Because Of Eternity

In 1678, John Bunyan published the book The Pilgrim’s Progress. It tells of the journey of a man, named Christian. It is a dangerous and difficult journey. Christian faces many temptations and trials. He gets things wrong. He makes bad choices. He faces temptations such as despondency and flattery and worldly pleasures. He fights spiritual battles. But always, ahead of him is the promise of the Celestial City. He began his journey having heard about the Celestial City and realising he needed to escape the City of Destruction. The journey to the Celestial City was long and hard but the prospect of the Celestial City motivated him. The story (or part one of the story) ends with Christian entering that Celestial City.

One promise that He held onto comes from 1 Corinthians 2, quoting Isaiah 64:4.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’ – the things God has prepared for those who love him – 10these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

There are things that no one has seen and that we cannot even imagine. These are the things that God has prepared for those who love Him. There are magnificent things ahead beyond anything we can imagine.

If we believe in heaven, does that make any difference to how we live now? If we look at the Bible, it seems it changes just about everything.

John Bunyan’s book reminds us that the Christian life is not easy. If you become a Christian, do all your problems will disappear? Become a Christian and there will be extra temptations and extra opposition. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble”. Of course, we need to complete that quote…

John 16:33

‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’

Do not overlook the fact that Jesus promised peace and ultimate victory. He has overcome the world. But the fact remains: in this world we will have trouble. In the book, Christian experienced the presence of Jesus and the Holy Spirit and the encouragement of fellow travellers. He had peace (at times). But he also got despondent and was tempted to give up. He sometimes thought it was hopeless. There were several things that motivated him to keep going: his gratitude to the King who had rescued him, and his allegiance to the King, the urgings of other pilgrims… But one of those motivating factors was the promise of the Celestial City. Every so often, he would receive a reminder of the Celestial City.

Believing in heaven motivates us to keep going. When Paul was rejoicing in the faith of the Thessalonians, he gave thanks for their “endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess 1:3). They were suffering persecution but they had hope – they had a confidence that God is going to keep His promises. That hope inspired endurance.

We all know that the prospect of something good can motivate us to persevere. Dessert motivates children (and, sometimes, adults) to eat their vegetables. Light at the end of the tunnel, motivates us to keep going. That is the power of hope. That is why a confidence in what Peter calls “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade… kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4) is so important. When we know what is ahead, we can endure our current hardships. Keep going, it is going to be worthwhile.

Because of eternity, we persevere, but there are lots more “because of eternity” consequences as well.

If we believe in heaven it changes our priorities. Suddenly the things of this world become less important – or perhaps completely unimportant. How important is it really to accumulate “things” when we cannot take them with us? Isn’t it actually complete folly spending life accumulating possessions which will do us no good? What a waste of a life!

Jesus taught a completely different attitude, a completely different set of priorities, and a completely different purpose in life when He said…

Matthew 6:19-20

19 ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

READ Philippians 3:7-14

Paul said that he considered everything in life to be rubbish compared with knowing Jesus. He expressed his priorities by saying, “I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”

His priorities were not all about the eternal, but they certainly contained his desire to “attain to the resurrection from the dead”.

Those verses also reveal a theme of focus: I press on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me… One thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on to the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards, in Christ Jesus.

Knowing about eternity inspires perseverance, changes our priorities and sharpens our focus. But that is not all by any means!

It changes our attitude to death. Of course it does! When we know what is on the other side of death, death begins to look completely different.

In Philippians 1:21-26, Paul asks, “Would I rather live or die? Oh I don’t know. I can’t choose between them. Dying means being with Christ. That would be far better.” Generally, we fight against death. Paul says, “If I die, I will be with Jesus. How amazing is that going to be?”

READ 2 Timothy 4:1-8

The time of Paul’s departure was near but he didn’t sound at all frightened by that. “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award me on that day.” For Paul, dying and standing before Jesus is the award ceremony at the end of life. This is when he will receive from God the prize at the end of the race – the crown! And not only him – all who have longed for Jesus’ appearing.

But eternity does not only change our attitude to death; it changes our attitude to life. Paul was looking forward to death because he had fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith.

Those who believe in eternity live disciplined lives of service now. Paul had. He urged Timothy to. Preach the word in season and out of season. Correct, rebuke, encourage. Keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

In Philippians. when uncertain about whether he would rather live or die, the reason for living was that Paul could engage in more fruitful labour. He could share the gospel more; he could minister to people and encourage people. He actually concludes that he is going to keep on living because fruitful labour is more important. Ministering to the Philippians for their progress and their joy in the faith was more important. Being with Jesus would be great but Paul was willing to delay that pleasure because helping other people in their faith was more important.

A belief in eternity means that we are concerned for other people’s salvation. Belief in eternity makes evangelism and the growing of disciples urgent. If there was no eternity who cares whether people believe in Jesus or not, but the reality of eternity makes that absolutely crucial.

There are various passages about living disciplined lives because eternity is real.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last for ever. 26Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Run in such a way as to get the prize. I know there is a view that all you have to do to be saved is put your hand up at an evangelistic event. Christianity is really easy and requires nothing of you. These passages link eternity with disciplined, fruitful and holy lives.

READ 2 Peter 3:10-15

The heavens and the earth are going to come to an end. There is going to be a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells. Three times Paul said we look forward to that. And twice, he said we are to live holy and godly lives, making every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Jesus. In fact, he says it is precisely because of eternity that we must. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.

OK, that’s enough. We have looked at lots of scriptures – too many perhaps. If we look at what the Bible says, it gives the lie to that old phrase about being too heavenly minded to be any earthly use. I guess there are always people who are away with the fairies but people who have a strong conviction about eternity persevere. They are the people you can rely on. People who believe in heaven do not waste their lives on the unimportant things of this world. Their focus is on much more important things. People who look forward to heaven will make sacrifices now because they know their reward is ahead. This life is just a fleeting moment in the context of eternity. Christians who trust God for the future live disciplined lives of service now. It is those who believe in eternity who are compelled to share the good news of Jesus with others.

It is those who believe they will one day stand before God, who want to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” and, therefore, they live as good and faithful servants now – dedicated lives now because of eternity then. It is those who believe in eternity who, when the Master returns, want to be able to say, “Master, you entrusted me with this life. Here is what I have done with it. Here is the fruit.” They want their lives in this world to count for eternity.

Can I finish with a question: Do you have such a conviction about God’s promise of eternity that that conviction motivates how you live each day?

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