Investing in Eternity

When we share the gospel with the lost, we help unbelievers invest in eternal life with our Savior. God offered His Son to be the perfect sacrifice to fully pay for all his past, present, and future sins: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8) Each believer is justified by faith alone in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. It is not by good works. (I Corinthians 15:3-4)

After believing Christ’s provision of the cross, saints can think on verses like this to bring a new viewpoint about their current life, allowing God to live in him: “Laying up for store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” (I Timothy 6:19) In the context, it warns believers not to trust in temporary, earthly riches, but focus on building God’s treasure, His Word, into our lives to manifest Christ’s perfect works. These riches last forever, producing resurrection life in us, for which we will obtain rewards. (I Corinthians 3:14, II Timothy 4:8) We can exalt and keep these spiritual things in our mind, so Scripture becomes more real and important to us than the challenging and ungodly things that we see in this world. 

Exercise sound teaching unto godliness is to be our focus: this is immersing ourselves in the Word and working out what we learn in the details of life. There is great value to living Christ’s Word: now, while we live on this earth, but also into eternity. (I Timothy 4:8) God works His glory (His character and attributes) in and through us as we believe. Christ living in us is seen by all those around, even when we don’t speak a word. Angels also observe and learn as they see God’s power and wisdom shining through us in a world that is darkened by Satan. (Ephesians 3:10)

Think on this: In this life we are building a store of spiritual treasures in heaven. These are actually the very assets that will help us to function in the eternal realm, and specifically in the position God plans to give to us. The result is having exceeding joy, but more, it enables us to glorify God for ever more. Our choices, such as whether or not to read and apply the Scripture, along with living and laboring with Christ, seems to affect the role we will play in heaven. This is an inter-dispensational issue. Read what is taught in the parable of the talents: Matthew 25:14-28. This reinforces that what we do on earth matters: “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (II Corinthians 5:14-15) How are you investing in your future?