Packing for Eternity

Packing for Eternity

I travel a lot for our ministry, Christian Communicators Worldwide. I love meeting new people and facing the challenges of leading them into new dimensions of Bible understanding. Years ago a veteran traveler and Christian statesman, J. Oswald Sanders, told me at about 90 years of age that it wasn’t the ministry he had all around the world that was so difficult, but rather, it was “getting there” that was the most tedious part. This author and former head of the missionary organization founded by Hudson Taylor, lived in New Zealand, a long way from everywhere.

Regardless of the adventure on the other side, packing the suitcase to leave and making the plane trip is often the hardest part when it comes to motivation. Sometimes the ministry there is harder physically, granted, but as far as motivation, it begins with opening the suitcase and filling it. I’ve done it so many times, but it still is daunting, especially when it involves weeks overseas.

Are you packing for eternity? You cannot take anything with you that is physical. But you are carrying a soul packed with truth and love and experience with God to another world. When Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, it was said by Jesus that she was receiving what would not be taken away from her. As believers, you don’t enter into the next phase of existence with no benefits from a life of service to God. He isn’t forgetful of what is done in faith and love. Even giving a cup of cold water is remembered by God. In fact, according to your work now you determine some very important things about the future. The teaching of the Bible on rewards makes this abundantly clear.

The hard work of packing and flying into eternity is not easy, but so worth the effort, and we should be far more excited about it.