Eternity! Most people, including many Christians, spend little time in contemplating this time dimension. However, the Apostle Paul tells us in (Colossians 3:1-2): “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
I believe that when we focus our attention on heaven and eternity it will help us cope better with our trials and difficulties here below, knowing that no matter how difficult life can be, our true home and citizenship is with Christ above. In addition, my prayer is that it will burden our hearts to want to share the gospel with those unsaved people God puts in our path because the alternative for those who don’t know Christ is eternal damnation.
In order to do this, we must be prepared to experience at times verbal abuse, insults, slanderous comments, and even persecution from a world that is often hostile to Christ. I like what Billy Graham says here: “Christ needs people today who are made of martyr stuff! Dare to take a strong, uncompromised stand for Him.”1
As I thought about the phrase “martyr stuff” my mind began to think about the reality that living a life sold out for Christ comes at a cost; which at times can be quite high. Verbal abuse, the loss of friends, and even persecution are not pleasant but when we think of the chance to possibly rescue people from a Christless eternity, the joy this can bring should hopefully help us to share Christ whenever we can.
(Hebrews 12:1-2) helps us to understand how joy helped motivate Jesus to go to Calvary for we read: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Down through the centuries many Christians have been martyred for their faith in Christ because I believe that they didn’t want to see anyone have to spend eternity separated from Jesus in a literal hell. And just as Jesus used joy to help Him go to the cross I believe that these Christian martyrs must have understood the reality of (Matthew 5:11-12): “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
My friends it’s time to take stock in what being a Christian means. While sharing Christ in America will rarely lead to physical death, it may mean we have to put to death the insults hurled our way and sacrifice friendships in order to risk sharing Christ. May we count the costs of sharing the gospel and know that the eternal destiny of souls are at stake!
I love the Colossians 3 verses you quoted.
Two other Pauline verses that help me maintain an eternal, hopeful perspective are:
2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Romans 8:18 NIV
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.