Living in Light of Eternity

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”—1 Timothy 4:8 (NIV)

I have one simple question for you. Would you rather live or simply exist? I think every single person that reads this would answer “live!” And often, when we think of living, or as people like to say, “living my best life,” we think of traveling the world, eating good food, hanging out with friends, partying, playing sports or video games, or whatever it is we love to do. Now none of those things are necessarily bad, but what if I told you they weren’t really living?

I love to run, work out, and play sports, and I can’t begin to imagine my life without those things. And today’s verse even says, “physical training is of some value.” Here’s the issue though: Have I put more time into sports, food, travel, or whatever it is than into my relationship with Jesus? Those things do have “some value” (or as another translation puts it, “they profit a little”), BUT (I always tell people to look for big BUTS in the Bible) only one thing has value in life now and forever: godliness.

Now I have to be honest with you, godliness doesn’t guarantee the easiest, most comfortable life now, but it does guarantee the best life to come. When I die and go to heaven for eternity, I will not be judged by how fast I ran a mile, how much weight I could lift, how many friends I had, what food I ate the most (peanut butter cups), or any of those other earthly things. What I will be judged on is how I used my life on Earth to further God’s kingdom.

What I had to do was change my focus. I used to ask myself, “How can I fit God into my schedule?” or “How can I fit God into basketball?” Then, I started asking myself, “How does my schedule work around my relationship with God?” and “How can I use basketball for His glory?”

Once I learned to refocus and reshape the question, things started to fall into place. I stopped caring about the day to day so much and started investing in eternity. And let me tell you something, life has never been better! It’s been hard, yes. I’ve lost friends, my family has dealt with a lot of tragedy, and there have been many trials, yet I can truly say I’m living my best life because my life is being lived for Jesus.

Over these next five days, I hope and pray God speaks to you in such a way that you start to live your life in light of eternity.

Pause: When you see this section over the next couple days, just pause for one minute and really reflect on what you’ve read. Meditate on some questions that will be asked.

Practice: What is one thing you love to do that you can use for God’s glory? Try it today!

Pray: Ask God to help you refocus your mind. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2 NIV).