Questions That Matter for Eternity

Written by: Pastor Wayne Staker

Our lives are inundated with questions. What should we wear? What should we eat? Where should we go to dinner? What should we watch? What job should I accept? Should I get married? What church service should we go to? The list goes on and on – we are hit with question after question every day of our lives. And we have all experienced how questions and answers take on increased or decreased meaning depending on our situation and our circumstances.

So, how do we filter the important questions from the less important ones? And more importantly, how do we filter the important answers from the less important ones?

Who is Jesus?

I would like to submit that there is one question every person must ask themselves that can make the answers to other questions in our lives much more straight-forward. The first and most important question that any person can ask is a question that Jesus asked His disciples:

• Matthew 16:13-16 – Now when Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets.” ¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you yourselves say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

This is a wonderful exchange between Jesus and His followers. He first asks what others say about who He is. It was important for Him to ask them about others first so that they didn’t give the easy, pat answers when He asks them personally. They answer that others say Jesus is maybe John the Baptist, or Elijah, or Jeremiah, or any one of the prophets.

But the more important question that Jesus had for them was, “Who do you say that I am?” I love that Peter’s bold personality comes out here as he answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” What a perfect answer. You are the Christ, the Messiah, the one the whole Jewish race has been waiting for. Jesus had to be the Christ, the Messiah, because the Bible, as the Jews knew it, prophesied about the Messiah and how He would bring redemption to not only the Jews but the whole world.

But Peter makes another statement about who Jesus is that is even more critical: “You are the Son of the living God.” You are God. Peter knew this to be true, but I’m not sure he had any idea yet how important this truth was. Jesus helped him see the importance though:

• Matthew 16:17-18 – And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

Peter is blessed because God revealed to him that Jesus is God, and it was on this profession of faith that Jesus built His church. Again, I don’t believe Peter had any idea at this point that the church would begin and build on this statement of faith after Christ was crucified and rose again.

Do you see why this question is so important to each one of us and why Jesus is asking every person, “Who do you say I am?”? There isn’t a more important question in the entire world. Who we say Jesus is makes the difference between eternity with Him and eternity without Him. The big challenge is, who are we going to look to for the definition of who Jesus is? The world will gladly define Him for us, but they are making up definitions that fit their beliefs and agenda. So, what if we just let Jesus define who He is?

• John 8:58 – Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” (Same name God gave Himself – the response of the Jews in verse 59 is to want to stone Him.)
• John 10:30 – I and the Father are one. (Again, the response of the Jews in verse 31 is to stone Him.)

Jesus made it clear He is God. The Jews knew what He was saying and wanted to stone Him for blasphemy. Jesus’ followers reiterated that He is God in many of their writings as well:

• John 1:1 and 14 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ¹⁴ And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
• John 20:28-29 – Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you now believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
• Titus 2:13 – Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,
• Hebrews 1:8 – But regarding the Son He says, “Your throne, God, is forever and ever, And the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of His kingdom.

So, the most critical question any person can ask is, “Who do I say Jesus is?” If you have answered Jesus is God, He is the one who was to come to redeem the world, to die on the cross, to pay for your sins, and you have believed in Him, then I think you have one more question to ask that is pretty important as well.

What should I do?

Do you remember in Acts chapter 22 when Paul was arrested in Jerusalem and was relating to the people his conversion on the road to Damascus? He explains what happened this way:

• Acts 22:7-10a – But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus at about noon, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ ⁸ And I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.’ ⁹ And those who were with me saw the light, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. ¹⁰ And I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ 

This is a great question. After understanding who Jesus was, his first question is, “What shall I do, Lord?”

Too often, once we ask the question, “Who do I say Jesus is?” and settle in our hearts that He is our God and Savior, placing our faith and belief in Him, we sadly start to tell Him all of our great characteristics and abilities that He can use, and sometimes even try to tell Him how to use them. Instead, we really ought to consider Paul’s example and ask as he did, “What do you want me to do, Lord?” and then let His Holy Spirit lead us in His plans and purposes. It is when we are being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and His leading that we will be in the will of God and serving Him for His purposes and glory.

These are questions that matter for eternity. Who I believe Jesus is and my response of faith and belief in that understanding of who he is determines if I will spend forever in eternity with Him. And the things I desire to do for Him will count for eternity when I’ve asked, “What do you want me to do, Lord?”. If we haven’t already, may we respond to the truths of who Jesus is with faith and belief in Him, and be willing to ask what He wants us to do with our lives so that He is glorified and all eternity rejoices!