The Joy of Living with Eternity in View

Text: 1 Peter 4:13 "But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."

Eternity means without end. It is endless and immeasurable. Eternity is the timeless state to which the soul passes after life on earth. To live with eternity in view is to spend our time here on earth with the focus of eternity in our minds. Whether we believe it or not, accept it or reject it, we all face a life after death. There is definitely a life hereafter: a life that will continue either in heaven or in hell. Our lifestyles, values, focus, ethos, priorities etc reflect whether we are living with eternity in view or not. Paul the Apostle says in 1 Corinthians 15:19 "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."

Our Lord Jesus Christ while here on earth lived with eternity in view. He always spoke of His returning to His Father Who sent Him. He says in John 16:28 "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father". He showed us through His lifestyle and priorities how we His disciples should spend our sojourn here. In John 4:34 (NKJV) He says to His disciples “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work." Everything Christ said or did was centred on doing the will of His Father. He was committed to His Father's will and completing the work He gave Him. We all know that part of His Father's will was for Him to die for the sin of the whole world. This He did willingly by surrendering Himself to the Jewish authorities and the Roman soldiers who nailed Him to the cross (John 10:17-18; John 18:8, 11).

All through the Scriptures we read about the patriarchs like Enoch, Abraham, Moses, the Apostles and many of the early believers like Stephen who lived their lives on earth with eternity in view. The Bible testifies that Enoch "walked with God" Genesis 5:22, 24. Also Hebrews 11:5 tells us that "before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." Abraham while he sojourned as a stranger in the land of Canaan, Hebrews 11:10 (NKJV) says that "for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God." Moses we were told in Hebrews 11:24-26 (NIV) that "when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be ill-treated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward." Coming to the early Apostles in the New Testament, we have these worthy testimonies. Paul in Philippians 1:20-21 (NIV) says "I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." In Philippians 3:20-21 (NKJV) he declares thus "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself." James says in his epistle chapter 5:7-8 (NKJV) "Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." Peter says in 1 Peter 1:7-9 "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." 2 Peter 3:10-11 "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness". John the beloved in 1 John 2:15-17 admonishes believers as follows "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." Jude tells us in verse 21 of his epistle to "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."

1. To live with eternity in view implies our walking with God like Enoch, Abraham, Joseph, Peter and other believers did. Walking with God involves a life of continuous fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3). This includes our believing in God's truth as revealed in His Word and making a sincere and conscientious effort made available through His grace to live for Him.

2. To live with eternity in view entails living our lives in accordance with the will of God. According to 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7, the will of God is that we live by His high standards of purity and sanctification; not compromising God's holiness and truth (the values and trends in our societies notwithstanding). Ephesians 1:4 reiterates this truth further as follows "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:"

3. To live with eternity in view is to suffer for His name's sake. Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered, died and shed His blood for us to be redeemed and be reconciled to God (Luke 24:26; John 10:11,15). It is part of our Christian faith to suffer for our Master and His kingdom. The patriarchs, early apostles and many other believers suffered for His name's sake. Stephen was stoned to death (Acts 7:59-60), James was beheaded by Herod in Acts 12:1-2. Peter was crucified by Nero with his head turned down. History has it that he requested that his head be turned down, rather than upright in other not to die in the same position like His Master Jesus Christ. He counted it worthy to be crucified like Him. Paul was tortured and then beheaded by emperor Nero. It was not the early apostles alone who paid the ultimate price for His name's sake. There were others like Polycarp the Bishop of Smyrna of the 2nd century. In his martyrdom, Polycarp is recorded as saying on the day of his death, "Eighty and six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong", how then can I blaspheme my King and Saviour? Bring forth what thou wilt." Polycarp was burned at the stake for refusing to burn incense to the Roman Emperor. These early Christians knew what it means to live with eternity in view. No wonder they were joyous while paying the ultimate price for the Saviour Jesus Christ's sake. They understood that “if we suffer (for Him), we shall also reign with Him” (2 Timothy 2:12). They knew “that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

4. To live with eternity in view is to seek first God's kingdom. In Matthew 6:33, Christ The Lord urges believers to seek above all else God's kingdom and His righteousness. We have to make a strenuous and diligent effort to obtain the rule and power of God demonstrated in our lives. Through the Holy Spirit we must seek to obey the commands of Christ, possess Christ's righteousness, remain separated from the world and show Christ's love towards everyone.

5. To live with eternity in view implies that we focus our minds on things above not on earthly wealth, fame and opulence. The current trend whereby many pastors emphasise so much and are actively involved in material acquisitions, fame and unbridled covetousness and teach men same runs contrary to living with eternity in view. Colossians 3:1-2 declares "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." The lifestyles of those who live with eternity in view are governed by things above. They view and evaluate everything from an eternal and heavenly perspective.

6. To live with eternity in view entails our seeking God's glory at all times and never our own glory. Our Lord Jesus did not come into the world to seek His own glory but to do the will of His Father Who sent Him (John 8:50; John 6:38). Believers who live with eternity in view seek God's glory. They are very eager to give God the glory for whatever feat they accomplished for His kingdom (Acts 3:1-16; Acts 14:8-14). Rather than seeking their own glory, they pray to be filled with knowledge of His will in order to know Him better (Ephesians 1:17; Colossians 1:9-10; 2 Corinthians 3:18). They follow the teaching of Paul in Philippians 3:12 (NIV) "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus."

7. To live with eternity in view is to think about heaven, talk about heaven, teach about heaven, preach about heaven and live to make heaven. Brethren there is nothing in this world that is more important than being in heaven with our Heavenly Father. Our Lord declares as follows in Mark 8:36-37 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" The present evil and adulterous generation has nothing to offer. All those who seek to be popular in or accepted by this present evil society rather than follow Christ and His righteous standards will be rejected by Christ at His return (Matthew 7:23; Matthew 25:41-46; Luke 9:27). We have to “set our heart and soul to seek The Lord our God” (1Chronicles 22:19). Colossians 3:2 says that we “set our affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” The Lord Jesus teaches us to both do and teach men the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:19).

Conclusion
Brethren, to live with eternity in view is ultimately joyous but painful while still putting on this earthly tabernacle. Our Lord Jesus Christ because of the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, while despising the shame (Hebrews 12:2). Paul told his son in The Lord Timothy to endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ (2 Timothy 2:3). We have to pass our sojourn here on earth as pilgrims and strangers. We have to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul (1 Peter 2:11) and work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). It will be extremely difficult for anybody no matter his/her status in the church or society who has not lived his or her life on earth with eternity in view to be in heaven. We have to strive to enter in through the narrow gate our Lord Jesus forewarns in Luke 13:24.

Who are your closest friends? Who are those you look up to as you run this Christian race? Are they of benefit to your being what God wants you to be? Where do you fellowship? Does your pastor preach the totality of the Gospel or only those ones that suit the desires of those with itching ears? Who are your fellow congregants? Are they saints in Christ or sinners bound with fruit of the flesh?

Are you a child of God or a child of the devil? Do you have a relationship with The One Who created you? Should the trumpet sound or you die now will you be with Him in glory? Examine yourself now and see if you are in the faith. If you are in a church that does not build you up and prepare you for eternity with Christ, then come out of that place now. It is nothing but a synagogue of satan (Revelation 3:9). Repent of your sins and turn to The Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.