Living in the Light of Eternity
Eternity is on my mind a lot these days as my sis-in-law, and I talk about mom’s upcoming 100th birthday — if she makes it to it! There won’t be a big celebration. Karen, with her 24/7 care of mom has her hands full already, so there won’t be a flurry of activity surrounding the big day, October 31st.
Every day, we think this could be mom’s day for eternity to begin for her. But every day she gets one day closer to 100. Now, there’s a little excitement for us that she might make it to 100.
Centenarians have a lot to boast about! This page couldn’t begin to hold all the advancements made in this world since the day she was born, October 31st, 1922.
Soon, I’ll be sending out requests for family and close friends to send her “Happy 100th Birthday” cards, emails and FB comments. To this day, Karen & George have continued to replenish the “9-9” balloons in her room. Mom loves them so much. They remind her of a life well-lived.
We can only imagine how much she will love “1-0-0” balloons towering over her comfy chair. Eternity gets closer for her every day. In fact, it gets closer for you and me, too!
Mom has lived a good life – one of plenty of pampering and being doted upon by Dad, and now with such tender-loving-care by Karen. 2 Peter 1:3 says: “For as you know Him (God) better, He will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: He even shares His own glory and His own goodness with us!” He has certainly blessed Mom with a good life.
Most people pay little to no attention to eternity. They’re living for the here and now, which, in so many ways, is a waste. What should matter to us the most, is what we are doing that will last throughout eternity. NOT — the petty things, the nonsensical things, the “doesn’t matter” things. What matters is what we are doing with eternity in mind.
So how do we live in in the light of eternity? We consistently place our thoughts and actions on what will go with us to eternity. We live with every minute of our day making a difference in our lives and the lives of others. We live for God’s glory, because He’s going to share His glory with us in heaven.
We don’t get to choose what’s going to happen to us the rest of our lives. But we do get to choose how we respond. We can face the future as a cynic, a critic, a pessimist, or as a doubter. We can face the future expecting the worst and experiencing the worst. We can face our future, living the glory of ourselves.
Or we can face the future with gratitude, generosity, and graciousness and live for the glory of God. Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Eternity awaits us and heaven will be amazing. We’ll spend eternity with God and His family. He wants you and me there with Him.
Stay tuned to hearing an announcement that another soldier went home. In the meantime, Mom is living in the light of eternity.