Everlasting: (Adjective) 1. Lasting or enduring through all time: Eternity (Noun) 1. Eternity – Merriam-Webster Online

There seems to be no question about that everlasting means forever.

This morning as I read and study the word “everlasting” I am brought to the passage in Genesis where God establishes His covenant with Abraham (whose name changed in the passage). The covenant is centered around circumcision of the men of the household of Abraham. Now, I am am not looking at circumcision this morning, but the covenant itself.

“⁷And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.” — Genesis 17:7 (ESV)

God establishes His covenant with Abraham and in the passage indicates everlasting three times. This tells me that it is quite the thing and should be remembered as significant. The everlasting covenant is forever. It is for eternity. It is for always. It is.

In this instance, the established covenant extends beyond just Abraham and his immediate family. It extends into any who are associated with his household. All who are under the authority of Abraham have the benefit of the established covenant with God.

“¹²He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, ¹³both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant.” — Genesis 17:12-13 (ESV)

I see here that the covenants of God are everlasting and not just for those originally signed up. The covenants are extended to any and all who are given then opportunity to be added to the book of Christ at any time. Abraham was the father of all nations and therefore all nations are under his authority and by extension, all have been granted the established covenant with Christ.

Now the time of the Old Testament has passed, and God’s New Covenant has overwritten the Old Covenants, but the old is still everlasting. The old covenant still holds true forever. I am under the house of Abraham and benefit from the established love and care of God the Father for eternity.

What does everlasting mean to you? Are you able to take things into the forever, or are they just established for the now? What if we believed that things are forever and took the chance to be a part of them for eternity?

When I make a promise, I like to believe that it is forever, and as I know it, they have been. But have I really ever stated it to be that way. God has and does continually.

“¹⁴When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, ¹⁵I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. ¹⁶When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” — Genesis 9:14-16 (ESV)

God’s promise of not destroying the earth or all that is on it, by water again is “everlasting”. God has even given a sign to Himself and to us as a reminder of that promise. I can only be grateful of this reminder each and every day.

This morning I wonder as I read, if there is some sort of reminder that I can have for me and others that what I say I mean and that is what I will do. Is there a reminder that I can use to keep my promises front of mind. I know that there is, I just have to remember to tap into that reminder daily. That reminder is Christ.

Each year I choose “One Word” that I use as my guide in changing or driving my approach for that year and onward. This practice I began after reading the book by Jon Gordon, Dan Britton, and Jimmy Page, “One Word that will change your life”. This word is not something that is just picked from the air and then broadcast for the world to “see”. There is thought and prayer and contemplation in the choosing of this yearly “One Word” and then once I have chosen, I have a bracelet made for my daily wear and reminder of that word for the year. I believe that there is the opportunity to do this with the promises I make to others in the name of Christ.

I know that there are a lot of people out there that are wearing a cross each day. That cross being worn is for a number of reasons and I am certainly not going to pass judgment on anyone’s motives. I will say that what a reminder that will be of the promise God made with us and we should be carrying that promise on to others. I have to not only have the reminder of the promise from Christ, but I can use that reminder for me and the promises made to others. It is up to me to be reminded of the promises I have made to others so that I will know that the promise was forever.

God gave himself and us a reminder (rainbow) of His covenant to not destroy the world with water ever again and each time He and we see that reminder. I have to remember the everlasting covenant that was established and know that when I make promises, they too must be everlasting.

Your promises, what timeline do you place on them? Are you making promises on the surface and not establishing them forever? What if you took each promise as forever and utilized a reminder of that forever to keep that promise?

Who understands anything when there is chaos? When everyone is speaking at once, who do we listen to? What is the focus when there is so many things grabbing our attention? The answer that is there is only chaos and noise and things happening.

“⁴⁰But all things should be done decently and in order.” — 1 Corinthians 14:40 (ESV)

Without order, there is nothing to truly focus our attention. There has to be something to focus on to really get things done. In fact there are studies that have confirmed that the humans can only have concentrated focus on one thing at a time. Yes, people will tell that they are really great at multi-tasking and they truly believe that, but reality is that they are task switching and not multi-tasking. They are moving from item to item quickly and giving full attention to the one at the switch and the other is left out.

There has to be order and focus for things to really take effect. Since we are not able to focus on multiple things, the chaos that some say they thrive in is just giving them nervous energy and creates more work for their brains and subsequently the rest of themselves. There has to be order and not the constant bouncing from one topic to the other.

“²⁶What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up…³¹For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged,” — 1 Corinthians 14:26 & 31 (ESV)

I know that everyone wants to be heard and not left out. There is also limited time in a lot if not all situations and some may not have an opportunity to share and encourage. This is where order must take shape. There has to be a plan to ensure that everyone has their opportunity to be heard. There has to be order to that which occurs for the even to worthwhile and meaningful.

No, not everything that is spoken or shared will be for everyone, but that is the reason for the order. There has to be the opportunity for everyone to be heard and everyone to have an opportunity to hear and decide for themselves. If the order is not there, then the loudest and most domineering is the one or ones that are heard and all else is left out. Just because the message is loud, does not mean that it is meaningful, it is just loud. The encouragement for all others may come from what was not heard and that would be a travesty to deprive someone of an opportunity to be encouraged. For those that do not find that which is being spoken at the moment useful, they would also have the opportunity to turn their focus elsewhere for the moment and come back at the next speaker or presenter.

In the order there will be encouragement for everyone. That encouragement may not come at the same time for each one, but during each presentation, someone will find encouragement and during another someone else. It is this order that allows for the focus on the one and thereby allowing that human to concentrate and find the encouragement meant for them.

Where are you looking for encouragement? Are you finding yourself in the chaos looking for that one nugget? What if you placed yourself and operated in a more orderly environment so that your focus could be on the one thing and you would be able to find the encouragement meant for you?

As a Christian, I know that it is my role to be the one who encourages. I am to serve others knowing that I am doing the work of God. I am to give of myself to ensure that others are taken care of. But, I too need to be encouraged.

I have seen too often in society that the Christians are vilified for standing up. We are looked upon as though somehow in order to be a Christian, we are to simply be quiet and pray. We are to only give and care for others. And, when we do not, for whatever reason, we are treated as though we are somehow in the wrong. We are in a position of adversity no matter the situation. We need to be encouraged, if at minimum, to continue the work. Paul, understood this and in his letter to the Romans, expressed that he draws on the encouragement of others to continue his work for the Lord.

“¹¹For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— ¹²that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. ¹³I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.” — Romans 1:11-13 (ESV)

Paul was doing the work of Christ in every corner of every place that he went. He brought encouragement and teaching and love. Here in his letter, he clearly states that he needs some too. He indicates that seeing and interacting with fellow Christians brings him comfort and energy. He feels the love and acceptance and warmth of brothers and sisters in Christ. He is able to be encouraged by those that are seemingly in need of encouragement.

I know that when I am doing work and witness growth and learning in others, I am given energy to continue with the work to see more of it. I have heard and use the saying, “if see something you like, recognize it and you will see more of it”. I do not know where it specifically came from, but here I want to relate it to the encouragement I get from others. When I am in an environment where I gain encouragement through the growth and learning of others, that is the something I like and I have to recognize it and take that into the next. By recognizing, I am energized to see it again and again and again. That encouragement drives me to continue.

I have to remember to be encouraged, not through the recognition of others, but through the fellowship and opportunities to see growth in others. It is the growth in Christ that gives me energy. It is the encouraging of others and recognizing their positive response that encourages me to continue doing more of the same.

What encourages you? Are you so caught up in being the one that encourages and it is lost as to the reason you are doing the work? What if you took the opportunity while encouraging others to recognize the encouragement you are receiving in return for the growth and learning of those you encourage?

I remember when I was selected by the church to be ordained as a deacon. I and Lori thought, how in the world as I am less than 40 years old and will be tasked with leading the church in its spiritual growth. I was truly taken aback that others would see me as mature enough to take on such a role.

The fact of the matter is that God chooses who He chooses. There is a reason that we are tasked with what we are tasked and He knows where we are in our relationship and journey with Him. God knew that the time was right for me and selected me as a result. I may not have “felt” ready, but God knew I was.

Now, what to do with this task that God has given. First, I have to remember that I would not have been select unless I was mature in my faith and my walk with Christ. I would not have been asked to lead if I were not ready to lead. I would need only to remember that as a leader, it was my role to build up and bring others closer to Him.

“¹Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, ²older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.” — 1 Timothy 5:1-2 (ESV)

I found myself in the middle of those in the church. I was not of the older generation, and was not part of the youth. I was right there in the middle. I had to be the one to encourage the growth of others. I had to be the one who encourages.

God is not looking for the dynamic, larger than life individual to do all of the work He has planned in this world. He is looking for those who are close to Him and mature in their relationship and faith. He is looking for you. He knows where you are and what you can accomplish. He needs those who will build others up and those who will help them grow in their own faith and relationship with Him. He is looking to bring others into the leadership role and that starts with your being the on who encourages.

What is your role in where you are? Are you gliding along? What if you took to the role of the one who encourages to build others up into the mature followers of Christ they can be?

“¹⁴And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (ESV)

And there you have it, the recipe for service summed up in just one verse from Paul’s letter. As a servant, I am to act with others in that way to get them going/moving toward the goal. I am to coach them with encouragement, and help and patience, all while ensuring that they are indeed moving and not just sitting idle waiting for the world to come to them.

I have said before and fully believe that I have found my mission in improving lives through growth and learning, and that can only happen with an approach of service using the recipe listed above. I have to take on the characteristics of service and know that I am guiding others in their movement toward the goal.

It may not seem like much and that there is no real action happening with this recipe. I will remind that doing for someone is not doing them any favors. Giving them everything will not provide for their prolonged success in what they do. It is important that we teach them so that they will have the better chance of sustained success and will be able to overcome future adversity.

“Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” — Unknown

Above is an oft quoted proverb that hold true today, and is paramount in this recipe. I have to teach to fish so that the receiver will be able to feed themselves over and over and over. By simply giving them all/everything, they will continue to come to me again and again with hand out and asking me to “fix” things for them. When teaching them, they will come to me again and again, only now they will be telling how they overcame.

I have to remember the recipe and provide for the needs of others through encouragement, help, and patience. I have to know that the others will get it, I only have to serve them with the know how and then support them and watch their growth.

What does you service look like? Are you giving fish to other? What if you followed the recipe for service and provided the encouragement, help, and patience needed to teach them to fish for themselves?