From early in my Christian walk, I have consistently come back to John 10:10 where Jesus states:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
It was probably one of the first verses I actually memorised. I wanted that full life that Jesus described, but not only full, but meaningful and with purpose. People around me would refer to the eternal life we have in Jesus, but I wanted the time on earth to count too. I understand from this verse that my life today, can count for something.
I also however, understood that this life on earth, could also count towards eternal life, giving eternal value to this life: a life that has value, purpose and fullness in the context of eternity.
I envisaged the moment when I stand before Him, with the host of believers and angels, when I give account of my life. In that moment I hear the Lord say “Well done my good and faithful servant,” and bam, my life is not just eternal, but the life I lived on earth has heaven value, i.e. value for eternity.
How does one live a life that has eternal value?
Scripture describes how value in eternity is increased: Matt 6:19-24: ”Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
A life of eternal value implies storing treasures in heaven. Everybody knows where their treasure is stored. Your treasure is precious to you, and your heart considers it valuable.
So where is your treasure?
Jesus says that treasure on earth, is temporary, but treasure in heaven, is eternal. Thus anything that is valid on earth, does not qualify for eternity. That is wealth, power, fame, pleasure,all these things that we spend energy to maintain, none of these, last for eternity.
Eternal things last in eternity where eternity maintains them.
The only real treasure that lasts eternally is Jesus. Anything else belongs to the “other Master” the one Jesus warns about when He says: “No one can serve two masters.” (Matt 6:24)
So the focus of all our energy in life, should be on that treasure of eternity, to store up for ourselves that treasure that has eternal value. Jesus, and our relationship with Him becomes our greatest treasure and living our lives from an eternal value point of view—implies that we seek Him out and that which is important to Him.
What is the most important thing to Jesus?
He tells us in Matthew 22:37-38; “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus desires first, that I live in relationship with Him and secondly that I live in relationship with others. He and people have eternal value. He and people enable me to store up treasure in heaven, each one has eternal value in the context of eternity.
My life counts for eternal value in relationship with Him and the people that He loves.
Ever considered what a life lived for eternal value looks like? Ever considered how your treasure will count in the context of eternity? What does it mean to you, to live your life with eternal value? Why not leave a comment below, I would love to hear.
Father, I want my life to have eternal value, to have meaning and purpose in this life and in the next. Thank you for the new life in You, thank you Jesus for making it possible to enter into this new life, a new beginning and leave all that is old behind. Help me to evaluate what I consider to be my treasure, and where I keep it. Help me to determine how I could bring eternal value to my days and hours and what I spend my energy and money getting. Thank you that You are constantly working eternity into us, making us people who live with eternity in mind.
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