We believe in life after death. We believe in life eternal. How does that truth transform your everyday life? It should change everything. 

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Live Eternally Minded 

Krista Hengesh

“Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” – James 4:14 

Have you ever really thought about eternity? Like really sat with the idea that you are alive for just a short period of history? That life on earth has gone on for years before you, and it could go on for years after you? This is a concept that I have had a hard time grasping for a while, but one that recently has become more clear as I have deepened my theology and understanding of what it is that I truly believe. You know that memory verse we all memorized in Sunday School, John 3:16, well what it says is true- God gave us His son so we could have eternal life. I think it is time we recognize the reality of that, and choose to live a different life because of it.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

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Living a Life That Matters 

If you have a quick moment, watch this video. It puts our earthly lives into perspective. I promise you it is an eye-opener.

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You Are Already Walking The Streets of Gold 

Since we only have these 80ish years to live, and we only get one chance with life on earth, how are you going to live it? What are you going to live it for? Are you going to spend your precious time chasing after temporary things? Things that matter now, but a week or year from now have no weight? Are you going to let the small things of this world upset you when there really is so much else to live for? 

So… what are YOU living for?

When you look at your life, what is it that you value? Is it money, fame, experience, clout, comfort, attention, or recognition? Are you living for things that are going to matter a year from now? Honestly, thinking about the concept of ‘eternity’ can be overwhelming and, for many, terrifying. It’s outside of the familiar, with life being utterly exhausting most of the time, trying to imagine some vast expanse of eternity doesn’t really bring much comfort.

Instead, I want you to try to look at eternity as a journey that has already begun.

Try to place yourself in the reality that the promise of the kingdom is already yours. Imagine that you’re already walking on streets of gold, and on your darkest, toughest days, you will see Jesus and His eternal work in your life rather than the lie that you’re just not there yet. The distance will seem infinitely smaller and Christ’s hope will seep into your schedule, your values, and your worldview.

I know it is difficult to see ourselves in light of our futures, in light of the world, and in light of eternity at this stage of our lives, but I think it would change our lives dramatically if we are able to adapt this mindset now this early on in our lives.

I want to savor the moments that will influence me towards my promise of eternity, as these promises are rooted and grounded in His Word. The hard truth: a lot of things in this life really don’t matter in the long run. A lot of people and plans are wishy-washy. A lot of relationships end up in the grey zone. But when I learn to perceive myself on a present path to the Kingdom, the difference between white and black, death and life, becomes very clear.

You are living and breathing today as you read this, but one day, you will not be. There was a point in history when you were not living, not a thought, not a wish… and now you are. God knew and celebrated your conscious beginning on this side of life, and He will equally rejoice at your return. Return. Do you hear that? It’s not an end, and God would never call it that. There is no promise of an ‘end’ for His people, and if that is the way He operates, then why do we believe otherwise?

We need to realize that life goes on after our time on earth and that there is so much more to live for than what we can see. It’s as simple as that.

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.“ – 2 Corinthians 4:18

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You Play A Part In Eternity

Do you know that you play an important role in the grand, present, glorious and unfolding eternity? Each and every day you have the chance to go out there and bring His kingdom come. To treat others like Jesus. To bring up tough conversations and ask your friends hard questions that make them rethink their actions and thoughts and direct them back to Jesus. I want to encourage you to live for the things that matter. To fight for friendships, to fight for justice, to stand up for the things that Jesus would stand up for – regardless of social or cultural acceptance. We live in a world of a lot of wishy-washy, and a lot of grey area, but as a Christian, you believe in life eternal. You believe in life after death. You believe in a better world than where we are right now. Let that truth transform you, and let it alter your everyday.

A writer in the Psalms has written about how God will make known your paths, and in His presence, we will experience His fullness of joy (hint: we’re not supposed to find this joy anywhere else). The writer then says that we will have pleasures forever… F O R E V E R. Wow. That is a lot to wrap my head around, but even in the attempt, my heart is deeply changed.

“You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” – Psalms 16:11