We live here and while here our purpose is to bring glory to God so that when He appears, “we also will appear with Him in glory” (Col 3:4). When in this life we have tribulation, remember all this will be behind us one day. Live your life for heaven. The Christian ought to spend everyday of his or her present life living with an eye on our future life. There is great benefit in doing this. Below I have suggested four benefits of living for the future.
1. If we live for the future, we will invest in eternity instead of merely spending their lives. When Christ returns, He will reward faithful service. “For the Son of Man will come… and then He will reward each according to his works” (Matthew 16:27). Even a hedonist can do the arithmetic. A short lifetime of benefit compared to an eternity. Someday everyone will understand that material things are just things and stuff and junk.
2. If we live for the future, we will be able to cope with any worldly enemies. God’s vindication is coming later. “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:4). All earthly critics will disappear on that day. The mere sight of the glorified Christ and of Christians sharing in the glory of Christ will be enough.
3. If we live for the future, we will be able to grow in holiness now. The apostle John wrote, “We know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:2-3). Faithful Christians understand that moral choices should not be made based only on the present moment or in terms of instant gratification.
4. If we live for the future, we will not get overly disappointed in this life. Christians know better than to have unrealistic expectations. We live with the awareness that even when things are good, “this too shall pass.” It is not that we are cynical or bitter. We are not disillusioned by the failure of this world to be what we believe it should be, but are focused on the world to come. We are “Eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:7).
Lonnie Davis
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