Stepping Stones: Eternity 101

Transformational Tip
A few years ago I lost my brother and best friend to cancer. Thankfully he had dedicated his life to following Christ years before his illness. Just before his death he looked at me as if he were looking right into my soul and asked me a very simple question: Have you ever really thought about eternity? I've been thinking about it ever since.
Many times we will hear Christians talk about life on earth compared to eternity; they would say "A blink of an eye." While our time on earth is certainly short and fast compared to eternity, how we spend that time determines how we will spend our eternity. Yes, our time on earth is very important and is our introduction into eternity.
When we don't know Jesus, we make choices as if this life is all we have. In reality, this life is just the introduction to eternity. And how we live this brief span will actually determine our eternal state. What we accumulate in this life (material things) has no value in purchasing eternal life.
Today, begin viewing all that happens from an eternal perspective, you will find both your values and your decisions changing. If you aren't a believer in Jesus as your Savior, you got a life altering decision to make that affects where you spend eternity. If you do believe in Christ, you will be in heaven for eternity...awesome. But is how your living helping others realize the ultimate eternity determining decision they need to make. Sure, you might be a good person, but are your daily activities just making this earthly life more comfortable for you....or are you out there, in action and word, sharing the good news with others to affect eternal things. This is what we are called to do, and God has put people in your life, today, to build deeper relationship, ask them more personal questions, and today or soon, help them know their eternal options rest in Jesus. Be a Lighthouse to others.

Prayer
Dear Father God,
I come to You to praise You and give You glory. I come to You confessing that I do not have the eternal perspective that I want to have...should have. I thank you for my salvation and those who spoke to me about eternal things. I know Your Holy Spirit changes hearts and opens eyes, but I know You want to use me and I have a role to play in securing eternity in Your presence for others. Lord please help me let go of all those things I cling to in this temporal world. As I release my grasp on those "things", it frees my hand to reach out and take hold of Your hand as You guide me to help others understand the eternal home You have promised me and all believers. I pray Father that as I experience suffering and as I experience the storms of this temporal world, that You help me shift my focus to eternity...my ultimate destination. I pray this in the name of my savior, Jesus Christ - AMEN!

The Truth
What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 16:26
Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:15-16
Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light."
Luke 11:34-36