What If

What if today had significance for eternity? What would you do differently? Would you watch TV, visit with friends, or go shopping? Would you pray, apologize for a harsh word, or clean your house? Would you go to a ballgame, work a puzzle, read a novel, or study the Bible? What would you do?

For the Christian, today is a day in eternity with eternal importance. Everything we do as a believer is significant. Our endeavors either advance God’s eternal glory or they do not. We are working for the temporary or for what lasts forever.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV

This does not mean that we are not to do the things that are seen. We have to provide for our physical needs. In Proverbs 31 the Godly woman is described. She is a woman who takes care of earthly business with diligence.

“…she provides food for her family…She sets about her work vigorously;…She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes…She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Proverbs 31:15a, 17, 24a, 27 NIV

The Bible does not tell us that we all have to earn our living doing religious tasks. As a matter of fact, the Bible states that individual believers have different talents and functions as members of the Body of Christ.

“The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts;…But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be…But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:12a, 18, 24b-27 NIV

It just would not work if everyone was called to be a preacher or a missionary. What the Bible does tell us is that we are to strive for excellence in any task God has called us to do. More than that, we are to show as much love and respect for those who have been called to the less desirable tasks as we do to those who have been called to the more prestigious jobs.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24 NIV

So what do you need to change in your mindset to realize that you are living for eternity now? The Bible says you have eternal life—not that you will have it.

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13 NIV

So what if you live each day as if it has eternal consequence? It does. What must change?

Lord, direct my every action so you will be eternally praised and glorified. Fill me “with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:11 NIV)