The Ticking Clock of Eternity
History intrigues me; there is just something about looking into the past to see faces and places that are long forgotten in today’s culture. On Twitter, there is an account I follow that brings to life old photos and video footage by colourising it and then uploading it. It is truly fascinating to look at a photo of a family from the 1890s or to watch a video filmed just before the First World War. Looking at these videos and photos allow my mind to imagine what it must have been like for them, but then I begin to realise that the people I’m looking at are no longer alive. The eyes I am looking into are now closed in death, and every person from the youngest to the oldest is now in eternity.
As I watch the ancient video play on my smartphone, I cannot help but wonder where that person is now. While their earthly remains are buried in a grave someplace, where is the soul of that person? All people are made to live forever, but the question of the eternal destination needs to be answered. As Christians, we know that the Bible teaches that it is appointed for man to die once, then comes the judgement (Hebrews 9:27). We also know that people will live on for eternity either in Heaven or Hell. Those in Heaven are there not because they earned it, but because they were loved and rescued by a wonderful Saviour; all those in Heaven are only there because of grace – they are there because Jesus died for them, and then rose again. On the other hand, those in Hell are there because they chose to sin against God and refused to obey His command to repent and believe. All people end up in one of these two locations.
As we consider this reality, we should realise that all people, not just those we see in old photos and videos, are moving towards eternity. The people we encounter in our day to day lives, our friends, family members, strangers, co-workers, fellow students – everyone – is marching towards death and eternity. As Christians we can affirm this truth; intellectually we may give agreement to the truth of eternity, but I wonder – do we believe it?
If we truly believed that people will go to Hell if they continue in their sin, then surely we would be doing whatever we could to reach those people with the good news of salvation. If we loved our neighbours as ourselves, then shouldn’t we not just be looking for opportunities to share the gospel, but also creating those opportunities?
Do we really care for people? Do we truly love them?
During COVID-19, I heard many Christians talk a big game of loving their neighbour when it came to shutting down their churches. Now, that may indeed sound pious and spiritual, but many of those same Christians shouting, “Love your neighbour” don’t seem to love their neighbour enough to tell them about Christ. There is little concern for those same neighbours who are heading towards certain death and eternity. If we truly loved our neighbours, then shouldn’t we be trying to reach them?
Every person we meet has a date with death and eternity. You may see them today, but tomorrow they may be gone. Life is short – it is here one minute gone the next. The Bible tells us that our lives are but a mist which is here for only a short time (James 4:13-14).
God in His providence has put all the people you know, and all the strangers you meet, into your life for a purpose. You as a Christian have been given the high calling of being a witness for the Lord Jesus (Acts 1:8) – so your job is to tell everyone about Christ. This is not a role that is reserved for the Pastor or Evangelist, it is a job that Christ has given to every individual Christian. If you are saved, then you have a task ahead of you – you are to witness for Christ.
Even those people you may meet once have been put into your life for that brief moment for a purpose – God has put them across your path, surely, you could do something to reach them? Maybe you could simply give them a tract or hand out a copy of the Gospel of John. Maybe you could even say a few words about Christ to them.
Let me be honest with you – I am speaking to myself. As I write this blog, I cannot help but think of all the opportunities I have missed. Now, I know that God in His sovereignty doesn’t have the salvation of His elect relying upon me, but that doesn’t excuse my failures to follow His commands to witness for Christ. God ordains people unto salvation, but He also ordains the means to bring the gospel to those who will be saved – that means is via His people witnessing for Jesus.
I cannot help but wonder if we have lost the reality of eternity in today’s Christianity; maybe we have been distracted. Perhaps the Devil has got us comfortable in our life, or busy with our jobs, or distracted with silly online arguments or politics, to the point where we have forgotten our main duty – the Great Commission.
Jonathan Edwards said, “Lord, stamp eternity on my eyeballs.” May that be our prayer also; may we be a people who constantly view life in the light of eternity. May we see the people around us and realise that they are lost without Christ and that we have the words of eternal life. Let us make much of Jesus by taking the gospel to everyone we encounter, knowing that God has put them into our lives for a purpose.