Life can be unpredictable, difficult, and anxiety-producing. During times like this, and really at all times, we need to ask ourselves: “Where do I focus, and in whom do I place my faith?” It has been said, “We don’t know what the future holds, but we do know Who holds the future.” This is more than a cliché; it is truth. In the next three blogs, I want to share a few life principles and key scriptures that remind me how to face the future with faith. I pray you are able to internalize the message in these three blogs and allow them to be an encouragement to you. Earlier this week we talked about Life Principle #1. Today, let’s look at Life Principle #2.
Life Principle #2: LIVE WITH AN EYE ON HEAVEN.
In James 4:14, we read: ”Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
James says, you are planning like you will live forever, or like you will be here forever. He tells us that life is a “mist,” or a vapor; it is here today and gone tomorrow. One of the key questions I ask myself frequently is, “Am I honing my heart on Heaven?” It is said that you can be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good. But the opposite is also true. You can be so earthly minded that you miss the true purpose of life — to love God and fulfill His purposes. We need to keep Heaven on the front burner of our minds.
There are few guarantees in life. But for the Christ-follower, Heaven is one of them. Therefore, as a follower of Jesus, I train myself to think about Heaven and live with an eye on Heaven. In other words, I anticipate living there forever one day. Living with an eye on Heaven is wise for many reasons:
- It focuses our lives today on God’s purposes, plans, and priorities.
- It encourages us when times are tough in this life, knowing our future is sure.
- It inspires us to share God’s love with others.
- It draws us to God’s Word and God’s Work.
James reminds us that life is short and we’re not to assume we will live forever. So, make your life count today. Make your years count and your months and your weeks and your days and your moments count.
My dad has had a few physical challenges lately. A few months ago he was driving and pulled over only to have an entire side of his body go numb. He had the presence of mind to call 911 and they rushed him to emergency where they gave him blood thinner to address a clot in his brain. He moved quickly and so did the medical professionals and thankfully he rebounded well. But it could have been very different. Situations like this remind us that life is fragile and temporary — but what we do for Christ will last forever. So we live with Heaven in view. We love with an eternal perspective. We remember that we are just passing through. While we are here, we want to be a blessing for God, for good, and for others.
Consider these verses:
- Matthew 6:19-21 — Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
- Hebrews 13:14 — For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.
- Philippians 3:20-21 — But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
- John 14:1-4 — Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.
Join me in praying today, “God life is fragile, brief, but your purposes are eternal. Help me recognize this truth, live to maximize my life and opportunities, and honor you in all things. Amen.”