Eternity

Last month we considered how our marriages are designed by God to become Display Cases for the Kingdom, and how that might correlate with our view of Eternity. This month I’d like to journey further on the road to the place called Eternity, where God says we will dwell forever –  with Him (or without Him). A time — without end.

In his fascinating book on eternity You And Me Forever, Francis Chan suggests that we need to become more serious about our Eternity, intentionally choosing to have a mindset that focuses our thoughts and actions on it.   His illustration clearly demonstrates, in the red part of the rope, how our lives here on earth can become significant or insignificant depending on how we see the rest of the rope which stretches off stage – Eternity. (Click here to watch his short video)

The Bible tells us in Romans 10:9 that those who confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe with their heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, will be saved (from Eternity without God). And in Revelation 20:15 we’re told that unlike those above whose names are written in the book of life, those whose names are not recorded there will be cast into the lake of fire with Satan and his minions – also for Eternity. Eternity with God or Eternity without God, it’s our choice.

I think the question to ponder is:  where do we focus? On the life we’re living here today, or on the impact our life today can and should have before we get to heaven. Pastor Louie Giglio from Passion City Church in Atlanta gave a wonderful marriage message giving us all encouragement to seriously address where we spend our think-time and actions, and how a focus on the Kingdom while here on earth might significantly alter our life in heaven, and impact who might greet us when we arrive. His message; making a Kingdom oriented purpose to our life and marriage while here on earth, clearly reflects the challenge that Francis Chan shared.   (Click here to listen to the stirring last 10 minutes of Pastor Giglio’s message)

We know that it will take prayer, asking God for a vision of what our life could be if we become more Eternity focused, and it will take intentional effort teaming with our spouse to maintain it.   It will also require sacrifice, giving up perhaps some long held fantasy dreams to allow God to manifest His desires for us. Dallas Willard, John Ortberg, Larry Crabb, Richard Foster and many others have written books that help guide us that direction, and I believe Pastor Jamie is guiding us there weekly.   I believe the most effective way for you and me to turn our focus toward eternity is to sit together with our spouse and talk about what it would look like, and then pray, asking God to reveal His plan.

Perhaps as we pray God might also lead us to begin renewed, to regularly read our Bible together as a couple, and ask daily how we might live each day more focused on the priorities for us we find in those pages.

I’m certain that we’ll rejoice in heaven over His choices for our lives…