Randy Curtis Eternity in view
Often amongst young people, it is not popular or enjoyable to sit and contemplate the reality that one day our lives will come to an end. It is usually far too easy to just sit back, take it easy, and live in the moment. This way of living is so tantalizing because in it we find a kernel of truth! We should be fully engaged in wherever God has us now. We need to take advantage of opportunities we have today. And, we definitely should not be anxious or worried about the future! However, although we may not verbalize this, sometimes we don’t just intend to live in the moment. Rather, we choose to live for the moment. And this is when the good, God-honoring desire of being fully engaged in the here and now crosses over into the danger of living as if this earthly life is all there is. We lull ourselves to sleep through our endless distractions and worldly pursuits. We mistake what’s good for what’s best. We settle for far less than God intends.
Are we ready to believe that living with eternity in view is not just the right thing to do but also that which is best?
We would do well to not stop in the middle of this thought in 2 Timothy. Paul goes on to say in verse 8, “In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to ALL who have loved His appearing (emphasis mine).” Brothers and sisters, God Himself will reward us one day for the good we have done! Notice that God is a righteous Judge; He will not miss or ignore anything we do for the sake of loving Him and loving our neighbor. And, remember that these rewards aren’t just for the “spiritually elite” as we often think of them, like the Apostle Paul. No, they are for all who have loved His appearing and are living their lives in expectation of Jesus’ return. A life lived with eternity in view and with God’s priorities now will result in unspeakable joy and blessing in the life to come! Let’s take God at His Word! Let’s not waste any season of our lives thinking that if we don’t experience what this world has to offer, then we are missing out. After all, do we really think this world can give us something better than God?!
“…The time of my departure has come…”
These words were penned by the Apostle Paul near the end of his time on Earth when he knew that soon he would see the LORD. He goes on to say in 2 Timothy 4:7 with joy and gratitude that he has “fought the good fight,” and “finished the course,” and “kept the faith.” These words are not unfamiliar to us, but have they really sunk in? Paul didn’t spend his life “fighting” to gain status, prestige, or material wealth. Why? Because he knew that the fight for the souls of men and women created in God’s image was infinitely more important. Also, he didn’t quit pursuing the Lord when inevitable difficulties arose. By God’s grace, he kept trusting that God was faithful, good, wise, and sovereign, knowing that Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection provided more than enough evidence of God’s character and intentions for his life and his future!
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