Life Through The Lens of Eternity

Introduction

Good morning. In Philippians chapter 3, beginning in verse 17, Paul writes, Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many of whom I have often told you, and now tell you, even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their God is their belly, and they glory in their shame with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. The question was posed in recent months here, I believe, by Adam.

How often, if at all, have you considered heaven? Have you considered what heaven would be like? Have you looked forward, looked forward to that time of spending an eternity with our God. Or perhaps maybe we haven’t thought about that much at all. Maybe we think about hell more than we do heaven, which for a Christian would be an interesting thought, although thinking about hell certainly is important, and something Jesus spoke about. But consider with me this morning when Paul says in Philippians chapter 3, our citizenship is in heaven, what that means. And we all know that means I don’t live for now, as Cody just led the song. This world is not my home. I’m just a passing through. And that has serious implications that we very readily understand.

But consider with me this morning, life through the lens of eternity. This life, your day-to-day living through the lens of eternity.

I’m reminded perhaps of Beauty and the Beast. You know the movie, Beauty and the Beast. It wasn’t quite that bad. In the movie, there’s a song, and of course, the beast needs, for his animated castle of friends who are now various objects from candlesticks to clocks, he needs someone to fall in love with him, perhaps even to fall in love with her as well. That’s the character Belle. You can correct me on that later. But there comes this time in the song where the characters are excited and they’re saying, there may be something there that wasn’t there before. And little Chip, the child of Miss Potts, innocently and sweetly ask, what? There may be something there that wasn’t there before. What’s there, Mama? I’m paraphrasing, of course.

And she says, What? You’ll understand when you’re older. When we grow older, our perspective on life changes. The lens through which we view things changes. And oftentimes what I found in my limited experience of growing older is that things become less and less important. Things that were the center of my world no longer matter quite at all. And I think if we take the lens of eternity, if we acknowledge readily, which we all would, that our citizenship is in heaven, that Paul is correct, that would greatly change our life. So I want to examine life this morning from the lens of eternity. I hope you’ll turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew chapter six. If you have a marker, place it there. It’ll be there at least for the next several minutes.

1. Do Not Be Anxious About Your Life

In Matthew chapter six, that perspective really makes what Jesus has to say beginning in verse 19, make sense. In Matthew chapter 6 and verse 19, Jesus says, Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Where what? Neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. And we understand we need to be laying up treasures in heaven, not focusing on this life. And we get that. But look with me at verse 25, and follow me as we do a bit of reading here. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.

Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air. They neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns. And yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin. Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory. Was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you? O you of little faith. Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or what shall we wear?

For the Gentiles seek after all these things. And your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Surprised I didn’t get an amen at the end of verse 34 there. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. I want to ask this morning, where are my worriers? I’d like a show of hands. Where are my worriers? And I’m going to have to go to the backup question. Raise your hand if you’re sitting next to a worrier. There we go. More hands come up there. Notice with me what Matthew chapter 6 and verse 25 says.

What does Jesus say? He says, Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life unless it’s about money. Do not be anxious, do not worry unless it’s really, really important to you. That’s not what it says. Look at verse 25. Perhaps underline it. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life. Do not worry about your life. Perhaps even do not be distracted by the things of this life. I asked for a show of hands of worries. I can do that because I am one. And that is hard, isn’t it? But yet we notice Jesus is pretty clear here. This isn’t optional. This isn’t Jesus saying, you know what will really help out your life is if you stop worrying. He says, Do not be anxious about your life.

And he goes on to list several reasons, three of which we’ll look at this morning. But consider what that would mean for my life. Have you ever considered that as a command? Be anxious in nothing? Do not worry, do not be distracted by the things of this life? What type of lens would we have to use for that to affect us? And that would be the lens of eternity. Of course, this life doesn’t matter if we have eternity to live for. If our citizenship is in heaven, it doesn’t matter what happens here unless our citizenship in heaven is affected by it. That’s not to say that life doesn’t have its worrying moments. It’s not to say that Christ, even when he was on the precipice of being hung on the cross, was not concerned, deeply grieved, but that it didn’t get in the way of his service.

2. Is Not Life More Than Food and Clothing?

It didn’t distract him from the ultimate purpose, in his case and in ours, of submitting our lives to God. And all that that means. But note with me in the text, beginning the first reason in verse 25, isn’t life more important than food and clothing? What you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? And you say, of course it is. The life’s way more important. And yet if I went and looked in your closets, wonder how much money’s hanging up in there. And with when it comes to food, oftentimes perhaps we don’t struggle with where is my meal coming from, but how nice is the meal that I’m going to have coming from?

Have you ever had that conversation? Where should we go to eat? Ah, no. Not there. No, not there. No, not there. We’re so spoiled. We think of it as a chore, having to find somewhere to go eat, trying to agree on somewhere where we can dine. Our concern is what type of food? What style of clothing? And yet Jesus says, even not to worry about what you will eat, what you will drink, or what you will wear. Don’t be anxious. Don’t be distracted by these things that are unimportant. Aren’t there more important things to be worried about? And of course, the rhetorical question’s answer is yes. May I have to try that again later? I want to ask you a question. Of your day-to-day life. How much do you spend thinking about food?

Luckily, I’m not the 11 o’clock hour. You might be thinking more about food when Adam’s preaching later today, Lord willing. But how much time do you spend planning on eating? And eating. And finishing up eating? And what about the dishes? What about cleaning the house? What about these day-to-day chores? How much of your mind and your body and your time, a resource that can only be spent once, used up in these worldly things that will not matter tomorrow? Will this matter in eternity? The lens I would ask you to use in our day to day life, the lens that we should all take as a very important facet of our Christianity is will this matter in eternity? If the answer is no, your worry should be not there.

3. God Provides, O You of Little Faith

Consider as the text continues in verse 26. Look at the birds of the air. They neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Skip to verse 28? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they neither toil nor spin. Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is sown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

To be of little faith. Luckily, no hands on that one. That would have been awkward. Consider how Jesus says, O you of little faith. What is that applying to? What is the backbone of Jesus saying, do not worry with these three examples? What is it? It’s God provides. And if God’s going to provide for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, will he not more so give you what you need? Provide your necessities? Be looking out for you, the people bought with the blood of Christ. If we think to ourselves every night, Jesus died for me, and we ask for forgiveness of a sin we committed in that day, and it’s on the basis of the blood of Christ, how can we dare be caught up and worry about something that God most assuredly will provide us that has nothing to do with eternity?

4. Which of You Can Add a Single Hour?

Jesus died on the cross for our sins. That’s a debt we could never repay, let alone something as trivial and unimportant and something that will not matter in eternity. Like worries of this life about money, food, or clothing. But I want you to notice in verse 27, we skipped over what I think is a very powerful reason why we should not worry in addition to the command of Christ in verse 25. But verse 27, and which of you being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? This to me is one of the million dollar answers here. Like I said before, I am a big worrier, but you know what’s happened? In all that time that I have worried, all that time that I have wasted, you know what I have added to myself?

Probably nothing. I want you to consider with your mind of something that you worry the most about. Think in your mind. If this was a problem for you, you may think I don’t have a problem with that. If it was, what would you be distracted by? I want you to picture that in your mind. Would it be money? Would it be the house? Would it be the car you drive? What would it be? What would distract you? What would distract your mind? And now I want to ask again. Has your worry ever paid off on that? I don’t, I’m not talking about consideration. Worry is not logical thinking. This is excessive worry. This is doubt that it will happen. That shows a lack of trust in God.

And that is at the heart of the issue here. That is the backbone of why Jesus is saying, do not worry because God will provide. But considering when we try to leave God’s guidance and trust ourselves, not only is it unfruitful, we have missed out on trusting the creator of the heavens and the earth because I think I can find the solution myself. And isn’t that a flawed line of thinking? Consider how different our lives would be if everything was turned over to God. Not just our spiritual lives. Not just when I walked into this church building. But every second I spent out of it. I put all my cares on Christ. I prayed, perhaps, without ceasing, taking advantage of the pathway to God that He allows us in communication.

But notice verse 33 and 34. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Do not do this. The added moment here. Maybe one of the things you thought about was the future. Where will I be in a month? Where will I be in my job in a year? Those are important questions. Those are impactful questions. Particularly if you have a family and kids, where you work, even how much money you make impacts them. And yet Jesus says, therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow. For tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. If we could put ourselves behind the lens of eternity, how little would what we concern ourselves with matter?

I’m afraid it’s alarmingly low rate of actual concern. And so in obeying God in seeking first the kingdom of God, which is the comparison, the contrast of not trusting in him and worry is seeking first the kingdom of God. That’s living for that eternal citizenship. What does that work? How does that affect my worry? Well, that’s really what an eternal lens does for us, isn’t it? It sorts out what is important and what isn’t. You know what is important for me as a husband? To be loving and to study the Bible with my wife. You know what is important as a mother? To spend time nurturing and raising your children in the Lord. Not catching another episode of that favorite TV show of yours. In my case, not watching another rerun of Sports Center on ESPN.

5. Things That Are Passing Away

There are some things that are worth nothing. Their value is extinguished the minute you turn it off. But studying God, studying the Word of God, obeying Him, and spreading that love, and this powerful good news will last an eternity. It really is that simple. It really is that important. But do you know how we get distracted? We have shifted the lens from our eternal citizenship to our temporal ones. Notice in 1 John chapter 2. You know the passage, do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, notice this with me. The desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life is what?

Not from the Father, but is from the world. Verse 17 says, What we already know, and the world is passing away along with its desires. But whoever does the will of God abides forever. An eternal wind sorts out for us what is of God, what is of eternal substance and that which is not, that which is passing away. Will my money struggles really matter when I’m in heaven or hell? No. Will what type of house I live in, the car I drive, matter even one iota in all of eternity? Absolutely not. Will how I live and submit to God? Matter? Absolutely. How many people I spread the word of God to, how many opportunities that God has presented me with that I take advantage of? How many times that I serve my family and my church with all of my ability, that matters.

Because God has commanded it, and eternity is eternal. This life will pass away. The desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life, that appeals to what is passing away, our body. I want to ask you to do something very difficult and perhaps awkward this morning. I want you to consider your life without a body. What would your life be like in this world if you didn’t have a body? What’s interesting about 1 John chapter 2 in those verses that we read? The desires of the flesh, body. Desires of the eyes, that’s my body. The pride of life, what I do with my body. You know what gets us away from God? You know what distracts us from that eternal lens?

Things that are passing away. This body. If we realize that we are souls with a body, that lens would change everything. Because if you live for the soul, those lusts of the flesh are that less, that much less important to you. And that’s really what it comes down to. You say, Greg, I know that. But consider that. When you’re making decisions, when you’re casting your worries around, is this for my soul, which is eternal, or for this body which is going to the grave? There is no two ways about it. As simple as that is, it should make our lives easier. And yet the temptations are still there, the temptations are hard. But in the moment of temptation, consider the desires of this life, this world, my body are passing away.

What I want to take in with my eyes, what I want to do with my hands, that won’t matter for all of eternity, unless it’s something from God. Unless it is something that helps feed my soul, brings me closer to my God and Father. Look at me in Colossians chapter 3. Isn’t that what Paul kind of writes to the Colossians to do? In Colossians chapter 3 and verse 1, if then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above. Where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

But notice verse 5. That strong admonition, set your mind on things above, focus on the spiritual, focus on the eternal, is contrasted with verse 5. Put to death, therefore what is earthly in you. Allow me for a moment to insert a different word. Put to death, therefore what is temporal in you. Sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatries. Idolatry. On account of these, the wrath of God is coming. This is not just playing nice. This has eternal consequences. And that eternal lens, if we could just sort out, this is important to me, this is not, it would make our lives and our eternity a whole lot better. I promise you, choosing God will always be the right choice. No matter how much we want to do something in the here and now to the contrary.

6. Three Practical Applications

You may be thinking, well, amen to all of that. That’s true. Matthew chapter 6 and verse 33, of course, I should seek first the kingdom of God. Certainly I trust God, but how can I do that? I want to leave you with three practical applications of this. The first one is don’t worry, trust in God. How do you stop worrying? You trust that your God knows who you are and that he will provide for you. In verse 27, and which of you in Matthew chapter 6, being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Without God, we can’t change a thing. But with God, all things are possible. When you’re worried, cast your worries on God. Say, well, I can’t stop worrying, Greg.

That’s great. Worry with God’s help. Send your worries to God. Let him sort it out for you. Trust Him to do what’s best for you. A second application. Look with me in Matthew chapter 18. Matthew chapter 18. Consider with me this application I’ll reveal after we read the verses. In Matthew chapter 18. In verse 35, after the story of the kingdom of heaven with a king who wished to settle his accounts, and he had a servant that he forgave all of his debt. And that servant turned around and did not forgive his debt. Verse 35, Jesus concludes, so also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you if you do not forgive your brother from your heart. You remember Matthew chapter 6 and verse 14?

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses. What is the application? Let things go.

Love. Trust. Obey. It doesn’t matter. It will not last. And if it is something with eternal consequences, take care of it with all of your mind. If you’re a father or a mother or a grandparent, and you have a child’s influence, do it with all of your mind. If you’re a Christian who needs to make your life right with Christ, do it now. Because that temporal action has eternal consequences. But if it’s something temporal and it’s blocking the eternal, consider how flawed and how long eternity will last with you regretting it. One final application this morning. Live for the soul, not the flesh. In Matthew chapter 6, we begin reading, I believe, in verse 19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Conclusion

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. What are you investing in? Spiritual, eternal things? Or the temporal passing away lust of the flesh. Please pray with me this morning. Our dear God and most gracious, powerful, loving, mighty, Heavenly Father. Hallowed be your name. We praise your name. We lift up your name, recognizing you are the Jehovah God. You spoke and this world was created. You created us, O Lord, and you have loved us. And we have done nothing to encourage that love. Well, Lord, thank you for choosing to bless us. Thank you for choosing to love us and to send your Son, Jesus the Christ, into our form to die, to pay the price for our sin on the cross. Help us to recognize like Jesus did, that your will is to be done, that you are to be glorified and you are to be submitted to.

Help us, O God, when we are weak to recognize the frailty and the temporal nature of this life. Forgive us when we worry and we do not trust in you as we should. Thank you for allowing us the avenue of prayer to communicate with you. And we thank you for being a God that wants us to cast our worries upon you. Thank you so much for choosing to love us in that way. But we’re most moved and thankful, perhaps, for your forgiveness, for your grace and your mercy, and we pray that you always forgive us when we fall short of your glory. As that your mercy and your grace continue to extend to us until one day we may enter into heaven with you eternally. Help us to always live this life so that we have no regrets in terms of our eternal destination, and that that will be with you forever.

And it’s in your Son’s name we do pray. Amen. We are now dismissed to Bible classes.