To give you an illustration of eternity, imagine a rope that is so long that it can circle around the world a thousand times. This rope sort of goes on forever. And then this time, imagine this rope having a tip that is a few inches long.
This is a simple illustration on how our time here on earth is compared to eternity. We will only live a few short years and pass away, and then spend our existence throughout eternity somewhere else. It’s really not worth comparing.
Unfortunately, a lot of people focus on the tip of the rope. They see the life they have in this world as their permanent place instead of just a temporary trip. They tend to live only in the now without any regard of their life in the future. In the Bible, there are a number of stories that teach us that we need to look at our life in light of eternity.
The Deception of Wealth
The Parable of the Rich Fool is a parable of Jesus which appears in Luke 12:13-21. It reflects the foolishness of attaching too much importance to wealth. How we spend our time and money is determined on what we really value. Life shouldn’t be just about eating, drinking, and being merry.
It’s so important to realise that a lot of our wrong financial decisions are often caused by greed and the deception of money. Today’s media and marketing strategy is to make people focus on the now and get instant gratification. Sometimes, we work so hard for things that quickly diminish in value just because we feel we need to have it right away. Perhaps you’ve heard of the tragic stories of people who have sacrificed their marriage and relationships with their children simply for the pursuit of the “good life”.
Do you really need what you think you need?
If you think that having the latest iPhone is important, then you may be among those people who line up every year at the Apple store the day before the release of yet another model. If you think that following the latest fashion trend is so critical to your well-being, then you may be one of those people who spend hundreds of dollars just to buy another pair of shoes or dress whenever they go to the shopping centre.
But ask yourself for a moment, what’s really important in life? Is there real value in acquiring all the material possessions you’re offered? Do you really need to buy that luxury SUV? Do you really need to buy a fancy watch just to tell you the time? Do you really need to eat in an expensive restaurant even as you struggle to pay off your credit card debt? The list goes on and on.
Mark 8:36 says, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
As Anthony J. D’Angelo said, “the most important things in life are not things.” We believe the most important things in life are your relationships with God, your family, and friends.
A Gentle Reminder
God loves you and He wants to remind you today that your life in this world is short. Don’t get too attached to what the world offers. Don’t also get too troubled or worried if life gets hard.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18, says “For our light and temporary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs our troubles. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Learn to be content. Stop comparing yourself to what others have. There will always be someone who seems to have a shinier or newer “toy” than you. 1 Timothy 6:6-7 teaches that “godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”
Invest in eternity. God said if you get your priorities right, He will take care of your needs. Matthew 6:33 promises that if we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, that all these things (we need) will be added unto us. Matthew 6:20 tell us that we should “store up treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
J. H. Jowett once said, “The real measure of our wealth is how much we would be worth if we lost all our money.”
To live wisely in the present, keep your eyes on things that will last beyond your life here on earth. For only a life invested for God and His kingdom will pay eternal dividends.
