Have you even had moments when you have asked yourself, “What am I here for?” I believe that everyone wants – perhaps even needs – for their life to count. We desperately want to know that we matter. I have good news. We do! You do!
Human beings are eternal creatures, created for a future living as part of a renewed creation as God’s people, thanks to the completed work of the cross of Jesus Christ. For those who have received and believed in His Name, we know this: eternal life isn’t something which kicks in after we have died, like a cosmic insurance policy. It has already begun. We are living it. Jesus said He came that we might have “life to the full” and the life we live now is assured to continue on into eternity. ‘Heaven’ isn’t up there, a place we will all one day all go. It is the reality of God – the Kingdom of God – which is coming to earth to remake it according to His ultimate design: “…on earth as it is in Heaven”. Our purpose is that we have an indispensable role in building, maintaining and belonging to it forever: the greatest undertaking which has ever been or ever will be.
Human beings are eternal creatures, created for a future living as part of a renewed creation as God’s people, thanks to the completed work of the cross of Jesus Christ.
It is therefore unsurprising that there is much in the Bible to remind us about dedicating ourselves to the things in life which will endure forever without becoming preoccupied with our immediate needs, important though they are,
“…Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness”, Jesus said, “and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Jesus also taught on balance that it is through how we handle material riches, which are of temporary value, that we learn how to be entrusted with real ‘riches’ which are of eternal value (Luke 16:11). God entrusts to each of us resources and gifts and we need to find exactly the right balance between fulfilling the responsibilities we have to our families and ourselves, and each of us playing our role in building His Eternal Kingdom.
What is of ‘eternal value’? These are the things which we can take with us.
…not our possessions, but our relationships:
with God, family, friends, our neighbour.
…not our home, our car or bank balance, but our character
shaped by what we chose to value most.
…not the things we did, but the things which we did for others.
In other words, our hearts: love!
So my challenge to each of us is this: Let us not neglect to set our hearts, efforts and resources towards the things which will last. At Christians Care International, we know that the love which we show to Israel and our Jewish brothers and sisters will last forever. When we work to heal the life of an orphan, or care for the elderly holocaust survivor, this brings forward a glimpse of that redeemed, eternal future into their lives and ours. And it brings a smile to our Heavenly Father’s face.
What could ever be of greater value than that?
Adam Raffell
Director of Ministry Development
