Eyes on Eternity: Living for What Lasts
If you're anything like me, you probably spent at least part of this past week worrying about something that, in the grand scheme of things, does not matter.
Maybe it was a broken appliance, a meeting that went sideways, or that weird noise your car started making at the worst possible time. (I’m convinced cars have a sixth sense for timing.)
Life has a funny way of pulling our attention to all the wrong places. We get tunnel vision. We stress about the temporary and lose sight of the eternal. And before we know it, we live as if this world is all there is.
But it isn’t. Not even close.
Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:1–2 to set our hearts and minds on "things above," where Christ is seated. He does not say "glance up occasionally." He says set — like setting concrete — a fixed, steady focus on what really matters.
When we lift our eyes, a few things start to become very clear.
First, we realize life is short. James 4:14 compares our lives to a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. It's a lovely thought if you’re trying to win "Most Morbid Blog Post of the Year," but it’s true. Our time here is limited, which makes it precious. Recognizing how short life is does not make it meaningless. It makes it sacred.
Second, we see suffering differently.
If you're going through a hard season (or maybe dragging yourself through one), Paul calls those struggles "light and momentary" compared to the eternal glory that God is preparing for us (2 Corinthians 4:17–18). That does not minimize what you are facing. It just reminds you there is so much more coming than what you can see right now.
Third, Jesus invites us to store our treasures where they will never be stolen, rusted, or eaten by moths (Matthew 6:19–21). Translation: that brand-new thing you just bought will not make it into eternity. The love you showed to your neighbor? The forgiveness you offered when it was hard? The prayers you prayed when no one else saw?
Those things last forever.
And let’s not forget where our real citizenship lies. (Spoiler: it is not here.) Philippians 3:20 says that if you belong to Jesus, you are a citizen of heaven. That means you are basically living abroad right now. So if you feel a little out of place, congratulations — you’re paying attention.
Finally, knowing all of this should change the way we live today. First Corinthians 15:58 encourages us to stand firm, to give ourselves fully to God's work, because none of it is wasted. Not one prayer. Not one sacrifice. Not one act of kindness that felt small but mattered in ways you will not see this side of heaven.
If I could leave you with one thought, it would be this:
Live today in light of forever.
Lift your eyes.
Fix your heart.
Choose what lasts.
Because one day, all the small faithful things will add up to a story far bigger and more beautiful than we can imagine.
And for what it's worth: that weird noise in your car probably will not make it into eternity either.
Thank goodness.