We focus on the eternal Holy Trinity God.
God, who is Spirit (John 4:24), is eternal.
God the Father is eternal
(Romans 16:26).
The Son, Jesus Christ, who is eternal life, is also eternal
(1 John 1:1-2).
And the Holy Spirit is referred to as the eternal Spirit
(Hebrews 9:14).
We do not focus on ourselves but on this eternal Triune God.
We focus on Jesus, the source of eternal salvation.
Here is Hebrews 5:9:
“And having been made perfect,
He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him.”
Although Jesus was God’s Son,
He learned obedience through what He suffered and was made perfect (vv. 8-9).
Thus, Jesus became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him (v. 9).
Therefore, we focus on Jesus, the source of eternal salvation.
We focus on the everlasting gospel.
Look at Revelation 14:6:
“Then I saw another angel flying in midair,
and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—
to every nation, tribe, language and people.”
What is the gospel?
The gospel is about God’s Son
(Romans 1:2).
It is about Jesus’ birth (v. 3), Jesus’ death, and Jesus’ resurrection (v. 4).
The gospel is the virgin birth of Jesus Christ
(Matthew 1:18).
Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin,
Jesus died on the cross to redeem our sins—
that is the gospel (Romans 1:4).
And Jesus, who rose from the dead on the third day, is the gospel (Romans 1:4).
Jesus' humanity and divinity are the gospel (vv. 3-4).
The Apostle John called this the “eternal gospel”
(Revelation 14:6)
because Jesus, who is eternal life, is the eternal God
(1 John 1:2; cf. Romans 16:26).
We are chosen for this gospel
(Romans 1:1).
Therefore, we must share this gospel with both believers and non-believers.
We should not be ashamed of the gospel,
for it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes (v. 16).
This is because we are indebted to all people to share the gospel (v. 14).
Do you and I truly believe in the power of the gospel?
Do you and I truly not feel ashamed of the gospel?
Are you and I truly spreading this gospel of Jesus Christ?
We focus on eternal love.
The eternal God loves us eternally (1 Kings 10:9).
Jesus, who is eternal life and loves us with everlasting love,
demonstrated God's love for us by laying down His life on the cross (1 John 3:16).
God confirmed His love for us in this way (Romans 5:8).
The eternal Holy Spirit, who produces the fruit of love
(not the fleeting love of man, which is like a vanishing mist,
but God's eternal love), enables us to love God
with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves
(Galatians 5:22; Matthew 22:37, 39).
The eternal love of this Triune God is better than life itself,
and because of this, our lips cannot help but praise Him
(Psalms 63:3).
We do not focus on our love.
Hosea 6:4b from the Modern Korean Bible says:
“... your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.”
Our love is like the morning mist that appears briefly and then quickly vanishes.
Our love is never eternal.
Therefore, if we focus on love that is like the morning mist
while building relationships in marriage or with others,
we will inevitably be disappointed.
If we are loving our family and neighbors with temporary,
false love instead of God’s eternal, authentic love,
such love will not stay in our hearts for long.
It will quickly vanish from our hearts like the early dew.
Therefore, we do not focus on this kind of love.
We focus on eternal life.
We do not focus on our lives, which are like a mist
that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
The reason is that we are focused on the eternal life
promised to us directly by Christ (1 John 2:25),
the eternal life given to us by God through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16).
Therefore, like the Apostle Paul, we can also confess in faith,
"If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord.
So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord" (Romans 14:8).
We do not focus on our lives.
James 4:14 from the Modern Korean Bible says:
“You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life?
You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
Since we are not just passing mist but valuable to God,
we do not worry about what we will eat or drink
or what we will wear for our bodies (Matthew 6:25, 31).
The reason is that we trust that our heavenly Father knows
that we need all these things (v. 32).
Also, we believe Jesus’ words,
“Whoever wants to save their life will lose it,
but whoever loses their life for me will find it”
(Matthew 10:39; Ref.: 16:25).
Therefore, we do not focus on our lives.
We are those who are willing to lose our lives for Jesus and the gospel (Mark 8:35).
We do not consider our lives precious at all in our endeavor
to complete the task we received from the Lord Jesus,
to testify to the good news of God’s grace (Acts 20:24).
We focus on eternal atonement.
Hebrews 9:12 says: "He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves;
but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood,
thus obtaining eternal redemption."
The term "atonement" translates the Hebrew word "kaphar" and the Greek word "katallage,"
meaning "to cover," "to remove," or "to take away a fault."
It refers to the act of making amends for sin (Internet).
In the Bible, "atonement" specifically refers to the work of Jesus Christ,
the Son of God, who shed His blood and died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.
In the Old Testament, a sin offering was required to atone for sins.
This offering, called a "sin offering," aimed at forgiveness of sins
and the restoration of the broken relationship with God due to those sins.
This practice symbolized the atoning work of Jesus Christ (Internet).
We were once placed under the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).
To receive salvation from the law of sin and death, we needed a sin offering.
Therefore, we had to offer a sin offering to God.
Because we were enemies of God (Romans 5:10), reconciliation required a peace offering.
The Father, God, appointed His Son, Jesus Christ, as "Himself" (Romans 8:3)
to be both the sin offering and the peace offering (Chang Seh Kim).
Now, no longer with the blood of goats and calves, but with the blood of Jesus Christ,
He achieved eternal redemption once for all by entering the Most Holy Place (Hebrews 9:12).\
"If the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those
who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean,
how much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit
offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,
so that we may serve the living God!" (Hebrews 9:13-14).
Therefore, it is through Jesus Christ, the mediator of the new covenant,
that we, who have been called by God, receive the promised eternal inheritance,
as He atoned for the sins committed under the first (old) covenant
by shedding His blood on the cross (Hebrews 9:15).
Therefore, we focus on the eternal atonement of Jesus Christ.
We focus on eternal comfort.
Thessalonians 2:16-17 says:
"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,
who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,
encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."
There are times when, like the psalmist,
we may refuse to be comforted when our souls are troubled (Psalms 77:2).
Just as Jacob mourned and wept inconsolably
when he thought his beloved son Joseph was dead,
despite the attempts of his other children to comfort him (Genesis 37:35),
there are moments when we may feel such intense pain
that we reject any form of solace, especially when we have lost a loved one.
It is precisely at such times that God,
the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3), comforts us.
Our God, who loves us, provides us
with eternal encouragement and good hope through His grace.
God the Father comforts our hearts with eternal encouragement
and sustains us in times of distress (2 Corinthians 1:4),
not only enabling us to endure suffering (v. 6)
but also empowering us to comfort others who are in any kind of trouble (v. 4).
Furthermore, God comforts us with eternal encouragement,
even when we are discouraged (7:6).
Especially, God comforts us
with the hope of the resurrection and the return of Jesus Christ,
so that we do not grieve like those who have no hope
when we are in anguish over our deceased loved ones
(Matthew 5:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
God speaks to us in secret to comfort us (Job 15:11).
God's word is a comfort to us in our distress. The Lord's word saves us (Psalms 119:50).
Therefore, we pay attention to God's eternal comfort.
I pray that the God of all comfort may comfort you with eternal consolation.
We focus on eternal joy.
People should be able to enjoy life.
This is because there is nothing better in this world than to eat, drink, and be merry.
However, this joy must be found in working hard
during the life God has given us in this world (Ecclesiastes 8:15).
But somehow, we seem unable to enjoy life.
Right now, it seems that we are not experiencing joy (Ecclesiastes 6:3).
In other words, it seems that we have no joy.
It's like there is no one rejoicing and being glad even in fertile land and vineyards.
It seems that all sounds of joy have ceased (Isaiah 16:10; Ref.: Jeremiah 48:33).
It seems that the joy of the people has disappeared (Joel 1:12).
What could be the reason for this?
Perhaps the reason all sounds of joy have ceased is
that worry in our hearts is breaking our spirits and drying up our bones (Proverbs 15:13, 17:22).
Perhaps it is because we are only thinking about
the visible pleasures in front of us (Ecclesiastes 7:4).
Perhaps it is because we are ignoring God's warnings and advice (Ezekiel 21:10).
The joy of the ungodly is always fleeting (Job 20:4).
We must find our joy in the Lord (Isaiah 58:14).
We must make God our delight (Psalms 35:9).
This is because those who seek God find joy (Psalms 105:3).
This is because our God gives joy and gladness
instead of sorrow and praise instead of worry to those who mourn (Isaiah 61:3).
We should receive God's words like delicious food
because His words bring joy and delight to our hearts (Jeremiah 15:16).
The teachings and laws of the Lord are our delight (Psalms 119:24, 77).
The knowledge of God's word and of God Himself brings us joy (Proverbs 2:10).
May God cause our sorrow and sighing to disappear,
leaving us with everlasting joy and gladness (Isaiah 35:10).
Therefore, may those whom God has delivered return to His temple
with songs and experience eternal joy and gladness (Isaiah 51:11).
We focus on eternal blessings.
This is Psalms 21:6 from the Modern Korean Version:
"You have granted him eternal blessings
and made him glad with the joy of your presence."
The Lord fulfills the desires of our hearts and does not reject our requests,
giving us strength (vv. 1-2).
Additionally, the Lord grants us victory (vv. 1, 5),
enhancing our glory and bestowing upon us fame and majesty (v. 5).
The Lord gives us eternal blessings and has blessed us
with every spiritual blessing in Christ in the heavenly realms
(Ephesians 1:3).
Therefore, as those who already possess eternal life
(1 John 3:14),
we live focusing on God's eternal blessings,
not on the temporary and perishable blessings of this world.
We focus on all the righteous laws of the eternal Lord.
Psalms 119:160 in the Modern Korean Version says:
"All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal."
Therefore, we pay attention to the righteous truth of the eternal Lord's words and laws,
and because we love His words and laws (v. 163), we meditate on them day and night (1:2).
Additionally, like the psalmist, we confess, "I will always obey your law, forever and ever" (119:44).
We focus on God’s eternal power.
Romans 1:20 in the Modern Korean Bible says:
"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—
his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen,
being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."
From the time God created the world, his invisible qualities—
his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen
and understood from what he has made (Romans 1:20).
Therefore, we must proclaim this eternal power of God (Psalms 68:34).
Every generation should praise the works of the Lord
and proclaim his mighty acts (Psalm 145:4).
God, who preserves all things by his powerful word, cleansed our sins with the blood of Jesus
and sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven (Hebrews 1:3).
God has done these remarkable deeds to make all the nations living in the world
aware of his great power and to make us serve our God
with a fearful heart forever (Deuteronomy 4:24).
The Lord, who prays for us at the right hand of God,
abundantly exceeds what we ask or think
through the power that is at work within us (Ephesians 3:20).
We should pray to that Lord, saying,
"O God, your power is great, so be exalted.
We will sing and praise your great power" (Psalms 21:13).
That's because the Lord is mighty, and his power is great (89:13).
We are the people led out by the Lord's great power and strength (Deuteronomy 9:29).
We are all your servants, the people you rescued by your great power and might (Nehemiah 1:10).
And now we live by the truth of your word and your mighty power (2 Corinthians 6:7).
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen"
(Ephesians 3:20-21).
We focus on the eternal authority of the Lord.
Daniel 4:34 says:
"At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven,
and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High;
I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
His dominion is an eternal dominion;
his kingdom endures from generation to generation."
King Nebuchadnezzar, while walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, said,
"Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence,
by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" (v. 30).
Before he finished speaking, a voice from heaven proclaimed,
"'King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken:
The kingdom has departed from you, and you will be driven away from human society
and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox.
Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge
that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth
and gives them to anyone he wishes" (vv. 31-32).
The word spoken to King Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled,
and after seven years had passed, he looked up to heaven, and his sanity was restored.
Then he praised and worshipped the Most High,
the eternal and living God, in this way (Daniel 4:34):
"His dominion is an eternal dominion;
his kingdom endures from generation to generation" (v. 34).
In Daniel's vision, he saw that authority, glory, and a kingdom were given to the "son of man" by God,
so that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away,
and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed (v. 14).
The authority of the Lord is an eternal authority.
This eternal authority is the authority given by God the Father
to His Son, Jesus Christ, to rule over all peoples.
Through this authority, the Lord gives eternal life to all whom the Father has given him (John 17:2). Therefore, we pay attention to this eternal authority of the Lord.
We focus on God's eternal plan in Christ Jesus the Lord.
Ephesians 3:11 in the Modern Korean Bible says:
"This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord."
This plan of God is referred to as a mystery plan (v. 3),
through which we come to understand God's mysterious plan by his revelation (v. 3).
Now, this plan has been revealed to the holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit (v. 5).
The mystery of this plan is that through the gospel the Gentiles
are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus (v. 6).
We have become workers who proclaim this gospel
by the power of God working within us, the gift of grace given to us by God (v. 7).
Therefore, we pay attention to the eternal plan
that God has established in Christ Jesus our Lord,
wishing that his plan, which has already been accomplished in heaven,
will also be fulfilled on earth (Matthew 6:10).
We focus on the eternal King.
Jeremiah 10:10 in the Modern Korean Version says:
"But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King.
When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath."
The Lord is the true God, the living God, the eternal King (v. 10).
Who is the King of glory? The Almighty God is the King of glory
(Psalms 24:10).
He is the King of righteousness and the King of peace
(Hebrews 7:2).
As He is the great King who rules over all the earth,
we should fear the most high God
(Psalms 47:2).
This great and exalted King, God, humbled Himself,
taking on the form of a servant and being made in human likeness,
He lowered Himself and died on the cross
(Philippians 2:7-8).
The eternal King (Jeremiah 10:10) who became eternal life (1 John 1:2),
Jesus, was nailed to the accursed tree, the cross
(Deuteronomy 21:23; Galatians 3:13).
When He was nailed to the cross, the inscription on the charge against Him
read "The King of the Jews" (Mark 15:26).
The chief priests and scribes mocked Jesus together, saying,
"Hey, you who are called the King of Israel,
come down from the cross now, and then we will believe in you."
Even the thieves who were crucified with him also insulted him
(Mark 15:31-32).
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom people hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases, yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds, we are healed
(Isaiah 53:3-5).
In this way, Jesus, who is the King of kings, humbled himself to receive mockery
and condemnation, and by giving his life as a ransom for us (Matthew 20:28),
we received forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:14) and salvation.
We who have received salvation are a chosen people, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, God's own possession.
This is so that we may proclaim the praises of Him
who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light
(1 Peter 2:9).
Therefore, we praise "My God the King": "My God the King,
I will exalt you and praise your name forever" (Hymn: "My God the King").
"At the appointed time, God will bring about the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords"
(1 Timothy 6:15).
Before the appointed time, the ten kings Apostle John saw had not yet received their kingdoms,
but they will receive authority as kings along with the beast for a short time.
They will have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.
They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb, who is Lord of lords and King of kings,
will triumph over them because He is the true and faithful witness,
and with Him will be His called, chosen, and faithful followers
(Revelation 17:12-14).
Therefore, let us give everlasting honor and glory to the only God,
the eternal King, the immortal, invisible, and only God. Amen
(1 Timothy 1:17).
We focus on eternal glory.
2 Corinthians 4:17 in the Modern Korean Version says:
"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us
an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."
We do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day (v. 16).
Even though we may face trials in this world (John 16:33),
we consider these troubles as light and momentary
(2 Corinthians 4:17).
The reason is that the troubles we endure now
are incomparable to the glory that will be revealed in us
(Romans 8:18).
"Therefore, I endure all things for the sake of the chosen ones,
so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus,
along with eternal glory" (2 Timothy 2:10).
We endure all hardships while focusing on the eternal glory.
We focus our attention on
the eternal kingdom of our Savior Jesus Christ.
This is from 2 Peter 1:11: "For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly
into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."
What we are focusing on is the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Though we are currently living in nations of this world, akin to wilderness,
the kingdom we long for is the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We are merely pilgrims sojourning in this world (Hebrews 11:13).
We long for a better country, a heavenly one (v. 16).
"God has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us
into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Colossians 1:13).
Therefore, we seek first his kingdom and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33).
As we persevere, when the Lord calls us,
we will enter into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, we must strive even more to make our calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10).
Then we will not fall (v. 10) and will enter fully into the eternal kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ (v. 11).
We focus on our eternal home in heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:1 in the Modern Korean Bible says:
"For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed,
we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands."
God the Father has loved us and chosen us (Ephesians 1:4),
and by believing in Jesus Christ (2:8),
He has graciously given us the gift of eternal life
(Psalms 135:12; John 3:15-16).
This eternal gift is eternal life (Romans 6:23).
In other words, God, who has chosen us,
has granted us salvation in Christ Jesus with eternal glory (2 Timothy 2:10).
And the eternal God who has given us this eternal life (Romans 16:26)
leads us on the path of eternity (Psalms 139:24).
God loves us with an everlasting love
and leads us with unfailing kindness (Jeremiah 31:3).
God will richly provide us with entrance
into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:11).
When our earthly tent, our body, is destroyed, we will have a building from God,
an eternal house in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:1).
This is according to the eternal plan
that God has fulfilled in Christ Jesus our Lord (Ephesians 3:11).
In this way, the Lord has blessed us with eternal blessings
and rejoices with us, granting us endless joy (Psalms 21:6).
When we possess the eternal house in heaven,
there will be no more sorrow or sighing,
only eternal joy and gladness (Isaiah 35:10, 51:11).
At that time, God will be our everlasting light,
and our days of sorrow will come to an end
(Isaiah 60:20).
We focus on praising forever.
Psalms 111:10 from the Modern Korean Bible says:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
All who follow His precepts have good understanding.
To Him belongs eternal praise.”
Our God is worthy of eternal praise.
We should praise Him for His marvelous works and His greatness (Psalms 150:2).
We should give thanks and praise to God, singing:
"God is good, and His love for us endures forever!" (Ezra 3:11).
God is good, so we should praise Him
and sing praises to His beautiful name (Psalms 135:3).
Wisdom and power belong to God,
so we should praise His name (Daniel 2:20).
We should thank the Lord daily and praise Him forever (Psalms 145:2).
We should praise our God of salvation who daily bears our burdens (68:19).
We should sincerely praise God for saving us (71:23).
Because the Lord has come and redeemed us from sin,
we should praise the Lord God (Luke 1:68).
We should praise God because He has strengthened us,
His people, and those who draw near to Him (Psalms 148:14).
We should praise the Most High God who has given us victory (Genesis 14:20).
As the Lord teaches us His laws, we should always praise Him (Psalms 119:171).
We should not forget all of God's grace and praise Him (103:2).
We should trust in God and praise His word (56:10).
We should always have hope and praise the Lord even more (71:14).
Because the steadfast love of the Lord is better than life, we should praise Him (63:3).
We should praise God because His love for us is great
and His faithfulness is everlasting (117:2).
We should praise God now and forevermore (41:13; 115:18).
From now and forevermore, the name of the Lord will be praised (113:2).
While we live, we will praise the Lord
and sing to our God all our lives (146:2; Ref.: 104:33).
We will boast in God all day long and give thanks
and praise to Him forever (44:8).
My God and King, I will exalt You
and praise Your name forever and ever (145:1).
Our God, we give thanks to You
and praise Your glorious name (1 Chronicles 29:13).
Our God, may You be praised forever (v. 10).
"Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name"
(Gospel Song "Praise the Lord, My Soul"; Ref.: Psalms 103:1, 22).