Living For Jesus Is ALWAYS About Eternity. Live daily with a clear vision of
eternity before your eyes. We have to realize that we live each day for the sake of
eternity and not for the present fleeting moment. For those who truly follow Jesus,
we should recognize that this present world is really not our home. Paul reflected
on this truth when he said in Philippians 3:7-10,
“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I
count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for
whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and counted them as rubbish, that I might
gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which is from the
law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by
faith; that I might know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of
His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”
Paul experienced God in such a way that transformed his view of life from looking at
the present moment to seeing his life as being lived for eternity.
Many years ago, an aged missionary couple was onboard a ship returning from 50
years of ministry in Africa. They had given their lives in the work God had called
them to but had very little of this world’s treasure to show for their effort. They
were returning to America with the limited resources they had.
On the same ship President Woodrow Wilson was sailing New York having been to
Africa on a hunting trip. When the ship arrived, the dock was filled with cheering
people. Bands played and cameras flashed as the President and his entourage
arrived home. It was a time of great celebration. The missionary couple watched
from the ship’s railing as President Wilson left the ship and drove away to the
sounds of the cheering crowds welcoming him home.
The missionaries gathered their belongings and left the ship to go to the small flat
they had rented. The man said to his wife, “Its not right! We have lived our lives for
Jesus and faithfully served him in Africa, but here we are with nothing, and no one
has come to welcome us home. No one is here to celebrate what we have done. No
one knows, and no one cares.” His wife tried to explain that all they had done had
been done for Jesus, and they needed to be content with that. The man knew she
was right, but he really began to struggle.
His disappointment lasted into the next day and a sense of discouragement began to
set in. Eventually, he told his wife he was going to go into the bedroom and lock the
door and pray. He wanted to fully explain to God the injustice and hurt he felt.
Suddenly, the old missionary came out of the room with tears on his cheeks and a
big smile on his face–joyfully praising God! The man said that as he was telling God
about the frustration and anger he felt, the Holy Spirit gently said to him, “Son, you
don’t understand….you are not home yet.” When the missionary heard this simple
word from the Lord, everything changed for him in a moment of time.
You are not home yet either! When we mistake personal earthly happiness for
running our Heavenly race, we will fall into the deception of living for whatever is
fashionable at the moment. But this life and all that it holds is ONLY but for a
moment. Eternity is forever! When we stand before the Lord Jesus and present to
Him the life we lived for Him and His glory while we were here on this earth,
Heaven’s Welcome Home will be infinitely more valuable than the applause this
world could give to us! Living life for Jesus now is really about investing in eternity!
