The Kingdom of God is made up of ordinary individuals working together in sacrifice and humility towards an eternal cause. This is the third distinctive of the Kingdom of God that I felt God share with me from 1 Corinthians 3:9-15. Eternity is more than the reason we got saved; it is the perspective that gives purpose to our daily lives.
I’m sure many of you will remember the fireworks display in Sydney on New Years Eve at the dawn of the year 2000. The climax of the display was the word “Eternity” lit up across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It was in reference to the story of a man named Arthur Stace.
Arthur Stace was born in 1884 in Sydney. His parents were alcoholics and he was left to live a homeless life and quickly entered into a life of crime. He was converted at the age of 46, and after hearing the preaching of Evangelist John Ridley about eternity, was gripped with a call from God to write “Eternity” all over the streets of Sydney. And so, despite being illiterate and barely being able to write his own name, Arthur Stace got up every morning for over 30 years and wrote in chalk “Eternity” on the pavements of Sydney. Many thousands today can testify to the impact that that single word had on their perspective in life.
Do we live in light of eternity? Is eternity hidden in our heart, or do we constantly remind ourselves of the eternal reality that is the Kingdom of God? Or do we live for the moment – if it feels good, do it!
Once again Jesus shows us a more excellent way to live. He did not consider His own comfort or the security of the moment before He went to the cross. He considered you, He considered me. He considered the prospect of joyful relationship with millions of souls in eternity and the quality of life that could be had here on earth for all mankind with the weight of sin removed and the Holy Spirit walking with us daily.
We look to eternity where beyond our salvation, we are judged by the work we have done in life. Will the work of my life, driven by greed and selfish gain be consumed and ultimately come to naught? Or having spent everything I have (energy, skills, gifts, and time) humbly for the Kingdom of God, will my life’s work be rewarded by bringing glory to the King of Kings?
Imagine standing there in eternity, not alone, but with dozens, maybe hundreds of others standing beside you saying, “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here”. The prospect of eternity is what motivates us to live the best we can today.
Pursue a life of integrity in the here and now, don’t ignore the now because of eternity with God. What is the eternal purpose of your life? Are you prepared to live that purpose in sacrifice and humility, purely motivated, living “worthy of the calling” (Ephesians 4:1)?
It is because of eternity that I want to live that life, contrary to the motto of this world where there is no hope, no purpose and no eternal point of reference to bring meaning and purpose to today. Be inspired today to not just follow the patterns of this world, but to allow the greatness of God, His eternal presence to inform and encourage your passion for life everyday.
