Question 48: Eternity

Question: Why does understanding eternity matter for our lives now?

Answer: Understanding eternity affects how we see people, invest our time and live our lives on earth.

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18

Paul encourages believers facing hardship by giving them an eternal perspective. He declares that the challenges they faced paled in comparison to the joy that awaited them with God. Paul isn’t minimizing pain but placing it within the scope of eternity. Paul understands that how people view the future directly affects how they live in the present. They will grieve differently and relate to others in more life-giving ways (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Understanding eternity offers hope and brings conviction. Their lives really do matter. The choices they make, whether for Christ or apart from him, have eternal consequences.

An eternal perspective transforms our daily decisions and priorities. Maintaining a proper perspective on eternal destinies is vital because it affects how we see people and how we choose to invest our time. Scripture calls us to live lives that build on the reality of God in Christ and to treat our time on earth as an investment in God’s eternal kingdom. If we want our lives and efforts to matter, we must live with an eye on eternity. We can be encouraged and endure what we face today with patience and love, because in Christ our future is settled (1 Peter 1:7). This motivates us to make a difference in this life and to invest our time in ways that glorify God and yield eternal rewards.

TODAY: Ask God to help you see people and situations through eternity’s lens. Thank him that your present sufferings cannot compare with the coming glory. Choose one way to invest in God’s eternal kingdom today. Learn more about eternity in our We Believe document HERE.