Written by Wendy Neill, Advancement Coordinator for Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas
God is eternal, and he created you to live eternally. John tells us that if we believe in his Son, we can know that we have eternal life.
God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1John 5:11-13)
Leaning into this knowledge can make all the difference in how we live. Randy Alcorn, the Founder and Director of Eternal Perspective Ministries, often uses this analogy: “live for the line.”
I think of our lives in terms of a dot and a line, signifying two phases. Our present life on earth is the dot. It begins. It ends. It’s brief. However, from the dot, a line extends that goes on forever. That line is eternity, which Christians will spend in heaven. Right now we’re living in the dot. But what are we living for? The shortsighted person lives for the dot. The person with perspective lives for the line. (Source: blog post on EPM’s website.)
What are some practical ways we can embrace our eternal nature and “live for the line?” Let me offer three suggestions:
- Eagerly anticipate heaven - We have so intertwined the topic of heaven with our fear of death, that we often avoid the subject. But God tells us about our future home for a reason. He wants us to look forward to it! I encourage you to download our free ePetal study Heaven on the Horizon and spend time in the Word learning about your eternal home. In my own life, I have found that focusing on heaven brings joy and purpose to my life. It provides strength to get through my momentary struggles (2 Corinthians 4:17).
- Store up treasure in heaven - Jesus taught us to “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20). How? Serve others as if you were serving the Lord (Colossians 3:22-25), expect and abide mistreatment (Hebrews 11:26, James 1:12), do good to your enemies (Luke 6:35), plant and water kingdom seeds (1 Corinthians 3:8), and care for the poor and marginalized (Luke 14:13-14).
- Lead others to heaven - When you are truly focused on heaven, your joy rubs off on others. It is easier to share your faith when you know, deep down, that what you are offering others is eternal rest, joy, and relationship, instead of a list of rules and church attendance.
How will you “live for the line” this week?