Man is essentially a spirit; he has a soul, and while on earth he lives in a body. He is an eternal being made in the image and likeness of the eternal God (Genesis 1:27). Man’s life on earth is actually a tiny fraction of his full life (James 4:14); the greater bulk of this life will be spent in eternity. Therefore, wisdom demands that a man should pay attention to his eternal destination.
Unfortunately, many people living are not preparing actively or deliberately for positive eternity. That phrase, positive eternity, is full of meaning. There is positive eternity and there is negative eternity. There is joyful eternity and there is sorrowful eternity. Heaven is real, and hell is also real. Everyone will live forever; but not in the same place. Some will go to heaven, while some will go to hell.
So, the first thing to realize is that our lives on earth is temporary. When compared with the endlessness of eternity, we shall not be here for a long time. We cannot live on earth as if we will never make an exit, or as if everything ends here. No wonder the Psalmist prayed, “teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). This prayer should be our heart-cry also. In addition, Paul told the Corinthians, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18). All who live today and enjoy the blessings of life should not fix their gaze on the things on earth. Instead, our view should be on eternity – that was the admonition of Paul. And it makes sense, because (as mentioned earlier) life on earth is brief.
There is no reason to become attached to the things of this world. The Apostle Paul again, writing to the Philippians, called attention to this fact in Philippians 3: 17 – 21 when he warned the believers in Philippi to beware of enemies of the Cross who set their mind on earthly things. Paul told the Philippians, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior…”
Do you desire the good eternity? Please fix your attention on things eternal. At the end, that choice will make all the difference.
This the world will actually end. This beautiful earth that God has given us, and all that is therein, will pass away for something greater and better. All the beautiful things that we see around us and we get excited about them; they will actually perish one day. All the quantum leaps in science, technology, architecture, and so on, with the fantastic products that have arisen therefrom, we shall surrender them one day. Even those boasting of nuclear arsenal today, on that day they will have nothing to boast about.
The world began. And the world will end. The question is – will you be ready for positive eternity?
To be continued.
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