The Value of Eternal Perspective

When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, He told us to ask that God’s “will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” One of the ways that prayer is answered is when the choices we make on earth in this life will have eternal value to God when we get to heaven! One of the central questions in every choice we make is:

“At the end of the age, will this be something that will make God say ‘well done’?”

An eternal perspective now has tremendous benefits in how we live our lives today. Here are a few to consider:

JOY:

It’s such a joy to give the perfect gift to someone we love, and a “perfect gift” is one that has great value to them. Compared to eternity, this earthly life is short. We won’t have opportunities to trust, hope or have faith once we get to heaven. When we respond now to God with our trust, faith and hope in this life, there’s immense joy in knowing that we are making choices He treasures now and forever.

SECURITY:

When you share God’s eternal perspective, nothing can rob you of knowing He approves of you, even if others don’t. Disappointments, fraudulent dealings, unjust outcomes may take your finances, employment, even relationships you’ve treasured. But if your choices were made because you valued what God values, it will not only be worth it in heaven, but will give you a sense of deep satisfaction to know you were faithful to an audience of One.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Matthew 6:19-20

CONFIDENCE:

We want to have the right motives in our choices and an eternal perspective really helps. The next verse in Matthew says clearly, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” A life of joyful dependency on the One who knows us best and loves us most takes the weight off of our shoulders to get it right on our own. Our confidence is in Christ in us, the one who started a good work in us and promises to finish it when our trust is in Him more than anything else (Philippians 1:6).

So what can we value now that God will value in heaven?

Let’s start with this one: PEOPLE

The only created thing that will make the jump from this life to the next is people.  Everyone has an eternal life. The only issue is where it will be spent.

The jobs we have, the money we earn, the time we spend… none of it has value of its own. It’s what we DO with our resources that will or will not be eternal. Do we use what we have to love people the way God would love them and demonstrate what He is really like?

There’s a powerful story in one of my favorite devotionals, Imagine Heaven,” about a man who had a near death experience and literally saw his life flash before his eyes.  

“The whole emphasis was on people and not on things… As a matter of fact, there were some instances where I had won promotions, honors, awards as a college professor… and [Jesus] skipped them… I said, ‘You’re skipping the most important things in my life!’

‘That’s not what we’re here for you to see. That’s not important. What I want you to see is how you treated the students.’”*

 Jesus said that after loving God with everything we are, that we were to treat those around us as we would want to be treated. 

People matter to God.

“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’” Matthew 25:34-36.

But those who did these things for people didn’t understand. They didn’t do them for Jesus directly.  So He cleared up for them, “‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” (verse 40)

An eternal perspective brings clarity and confidence to our life choices. 

If we’re investing in the welfare of people truly for their good - spiritually, physically and relationally, we’re investing in something that will make the jump from this life to the next!

We’ll be looking at this truth in the future. But for now, who is near you today that you can invest in? Maybe it’s just buying a cup of coffee for a stranger or spending time listening to a friend.  

Whatever it is, feel God’s smile. He will remember theirs. 

~ Allison

*Imagine Heaven Devotional © 2018 by John Burke and Kathy Burke