Recognizing the Reality of a Fallen World

Simply put, we live in a fallen world. A world that has been marred through and through, corrupted, tainted by sin. And that’s where we are. And if we are objectively honest in the world as we know it today, there’s much more misery than there is happiness. There’s much more strife than there is peace. There’s much more sickness than there is health. Have you also realised that?

Thank God our final destiny is not in this world. Paul said something which has really impacted me in 1 Corinthians 15:19. I’ve thought about so many of the Christians I meet. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most to be pitied. Ponder that for a moment.

Shifting Perspectives: From Time to Eternity

If all you’re expecting from Christ is in this earthly life, you are of all the most pitiable. And yet I meet so many Christians who seem to be totally preoccupied with what happens in this life. And their concept of Christianity is getting something from God in this world. That is absolutely alien to the picture of the New Testament.

So it is very, very healthy for us to be pressured by the Holy Spirit into considering the end of time and the beginning of eternity in the life of each one of us. In Hebrews 13:14, the writer says, we have no continuing city here but we look for the one which is to come. Now, is that true of you? Where is your permanent life? Is it in this world? Don’t you realize that this is only temporary? We’re just as they say passing through and our permanent destination is in eternity? If you only can see the things of time and not eternity, you will be an unhappy person. You’ll be a frustrated person. You’ll always be complaining, things aren’t going the way I want. God isn’t answering my prayers. The reason is you have the wrong perspective. You have to look at life from the point of view of eternity. Because time is not permanent, but eternity is.

Enduring Riches: Wisdom’s Gift for Eternity

And I would ask you, how much are you building in your own life for eternity? Scripture says that God has given us, through wisdom in the book of Proverbs – enduring riches.
I’ve spent a lot of time saying to myself, what are enduring riches? They’re not money in a bank, they’re not stocks and shares nor properties. They’re not the fancy car we drive or the home we live in. None of those are enduring riches.

Character as Currency: The Permanence of a Godly Foundation

Enduring riches? Jesus said, sell what you have and give to the poor and you’ll have treasure in heaven. That’s enduring riches. Jesus said, whatever you give to the cause of the gospel, God will give it back a hundredfold in eternity. And then one more thing, which to me is very important. Our gifts will cease when life ends. All our spiritual gifts, our prophecy, our miracles, our words of knowledge, they’ll come to an end. We will not take them with us. They’re only for this world, only for time. But one thing we will take with us, you know what that is? Our character. Character is permanent. And what we are in our character will determine what we will be throughout eternity. That’s lasting, enduring riches, the building of a pure, strong, godly Christian character.