Prefer to Listen?
Have you ever stopped to wonder what your purpose on earth is? Looking at the billions of people on the planet, it’s easy to wonder: what difference does one life really make?
When we stop to think about the weight of these questions in light of eternity, our focus shifts. We stop measuring our impact by what our culture considers success and start considering the eternal purpose our lives have.
Our lives aren’t random. They are part of something eternal, and that means our purpose isn’t measured by earthly standards.
Resurrection means our work isn’t meaningless
The Bible encourages us to work and to enjoy our work. Our work here on earth does lead to temporal gain. It allows us to pay our bills, buy our food, and take care of our families. For many of us, we earn enough to set aside some savings, enjoy vacations, and try different hobbies.
But we must not stop there. The Bible also encourages us to give generously and take care of those in need. 1 John 3:17 explains that one way we show God’s love is through helping others, “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does Gods’ love abide in him?”
Our work has eternal purpose not only through what it provides, but also in the work itself. It doesn’t matter if you are a pastor, a teacher, a lawyer, or a plumber. Your work can glorify God and bear fruit that lasts beyond this life.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
-Colossians 3:23-24
God is actively redeeming and restoring
God’s work on this earth didn’t stop at His ascension. He sent His Spirit to us to continue the work of redeeming and restoring sinners to Himself.
In Romans 3:23-25, Paul reminds us of this redemptive work, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,… to be received by faith.”
He is still continuing that work today.
We’re invited into that work (not just waiting for heaven)
Salvation isn’t just a one-time event. It is something that changes us for all of this life and the next.
I was raised learning the Westminster Shorter Catechism. The first question there is: “What is the chief end of man?” The answer: “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds us that even the smallest choices we make – how we live, what we choose, and how we affect others – can be done with an eternal purpose, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
To glorify God means to live in a way that reflects Him: to grow in our understanding of Him, to be shaped more into His likeness, and to share His truth with others.
Time doesn’t end our work
We know that our time on this earth will end.
But we aren’t just passing the time until that moment.
We are participating in a purpose that outlasts time.
Much of that eternal purpose is found in how we love, serve, and invest in the people around us. Because people are eternal.
Live life with your eternal purpose in view, because what you do now is shaping something that will never end.
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