Living with Eternity in View

In Secondary School, my physics teacher taught me that a scalar quantity is one that has magnitude and no direction. I also recollect that a while back, people who didn’t seem to have focus and direction in life were referred to ‘No Future Ambition’ (‘NFA’). Humans place a high premium on living a life with direction and focus.

For instance, a student is expected to have an idea of what kind of grades he/she wishes to get at the end of each semester and at the end of his academic pursuit. This will in turn determine the type of disciplines he /she would subject he /she would subject himself/herself to. It would determine the kind of sacrifices he/she would have to make. The expectations are same for anyone intending to run a career and in fact just about any human endeavour. I once heard someone say: “The why of a demand determines the intensity of pursuit”.

I strongly believe that this should also apply to our lives as Christians. As a matter of fact, we (Christians) were created to fulfil God’s purpose here on earth and reign with Him in eternity. Jesus said in John 14:1-3(NIV): “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will take you to be with me that you may also be where I am.”

Sadly, even with this promise coming directly from the mouth of Jesus Himself, many of us continue to live as if it all ends here. As if after our sojourn on planet earth there’s nothing to look forward to. Many Christians have allowed pressures of life to choke out this reality from their psyche. To some others it has been reduced to a mere myth or fable.

Friend, the truth is that more than ever before we’re closer to the end of age. The pointers that Jesus gave to us are becoming more and more evident. Jesus said this about the end time: “You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are beginning of the birth pains” (Matthew 24: 6-8). You’ll agree with me that all these things are happening around the world almost on a daily basis. The coming of Jesus would be so sudden and unexpected (Luke 17:20-37).

In the light of this, how are expected to live our lives as Christians? The first is to “… seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…”(Matthew 6:33). The second is to live every moment as if Christ or death could come the very next moment.

And if perhaps you’ve not given your life to Christ, there’s no better time than now no better day than today to make that decision. Accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour guarantees you abundant life here on earth (John 10:10) and eternal life with Him hereafter. Friend, why don’t you make that decision today? Who knows, tomorrow might be too late.