Investment in Eternity: Securing America's Future

By Gordon Jantz

When we reflect on biblical and world history, the rise and fall of great nations and empires captures our attention. How did they become great, and what caused them to fall? The answer lies in how we invest our lives in a relationship with God, our creator, and care for each other the way he does us.

The Bible teaches us that if nations “obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments” they will be blessed with great success. However, “if you are not careful to do all the words of this [God’s] law,” disasters will come upon the nations, and they will fall (Deuteronomy 28). America was founded on “in God we trust” and has received an abundance of God’s blessings throughout our rich history as a nation. We must, however, remember what happens to powerful nations when they turn away from God and lose his favor.

Securing America’s future is only possible if we as a nation and its esteemed citizens remain obedient to his commandments and laws. We must continually be investing in eternity to remain faithful to what God wants us to be. He has invested in us by giving us physical life and spiritual life through his Son Jesus. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). He has planted our feet in the land of the free and blessed us with the goodness of life. Let us now join together as citizens of this great nation to make a personal investment in God’s eternal plan for his people—to be in his glorious presence in heaven.



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• Language: English
• Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 31, 2020
• ISBN: 9781645314912

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Investment in Eternity

Securing America’s Future

Gordon Jantz

Copyright © 2019 Gordon Jantz

All rights reserved

First Edition

NEWMAN SPRINGS PUBLISHING

320 Broad Street

Red Bank, NJ 07701

First originally published by Newman Springs Publishing 2019

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture is taken from the Revised Standard Version. Old Testament Copyright 1952 and New Testament Copyright 1971 by Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Corcordance Copyright 1962 by Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc. Assigned to Zondervan Publishing House 1965. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

I use the Harper Study Bible published by Zondervan Bible Publishers (Grand Rapids, Michigan).

ISBN 978-1-64531-490-5 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64531-491-2 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Wake Up, America

Part 1: God’s Investment Strategy

The Investment Plan: From Creation to Eternity

Spiritual Investment Portfolios

Love

Hope

Faith

Trust

Wise Investments

Connecting to the Source of Eternal Returns

Prayer

Worship

Praise

America the Beneficiary

Listening to Our Spiritual Consultant

God: The Stock Broker

Elders: Spiritual Consultants

Ministers: Expert Investment Advisors

Christians: Experienced Investors

The Bible: God’s Investment Handbook

Our Advice to America

For Heaven’s Sake, Don’t Pull Out

The Lord’s Church

Spiritual Fellowship

Discipline

Healing for America

Part 2: A Personal Investment Strategy

Where Flesh and Spirit Meet

The Spiritual Investment

A Spiritual America

The Oneness of Spirit and Flesh

Laying Up Treasures in Heaven

Heavenly Treasures

Investing Our Lump of Clay

A Diversified Investment Portfolio

Investing in Faith

Investing in Goodness

Investing in Knowledge

Investing in Self-Control

Investing in Steadfastness

Investing in Godliness

Investing in Brotherly Kindness

Investing in Love

A Guaranteed Investment Return

God’s Divine Power

Partakers of the Divine Nature

Living in the Kingdom

Our Spiritual Mentor

Empowered for Kingdom Work

Press on toward the Goal

Goal of a Free Country

Goal of a Free Life

Goal of Winning

Goal of Peace

Goal of a Wonderful Life

Making Every Effort

Conclusion: Good Night, America

To the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have given their lives, sacrificed, and remained faithful to the call to keep America free.

To our nation’s first responders who put their lives on the line daily to protect and care for America’s citizens so they can live their life to the fullest.

They are the backbone of who we are—one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Preface

What inspires us to do what we do? What motivates us to take the path in life we choose? The things that inspire me are the beauty that surrounds us, especially the majesty of God’s mountains. Their expanse is so overwhelming, and there is an unending peace that prevails when I sit quietly in their midst and listen to the sounds of nature. Then there are the changing seasons that bring new life and change in the world around us. There is a renewing in the elements of life, and it gives us assurance that our lives are even more valuable to God than all the beauty we behold. God created all things to exist in perfect harmony with him, and we, as American citizens, must join together to restore our intimate relationship with him.

The writing of this book has taken some time to put the right thoughts and perspectives together that will help heal the mortal wounds that inflict America today. It had its genesis with the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. That was a dark hour for America, and it shook the moral fibers of our precious citizens. America responded to this act of war on our homeland with the strength, courage, and trust in God that forms the foundation of our great nation.

The amazing thing about this sad time in our history is that it restored the unity that characterized the spirit of our founding fathers and made us the United States of America. As people offered up their prayers for the victims of this national tragedy, their families, and the destruction that occurred, there was a calming peace that prevailed over America. We were again unified in our determination to defeat our enemy and to be one nation under God! The walls of self-interest that so easily divides us were broken down, and the citizens rallied for a common good: securing America.

Our lives were forever changed that fateful day, and we pause from our hectic schedules each year for a time of remembrance to honor our fallen citizens. The tragic events of 9/11 etched in our memories are a testimony of the evil that lurks everywhere around us.

We must constantly be on guard to keep our own personal lives and our families from being overcome by the destructive powers of evil forces. Our daily lives need to be grounded in the goodness of our creator by investing in eternity. That is the only way we can be assured of being able to reach our esteemed destination, our eternal home in heaven. Investing in eternity will make a difference in our lives; and as we allow ourselves to be molded and shaped by God’s divine will, we will be transformed into the people he wants us to be. When this transformation is complete, it will secure America’s future. Let us stand together unified to bring about a godly rebirth our nation so desperately needs. God bless America!

Acknowledgments

The freedom we enjoy in America opens up an abundance of opportunities to succeed at the things we endeavor to do. As a proud citizen, I stand today having been blessed by so many people who have made me the person I am today.

There are the military leaders who believed in me and guided me in achieving my full potential during my career in the Air Force. They gave me opportunities to serve in jobs and capacities I never dreamed possible. My senior commanders and supervisors encouraged me to embrace the unknowns and corrected me when I started to veer off course. These military leaders allowed me to do my part in maintaining the freedom that is embedded in the fibers of America.

I have also been blessed to have a multitude of spiritual leaders who have nourished and cared for the eternal part of my life. They set before me a powerful example of what a godly life is supposed to be and guided my steps as I embraced the challenges of life. These spiritual leaders were my mentors, giving me something to look up to so my life could be whole and complete. Because of their spiritual influence, I am now able to enjoy the perfect freedom we have in Christ.

My loving wife, Carol, has been the foundation of my life and has allowed me to reach beyond the stars to consummate our lives as one before God. Together, we have been able to experience the perfection of oneness through the freedom we have in America and in Christ. I could not have achieved what I have in life without her dedicated support, encouragement, and loving sacrifice through a myriad of challenging times we have faced and overcome.

Introduction: Wake Up, America

Wake Up, America

America, the beautiful! America, the land of the free! America, the home of the brave! America, the land of plenty! America, a nation founded on "in