I’ve always wanted to learn how to play the cello. But I haven’t found the time to take lessons. Since time is short, I would rather spend my time doing the things that I won’t get to do in heaven—stuff like helping a believer to mature in his or her faith or reaching out to someone who doesn’t believe in Jesus. I say to myself, In heaven, I’ll have the whole of eternity to master that instrument!
Perhaps you’ve also set aside some personal pursuits in order to help others. And though you know it’s a good thing to do, somewhere from the back of your mind you ask yourself from time to time: Am I short-changing myself?
It’s understandable that we might ponder that type of thought. After all, time is like a relentless, flowing river moving our lives along with it. We feel the pressure to make the most of the time we’ve been given before it’s gone.
Shortly before Jesus went to the cross, He said these poignant words: “Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity” (John 12:25).
Was Jesus telling us not to enjoy the many good things God gives us in this life? No, He was telling us to relish them with eternity in view. Don’t live for the present. Don’t hold tightly to comforts, pleasure, power, position, or wealth. God must always be our top priority. As Jesus said, “Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me” (John 12:26).
In light of the eons of eternity, we know that some things can wait, while others can’t. Jesus’ priority was clear. He seized the day to reconcile man to God and to make disciples. How about you?
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 2:21-39
More:
Consider the apostle Paul’s eternal perspective found in 2 Corinthians 4:16-17.
Next:
What things can wait in this life and what can’t? How can you live practically with eternity in view?
gillian on June 11, 2014 at 2:52 am
Poh Fang, how do you know that God has not placed the desire within you to learn to play the cello whilst here on earth? I would get on with learning it now and enjoy doing so, as part of your praise and worship to Him? Life should be in balance and not all work but times of enjoyable activities as well, like you learning to play the cello.
mrsjwr on June 11, 2014 at 5:45 am
I agree with gillian!
pjp on June 11, 2014 at 5:53 am
She said she has the desire but would not prioritise.
LCC on June 11, 2014 at 9:36 pm
Thank you for the challenge/reminder. Indeed the Word says in Matthew 6 :33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”.
Shalom.
daisymarygoldr on July 25, 2014 at 4:38 pm
What things can’t wait in this life? Don’t wait to get married in eternity because after resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Similarly for every activity under heaven, God has ordained specific times. We need to take the time to do everything in its appropriate season. A time to be born, grow, go to school, learn, work, marry, reproduce, raise children, retire and finally die. All these things that are meant to be done here on earth will not be done in heaven.
And so Poh Fang, if you are musically gifted and led by the Lord, then learn to play the cello and disciple others through your music 🙂 In eternity, we will be occupied with other stuff—things which we have not seen nor heard nor has been perceived by our minds. There is nothing wrong about personal pursuits provided we don’t get consumed in using our God-given abilities to serve our own interests.
Living in the light of eternity is, to not let our hobbies, education or career divert us from fulfilling God’s predetermined purpose for our momentary existence on earth. For example, if you study to become a doctor, what counts for eternity is not the number of patients that got cured by the treatment you provided but the souls that got saved by your sharing the Good news of Christ.
Practically speaking, we are to enjoy good things as travelers taking a business trip away from home. Once we realize the real reason for our being here, we will not get tied up in buying, selling, planting, and building “bigger barns” in this world. “Not hold tightly” means to not mourn the loss of transient things as people without hope do.
Since we have this hope in Christ, some things can wait for now. Want to see God and live with Him, reunite with loved ones, enjoy perfect peace, loving relationships without any parting, to be always happy and have a body that does not get sick, to live in a sin-free environment where there is no injustice, no crime, war and evil, no poverty or suffering, no sorrow, darkness and death? To possess all these blessings, the Bible tells us to wait.
Meanwhile as long as we are allowed to stay here, it is important to remember that the time is short. Our assigned tasks must be completed whether we have or don’t have—comfort, health, wealth, pleasure, personal relationships, power, or position. John gives us insight to Jesus’ priority for doing His Father’s business (John 9:4). For Christians, the primary purpose of living in this world is to use this life for finishing the work assigned by our Lord Jesus Christ—to tell others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God (Acts 20:24).