Eternity in view

Text: Luke 18:28-30
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:19: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (KJV)

Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 was addressing certain believers in Corinth, who lived their life as if they were bereft of a future or a heavenly home. That was why Paul warned them that if they continued in such a lifestyle, they would be ‘of all men most miserable.’

Paul was simply saying to the believers in Corinth that if the reason they believed in Christ is only for the things they would receive here on earth, but lose sight of the blessed hope, they should be pitied.

The early believers in Christ in the 70’s and 80’s were so heavenly conscious, but today’s generationof today is earthly conscious and Heavenly hopeless. If the only reason you believe in Christ is to acquire material possessions here on earth, but lose sight of the coming world, you are to be pitied.

Let me strike a balance here. I believe strongly in financial prosperity as a believer in Christ here on earth, but far more importantly, I look forward to the Blessed Hope, when the Lord Jesus Christ shall return to rapture the Saints home. God Has made provisions for believers in Christ here on earth, but more importantly, He has prepared a Home of eternal rest for us. In 1 Timothy 4:8b, the Bible says, “Having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”

Peter said to Jesus, “We have left all we had to follow you!” (Luke 18:28). Jesus said to His disciples, “No one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life” (Luke 18:28-29).

The Bible enjoins every believer in Christ to live here on earth with eternity in view. Please don’t lose sight of eternity, but live with eternity in your heart. Believers in Christ are eternal being and God planted eternity in human heart, yet so many have lost sight of this glorious future that we have in Christ. Ecclesiastes 3:11, “…. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”

Eternity is your destination after life here on earth. You will determine in this life as to where you will spend eternity. You will either spend eternal life in Heaven or eternal punishment in hell, when this life is over. You can only make things right here on earth before eternity. There is no repentance in eternity. In Luke 16, the rich man went to Hell and the poor Lazarus went to Heaven because of their decisions, while they lived on earth. Lazarus did not go to Heaven because he was poor, but simply because he decided to live for Christ here on earth.

The way you lived here on earth determines your destination in eternity, just like your attitude to time determines your success. The longer you think, the better you live. For example, if you have a 50-year plan, you will live better than a man who has 6 months plan. Living with eternity in your heart, determines the way you live. If you don’t want to be pitied hereafter, put eternity in your heart.

In 1 Corinthians 15:32, Paul said, “If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.” In other words, Paul was saying if there is no resurrection after the dead, why would he fight with the beast of Ephesus.

The more you factor eternity into your life’s decision, the better life you will live.
Today’s Nugget: When you live with eternity in view, better life you live.
Prayer: I will not perish in Hell but spend eternal life in Heaven.
Prayer lines: 09078154261.

E-mail: evangelgospel@yahoo.com
Dr. Chidi Okoroafor
General Superintendent
Assemblies of God Nigeria