christ, and the willingness to pay the price to resist sin is part of living for God’s will rather than for fleeting desires. [47:26]

1 Peter 4:1-3 (ESV)
“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.”

Reflection: What is one “old landlord” behavior or temptation that keeps trying to reclaim space in your life? What practical step can you take today to resist its influence and live for God’s will?

Day 3: Calm and Clarity in a World of Urgency

In a world that feels increasingly heavy and urgent, believers are called to be calm and clear-headed, not anxious or reactionary. This posture—alert but not alarmed, sober-minded but not fearful—enables meaningful prayer and a deeper connection with God. Rather than letting the world’s chaos dictate our responses, we are to breathe, stay steady, and let the peace of God guard our hearts and minds as we look toward eternity. [01:09:44]

1 Peter 4:7 (ESV)
“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.”

Reflection: When you feel the weight of the world or anxiety about the future, what is one way you can pause, breathe, and regain calm and clarity so you can pray more effectively today?

Day 4: Love That Stretches and Covers

Above all else, believers are called to love one another deeply—a love that stretches us, covers a multitude of sins, and creates a safe space for others. This kind of love is not just a feeling but an action that offers grace, hospitality, and acceptance, even when it’s inconvenient or costly. When we love in this way, we reflect the heart of Christ, experience His covering over our own failures, and become a compelling witness to a watching world. [01:13:44]

1 Peter 4:8-9 (ESV)
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”

Reflection: Who is one person in your life that needs you to stretch and offer deeper love or hospitality to them this week? What specific action can you take to create a safe space for them?

Day 5: Using Your Gifts for God’s Glory

Every believer has received gifts from God, and we are called to steward them faithfully by serving others. Whether it’s a talent, a resource, or a spiritual gift, God intends for us to use what He’s given us to build up the body of Christ and make a difference in the world. This is not about self-promotion or obligation, but about participating in God’s grace and purpose, knowing that judgment begins with God’s household and our lives are meant to reflect His holiness and love. [01:18:14]

1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV)
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Reflection: What is one gift, talent, or resource God has given you that you can intentionally use to serve someone else this week? How will you take that step today?

Sermon Summary

Today, we witnessed the beautiful testimony of two women—one young, one older—publicly declaring their faith in Christ through baptism. This act is a vivid reminder that Jesus did not come to make bad people good, but to make dead people alive. The resurrection of Christ is not just a historical event; it is the dividing line between those who are truly alive and those who are not. Every person will live forever, but the question is whether that eternity will be spent with Christ or apart from Him.

Reflecting on Jesus’ words in Matthew 24, we are reminded that no one knows the day or hour of His return. The world, much like in the days of Noah, is busy with daily life, often oblivious to the coming judgment. The call is not to live in anxious speculation about when Christ will return, but to let the certainty of His coming create an urgency in how we live now. This urgency is not about panic or fear, but about living with purpose and distinction, shaped by the reality of eternity.

There is a profound difference between living for the immediate and living for the eventual. Our culture is obsessed with the immediate—like the frenzy of Black Friday—while losing sight of the greater reality, the “white Christmas” of Christ’s return and final judgment. As followers of Jesus, we are called to let the eventual shape our immediate. This means assessing our lives, not just avoiding obvious sins, but also considering how we spend our time, our energy, and our love. Are we living for fleeting pleasures, or are we investing in what will last forever?

Peter’s exhortation is clear: since Christ suffered for sin, we must arm ourselves with the same attitude. Sin no longer rules us, but it still resides within us, like an annoying tenant in the basement. The battle against sin is ongoing, but it is evidence that we belong to Christ. We are called to live for the will of God, not for human desires. This involves practical steps: being calm and clear-headed, loving one another deeply, offering hospitality, and using our spiritual gifts to serve others. Above all, we must let the reality of coming judgment move us to both joy and holy dread—joy for our salvation, and dread for those who do not know Christ.

The end of all things is near. Every day brings us closer to the return of Christ. Let us be people who live with calm assurance, deep love, and open hearts, making space for others and stewarding our gifts well. May the weight of eternity press into our daily lives, shaping us to be holy and different, so that we might make an eternal difference in the lives of those around us.

Key Takeaways

1. Let Eternity Shape Your Present Choices Living with the awareness of Christ’s return and coming judgment should fundamentally alter how we approach daily life. Rather than being swept up in the urgency of the immediate, we are called to let the certainty of eternity create a holy urgency in our present. This means making decisions not just for today, but in light of forever, allowing the hope and weight of eternity to guide our actions, priorities, and relationships. [36:39]
2. The Battle with Sin Is Ongoing but Not Defining Though sin no longer rules us, it still resides within us, persistently seeking to draw us back. The struggle itself is evidence of belonging to Christ, for only those who are alive in Him feel the tension and desire to resist. True spiritual maturity is not the absence of struggle, but the willingness to pay the price to deal with sin, continually assessing our hearts and refusing to let the immediate dictate our lives. [47:26]
3. Love Deeply and Make Space for Others Peter calls us to stretch ourselves in love, offering a covering for one another’s failures and creating safe spaces for others in our lives. This love is not sentimental but sacrificial, mirroring Christ’s own love for us. When we love deeply and offer hospitality—whether in our homes or simply in our hearts—we become a living witness to the world of the reality and power of the gospel. [72:32]
4. Use Your Gifts for the Good of the Body Each believer has been entrusted with spiritual gifts, uniquely empowered by the Holy Spirit for the building up of the church. Stewarding these gifts well means serving others, not out of obligation, but as an overflow of God’s grace in our lives. The church’s greatest witness is not just in what we avoid, but in what we actively do to bless, serve, and build up one another. [78:14]
5. The Coming Judgment Is Both Joy and Dread For those in Christ, the coming judgment is a source of overwhelming joy, the fulfillment of all hope. Yet it is also a cause for holy dread, knowing the eternal consequences for those who do not know Him. This dual reality should move us to urgent prayer, bold witness, and compassionate action, longing for others to join us in the hope of resurrection life. [65:10]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[15:26] - Baptism: From Death to Life
[35:03] - Jesus’ Return and the Days of Noah
[36:39] - Urgency Without Anxiety
[37:47] - Living for the Eventual, Not the Immediate
[39:36] - Black Friday vs. White Christmas
[41:38] - Judgment: Joy or Dread?
[45:11] - 1 Peter 4: Living in Light of Christ
[46:44] - Sin: The Old Landlord
[48:24] - The Ongoing Battle with Sin
[50:03] - Living for God’s Will
[53:41] - You’ve Had Enough of the Old Life
[56:19] - Assessing Our Use of Time
[59:10] - Distinctive Living and Worldly Reactions
[65:10] - The Weight of Judgment and the Gospel
[69:44] - Calm and Clear-Headed in Troubled Times
[72:32] - Love That Covers and Stretches
[76:09] - Hospitality: Making Space for Others
[78:14] - Using Spiritual Gifts to Serve
[80:16] - Judgment Begins with God’s Household
[81:02] - The Call to Respond to Christ
[82:04] - Living Holy, Making a Difference
[83:19] - Blessing and Thanksgiving

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 24:36-44 (ESV) — > “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

1 Peter 4:1-11 (ESV) — > Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

> The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Observation Questions

According to Matthew 24, what does Jesus say about the timing of His return? How does He compare it to the days of Noah?
In 1 Peter 4, what does Peter say is the reason Christ suffered in His body, and what attitude should believers have as a result?
What are some of the practical instructions Peter gives for how believers should live “since the end of all things is near”?
The sermon compared “Black Friday” and “White Christmas” as metaphors. What do these represent in the context of the message? [[39:36]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus emphasizes that no one knows the day or hour of His return? How should this affect the way believers live each day?
The sermon said, “Jesus did not come to make bad people good, but to make dead people alive.” What does this mean for how we view salvation and the Christian life? [[15:26]]
Peter says that sin no longer rules us, but it still resides within us “like an annoying tenant in the basement.” How does this image help us understand the ongoing struggle with sin? [[46:44]]
The message talked about living for the “eventual” (eternity) rather than the “immediate” (temporary pleasures). What are some dangers of living only for the immediate, according to the sermon? [[41:13]]

Application Questions

The sermon challenged us to “let eternity shape your present choices.” What is one area of your life where you tend to focus on the immediate rather than the eternal? What would it look like to let eternity shape your decisions in that area? [[41:13]]
Peter calls us to “love one another deeply” and to “offer hospitality.” Who is someone in your life right now that needs you to make space for them, either in your home or in your heart? What practical step could you take this week? [[01:12:32]]
The message described the ongoing battle with sin as evidence that we belong to Christ. Is there a particular sin or struggle that feels like an “annoying tenant” in your life? How can you arm yourself with the attitude of Christ to keep fighting that battle? [[46:44]]
The sermon said, “The church’s greatest witness is not just in what we avoid, but in what we actively do to bless, serve, and build up one another.” What is one spiritual gift or talent you have that you could use more intentionally to serve others in the church? [[01:18:14]]
The coming judgment was described as both “joy and holy dread.” How does this dual reality affect your motivation to pray for, witness to, or serve those who do not know Christ? [[01:05:10]]
The message encouraged us to be “calm and clear-headed” in troubled times. What is one practical way you can cultivate calmness and clarity in your relationship with God this week, especially when you feel anxious about the world? [[01:09:44]]
The sermon gave examples of how we can waste time on things like social media, hobbies, or shopping. Is there something in your life that is taking up too much of your time or attention? What is one step you could take to reassess your priorities in light of eternity? [[56:01]]

Sermon Clips

The thing about Black Friday is it creates the urgency for all the wrong reasons. Like, people are losing their minds to get an $89 TV at Walmart. You don't need an $89 TV as much as you need a white Christmas. You don't need a deal on a TV. You need to meet the Lord, right? There's something so profound about the different attitudes now. And we just, and I'm not a Bob Humbug guy. Listen, for years, I'll show my age. How many of y'all remember when Chick-fil-A was in the mall? [00:39:38] (31 seconds) #BeyondBlackFriday

You can allow the future judgment of God to produce an assessment for your present living. That you and I, in fact, it's amazing, but the church is called to actually, its first response is to be overwhelming joy that the judgment is coming. And then overwhelming dread because the judgment is coming. Because we know that the alternative to Christ is eternally devastating. And so, we celebrate the reality. It's just like, it's just like Christmas. We celebrate the reality of a white Christmas, but we know it's going to be a high price paid for many people because it's going to be their Black Friday. [00:43:15] (39 seconds) #JoyAndDread

If you were an apartment building, sin used to be the landlord. Sin dictated everything. He told you how much the rent was. He told you what you could do, what you couldn't do, when you were going to do it, when you weren't going to do it. He was the landlord. He was just in control and dictated everything. But then Christ came and bought the apartment building. He's no longer the landlord, but the problem is Jesus let him stay as a tenant. And this tenant lives in the basement. And he's as annoying a tenant as you're ever going to have. [00:46:40] (30 seconds) #TenantInTheBasement

At a certain moment, there's a decision to be made. Are we going to live for the immediate or the eventual? Are we going to live for the reality that white Christmas is coming or Black Friday is here? What are we looking at? What is literally, think about it this way. What would be the more appropriate question for a, a saved person to ask about Black Friday? What time does the store open? What time does the store close? Right. A follower of Christ in life would say, I don't care what time it opens because you ain't dictating my behavior. [00:50:17] (47 seconds) #ChooseEventualOverImmediate

Anybody who paints this rosy picture like it's not hard to live for the will of God is not living for the will of God. I can tell you that much. Like, so where, is there any enjoyment to be had, right? And Peter said, now look, stop, don't whine to me for you've already spent enough time in the past already doing what pagans choose to do. In other words, you've had more than enough cookies. Alright? Don't go complaining like, oh, being a Christian I don't get to do anything. [00:53:04] (34 seconds) #NoEasyChristianLife

I don't think the greatest deterrent to the gospel being proclaimed is the things that we are doing. I think it's the things that we're not doing. I think there's behaviors that we're called to and we're not actively participating. Remember last week I talked about resistance and replacement. We've got to get and that's why the assessment is necessary and you're going to see those behaviors in a second. [01:04:47] (22 seconds) #DoWhatGodCalls

Above all what's the most important thing well Peter's going to tell you you got to love each other deeply we got to get this right okay and this glorious godly love has to be done deeply and it's a great word it means to stretch to be overstretched like almost stretched thin is your love for the family of believers stretching you or annoying you is it stretching you or is it bothering you are you really being stretched to love deeply and he's going to tell you some of the things we need to do. [01:11:50] (51 seconds) #LoveDeeplyStretch

``When we love one another because we all know we're battling the same things we may not be behaving the same way but we're battling the same thing sin and we love people anyway it covers them because what was the consequence of sin in the garden they felt naked and ashamed and God doesn't want his people walking around naked and ashamed and while yes the old saying we don't love the sin but we you know we love the sinner yes you must and it just you just feel better when those people that are around you still accept you when you have failed in front of them. [01:13:25] (32 seconds) #LoveTheSinner

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling now in their day this was pretty much a mandate an expectation when a wayward traveler was coming through town and there was no room in the inn they just go knock on the next door and say hey we're traveling come on in you can lay on the floor we'll get you something to eat want something to eat we got you spend the night and be on their way how does that apply to us today well ultimately what they did in their homes we got to do in our heart you got to make room for people. [01:15:25] (32 seconds) #HospitalityHeart

For it is time for judgment to begin with God's household it's time why is it time because it's always time for us to deal with God assessing how we're doing read Revelation it's a letter to seven churches at times now and if it should begin with us what shall the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God if it's hard for the righteous to be saved what will become of the ungodly and the sinner that's a great question tragically I can answer it you will be separated from the presence of Christ for all eternity. [01:19:25] (45 seconds) #JudgmentBeginsAtHome

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