Eternity is impacted by your decisions in this world

Use circumstances to impact eternity

Worldly circumstances do not dictate or indicate eternal destiny! But worldly circumstances CAN be used to change our eternal destiny.

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Act 3:1 (ESV) Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

9th hour was 15:00 or 3 o’clock

Jews have three times of prayer nine, noon, and three. These are the times that Daniel prayed in the Old Testament when his adversaries caught him and got him sent to the lion’s den…

Peter and John are going to worship at a place dedicated to the worship of God but managed and controlled by people who dishonored God. Why? Why not start their own synagogue? Establish their own temple? They did not go to the temple of Diana or Zeus or Molech…

They were not about earthly organizations and structures but about honoring God and making disciples. When rejected at the place built to honor God they did go to private residences…

They use the worldly circumstances to the best of their ability to accomplish their eternal task – make disciples.

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Act 3:2 (ESV) And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.

This was not an injury that would be could be healed over time. It was something the man was born with.

Alms are a way for men to acknowledge the value of everyone God has created. We should be acknowledging their inherent value in this act, not lifting ourselves up.

Alms should be for those who are in need not those that can provide for themselves.

He who will not work will not eat

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Act 3:3 (ESV) Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.

Act 3:4 (ESV) And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”

Act 3:5 (ESV) And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.

Act 3:6 (ESV) But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

One of the questions I find useful to ask myself throughout life but especially when reading God‘s Word - How is this impacting eternity?

Think of this man’s life - he just lays around all day, other people carry him where he needs to go, other people give him money for his needs…

Think about what the life goal of many people is in this world… To have nothing to do, sit around all day, have other people meeting your needs, no responsibilities… This is the worldview of “retirement“ or the idyllic life. NOT!

This man had no freedom, he was totally reliant on others and was unable to improve his own situation very much.

Getting healed gave him the freedom to be the master of his own “destiny” and yet, did it change his eternal destiny?

He goes from being totally dependent on others in a very demeaned position to freedom to take control of his temporal life and yet his eternal destiny has not changed.

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Act 3:7 (ESV) And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.

Act 3:8 (ESV) And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

Act 3:9 (ESV) And all the people saw him walking and praising God,

Act 3:10 (ESV) and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

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This man’s physical circumstances changed dramatically in this story yet the big story was when he gave glory to God! That is an indication that his ETERNAL circumstances have changed!

Our temporal circumstances do not limit or control our eternal destiny. Our temporal circumstances should point us to the ultimate eternal solution – a full commitment to a lifelong relationship with God that will take us into eternity as an adopted child of His!