What do you
live for? It’s a pretty important
question and the answer drives everything we do. Different seasons of our life get us thinking
about different ends. When we are young,
we live for fun, success, or fame. In
the middle years we begin to live for successful children and a secure
retirement. In retirement we can,
interesting enough, come full circle and live for fun, doing what we want,
having experiences that are meaningful.
One of the
beliefs of the Christian faith is creation had a beginning and it will have an
end. God was in control of the beginning
and God will be in control of the ending.
At the end of this life though, there is a life that is promised for
eternity. And there are two options for
eternal life – one option is eternity with God enjoying his glory. It isn’t about harps and clouds and white
robes. It is about joy beyond our
imagination, peace that can’t be disturbed, and love deeper than we could have
thought. We don’t know exactly what
eternity with God will be like but think about it this way – what is the most
pleasurable, enjoyable, peaceful, exciting, fun, adventurous experience you
have ever had – multiply the intensity of that experience a thousand-fold and
you get a small sense of life with God.
There is
another option as well. It is eternity without
God. We don’t know what that means
exactly either but it will be exactly opposite of eternity with God. Life with God is a life of light, peace, joy,
love and hope. Life without any of that
seems quite torturous. It isn’t a very
pleasant thought.
“But according to his promise
we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
(2 Peter 3:13, ESV) How would it change
your today if you lived with this perspective of forever? How would it change how you talk to the
people in your life? How would it change
the way you spend your money? How would
it change the way you spend your free time?
What you live for?
Confession time: Most of the time I’m quite “today”
oriented. I’m caught up in work and
bills and kids and cars and…, and…., and…
Can you relate?
Everything is going to come to an
end some day. I believe it is more
likely we will come to an end on this earth before this earth comes to an end
but the result is the same – we’ll stand face to face with Jesus. Are you ready?
There is a great chapter in the
Bible where Paul tries to help people understand the other side of
eternity. In 1 Corinthians 15 he is
comforting the church with the promise of an eternity with God. At the end of it all he moves back to today
with these words: “Therefore, my
beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the
Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians
15:58, ESV)
Paul tells us, in light of eternity,
work for Jesus today. And everything you
do for Jesus will not be without reward.
Dear Jesus, I do not know when
you are coming again but I believe you are.
In the mundane details of my life today, lift my eyes to see your
greater purposes. Help me to live for
you today and be a conduit of your love wherever you put me. Thank you for your grace to carry me
through. Amen.
Peace
and grace,
David
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