We naturally think more about the present moment than our eternal future. But if we are not ready for eternity now, then how will we be ready tomorrow? Now is the time to live with an eternal perspective. This is essential to our discipleship training. Even if we live a long life what good is it if we have not devoted ourselves to being conformed to the image of Christ? Consider how many Christians have believed for many years but show little spiritual growth. Do we want to enter heaven that way? How great that tragedy would be.
“if we keep our eternal hope constantly before us then our actions will quickly harmonize with the Spirit”
Death is not our enemy, but a wasted life is. True discipleship leads us to meditate on the end of our earthly life so that we can live an earthly life that we will be proud of in the next age. We should keep ourselves prepared for death by walking by the Spirit as best we can. Even if our last act is to lift up our pain and complaints to God like the Psalmist then we have been faithful to the end. But if we neglect our spiritual growth then we will die in regret. We will wish for just one more day of life so that we could live it rightly, but that day will not come.
Instead, if we keep our eternal hope constantly before us then our actions will quickly harmonize with the Spirit. If we remember that God will judge believers’ lives (Rom. 14:12; II Cor. 5:10) then we will discover a stronger will to be a disciple of Jesus. We will not look to please others but rather we will please God first. Then we can rejoice as our time on earth comes to an end. In this way we die to the world (Col. 2:20) and live in Christ. And though physical death may come at any moment, our spiritual reward will endure for eternity.
May this advance your spiritual growth!
This post is partly based on Chapter 23 of the classic The Imitation of Christ.
