Treasured Inspiration- Are You Living With Eternal Life In Mind?

Are you living with eternal life in mind? Steph Nickel encourages us to seek God in everything that we do, and remember that “The promise of the Ultimate Victory is the Ultimate Inspiration.”

Your Labor Is Not In Vain

First Corinthians 15:58 says,

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (ESV).

I love this verse. And yet, it was the preceding eight verses that caught my attention this morning. They read this way:

“I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (ESV).

I’ve often come across—and held onto—verse 58, especially the last phrase: knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. What an encouragement! Let’s face it. There are days we all feel as if we’re spinning our wheels, getting nowhere.

We could reflect on this for a long time. It could even lead to a series of devotionals. But today I’d like to think about the preceding verses. Taken in context, verse 58 is even more amazing, challenging, and encouraging.

The Ultimate Inspiration

I admit I don’t give much thought to heaven. Lord willing, I have lots more to accomplish before He calls me Home.

And yet …

I don’t know if I will pass away naturally or if Jesus will return before that time. I know there are plenty of individuals who believe the endtimes must be just around the corner. However, even Jesus’s disciples thought He would return in their lifetime. Therefore, I’ve come to the conclusion that it is difficult to discern God’s timetable, at least with any degree of accuracy.

Still, verses 50-57 challenge us to keep in mind that the end will come. The trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised. The perishable will put on the imperishable. Believers in Jesus Christ can rejoice in the victory that we have in Him.

It’s no wonder verse 58 commands us to

“be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord [our] labor is not in vain.”

Incredible!

The promise of the Ultimate Victory is the Ultimate Inspiration.

When the very ground beneath our feet seems to be crumbling and giving way—never mind the world situation—we can remain steadfast.

God’s call to be immovable doesn’t mean we are to become stubborn and bull-headed. But it does mean that we can rely 100 percent on the truth of the Scriptures and the faithfulness and trustworthiness of our Creator.

Living With Eternal Life In Mind

What does it mean to “abound in the work of the Lord” while keeping His promises for the future in mind?

This always reminds me of Colossians 3:17, which says,

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Are you a student?

Are you a stay-at-home parent tending to your family?

Are you a manual labourer?

Are you the CEO of a Fortune 500 company?

Are you in what we’ve labelled “fulltime Christian service,” a pastor or missionary for example?

Each day we can—and should—commit our tasks to the Lord. We must seek His direction every step of the way. Plus, we must live with eternity in mind.

Every Christian Should Live With Eternal Life In Mind

As a student, how would it change the way you interact with your classmates and instructors?

As a dad or mom, how would it change the way you deal with your spouse and your children?

As a blue collar worker, how would it change the way you fulfill your responsibilities?

As a leader, how would it affect the way you deal with clients and employees?

You see, it isn’t just those in the pulpit or on the mission field who are to consider the spiritual implications of their words and actions. It applies to each and every one of Christ’s followers.

How will you live with eternity in mind today?

To do so, it’s important to dig into the Scriptures for yourself? I find biblegateway.com a great resource. You may want to check it out.

Do you let the promise of eternal life affect the way you live? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.