On Living Daily in the Shadow of Eternity

Try this. Go visit a really old cemetery, the older the better. Walk around. Read some of the dates if you can still make them out. Notice the inscriptions. Check out other adjoining grave stones. Do you see some with Christian markings? This is not intended to be a morbid activity. In fact, besides reading the Bible, it may prepare you better than anything else to develop an eternal perspective for daily life.

Find a Christian grave. Find one that you can clearly see the name, the date of birth and the date of death. Stand there and ponder the following.

Longer There Than Here

One of the things you will notice if you do the math, the grave belongs to a person who has now been with Jesus in glory longer than the time lived on the earth. Life here is not nothing, but it sure isn’t long comparatively speaking. The Bible speaks about life here as a vapor, here one minute and gone the next.

What impact could that have on your life now? How does that change what you value or treasure? How would that effect what you do or do not spend your time on day by day? What if it is really true that you will spend all eternity in glory, ultimately with a glorified body?

Known but to God

That is inscribed on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery. It could be inscribed on everyone’s tomb.

When you ponder that grave site, there is a very good chance that that person is largely invisible to history. He or she may have been something while on earth: maybe first in the class or the best on the team or the one with the biggest house in town. Now no one on earth knows about, thinks about or talks about that person.* Known but to God.

What impact could that have on your life now? How does that change your approach to life? What freedom do you have from making a name for yourself, a name that one day, too soon, no one will know? What does it mean that the key thing in life is to be known by God and to know his love through Jesus Christ?

Lasting Legacy

It’s old, I know. U-Hauls are useless behind hearses. Indeed, you can’t take it with you. All of what we have in this world will wear out, rust out, fade away or fall apart. We leave it all behind.

There is only one “thing” we can take to heaven with us: people. As you consider that tombstone of that Christian whose name is known only to God, consider that the only thing of eternal consequence that person ever did was lead someone else to Jesus. The lasting legacy of life here is, by the Spirit of God, to be a vehicle of the Gospel that brings eternal life to another.

What impact does that have on your life now? How might that reorder your relationships with other people? How might it reorder your estimation of your position, possessions or accomplishments?

Actually, there is a second thing that endures. While it is somewhat mysterious, it is also clear, our work in the Kingdom has an eternal quality.

• And their works shall follow them. (Revelation 14:13)

• 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. (I Corinthians 15:58)

• Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rustdestroy and where thieves break in and steal,but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:19-20)

What impact does that have on your life now? What sort of works might follow you? What does it look like to abound in the work of the Lord? What treasures are heavenly treasures?

None of this denigrates life in this world. God gifts us with daily life to treasure, embrace and enjoy. We should engage the day’s blessings, work, relationships and celebrations. Our call as it was from the beginning is day by day to rule over the earth and subdue it—to the glory of God and the good of our neighbor.

Yes, we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, but even more so we live under the shadow of both the cross and the eternal wings of our saving God. To live a life that matters we must live with an eye on, a heart set to and even an eagerness for eternal life with God and, ultimately, the physical resurrection of the dead.

This is the way to fearlessness and joy. This will enable you to make the most of your opportunities. This will place your feet firmly for time and eternity on the path toward significance.

*Most families do have an aunt or uncle who tracks down the genealogy of long-lost relatives.