"God has... planted eternity in the human heart." - Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)
"Surely God would not have created such a being as man to exist only for a day! No, no, man was made for immortality." - Abraham Lincoln
Welcome to Day 4 of our Purpose-Driven Life journey! We’ve learned that life starts with God, you’re not an accident, and you need to examine what drives you. Today, Rick Warren reveals a truth that will revolutionize how you view every day: This life is not all there is, you were made to last forever.
The Ultimate Reality Check
Here’s a perspective that will transform everything: Life on earth is just the dress rehearsal before the real production.
You will spend far more time on the other side of death- in eternity – than you will here on earth. Think about it:
- Earth is the staging area
- This life is preschool
- Everything here is the tryout for your life in eternity
- It’s the practice workout before the actual game
- The warm-up lap before the race begins
This life is preparation for the next.
At most, you’ll live a hundred years on earth, but you’ll spend forever in eternity. As Sir Thomas Browne said, your time on earth is “but a small parenthesis in eternity.”
The Eternity Instinct
Ever wonder why death always seems unnatural and unfair, even though we know everyone eventually dies? You have an inborn instinct that longs for immortality.
God designed you in His image to live forever. He wired your brain with the desire for eternal life because that’s exactly what you were created for. The Bible says God has “planted eternity in the human heart” – that longing you feel for something more than this temporary existence isn’t wishful thinking; it’s divine design.
Your Temporary Tent vs. Your Eternal House
Here’s how the Bible describes your current situation: Your earthly body is just a temporary tent – a camping arrangement, not a permanent dwelling.
But God has something better planned: “When this tent we live in – our body here on earth – is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever.”
One day your heart will stop beating. That will end your body and your time on earth, but it will not be the end of you. Your earthly body is just a temporary residence for your spirit.
The Two Eternal Destinations
While life on earth offers many choices, eternity offers only two: heaven or hell.
Your relationship to God on earth will determine your relationship to Him in eternity:
- If you learn to love and trust God’s Son, Jesus, you’ll be invited to spend the rest of eternity with Him
- If you reject His love, forgiveness, and salvation, you’ll spend eternity apart from God forever
C.S. Lewis put it perfectly: “There are two kinds of people: those who say to God ‘Thy will be done’ and those to whom God says, ‘All right then, have it your way.'”
Tragically, many people will endure eternity without God because they chose to live without Him here on earth.
How Eternal Perspective Changes Everything
When you fully comprehend that there is more to life than just here and now, you will begin to live differently.
Living in light of eternity colors how you handle:
- Every relationship
- Every task
- Every circumstance
- Every decision
Suddenly, many activities, goals, and even problems that seemed so important will appear trivial, petty, and unworthy of your attention. The closer you live to God, the smaller everything else appears.
Your Values Will Change
When you live with eternal perspective:
Time and Money Become Sacred
You use them more wisely, knowing they’re investments in eternity.
Relationships and Character Trump Everything
Fame, wealth, achievements, and even fun take a backseat to what truly matters.
Priorities Get Reordered
Keeping up with trends, fashions, and popular values just doesn’t matter as much anymore.
Paul experienced this transformation: “I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.”
The Consequences Are Real
If your time on earth were all there is, Warren suggests you should start living it up immediately. You could forget being good and ethical since there would be no consequences.
But death is not the end of you! Death is not your termination, but your transition into eternity. There are eternal consequences to everything you do on earth. Every act of your life strikes some chord that will vibrate in eternity.
The Problem with Short-Term Thinking
The most damaging aspect of contemporary living is short-term thinking.
To make the most of your life, you must:
- Keep the vision of eternity continually in your mind
- Hold the value of eternity in your heart
Today is just the visible tip of the iceberg. Eternity is all the rest you don’t see underneath the surface.
What Will Eternity Be Like?
Honestly, our brains cannot handle the wonder and greatness of heaven. It would be like trying to describe the Internet to an ant. The Bible says: “No mere man has ever seen, heard or even imagined what wonderful things God has ready for those who love the Lord.”
But God has given us glimpses:
- Reunion with loved ones who are believers
- Release from all pain and suffering
- Rewards for our faithfulness on earth
- Reassignment to work we’ll enjoy doing
- Unbroken fellowship with God forever
We won’t lie around on clouds with halos playing harps! One day Jesus will say: “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”
The Great Story Begins
C.S. Lewis captured this beautifully in the Chronicles of Narnia: “For us this is the end of all the stories… But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world… had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story, which no one on earth has read, which goes on forever and in which every chapter is better than the one before.”
Preparing for the Inevitable
Most people only think about eternity at funerals, and then it’s often shallow, sentimental thinking based on ignorance. You may feel it’s morbid to think about death, but actually it’s unhealthy to live in denial of death.
Only a fool would go through life unprepared for what we all know will eventually happen. You need to think more about eternity, not less.
Just as the nine months in your mother’s womb prepared you for life, this life is preparation for the next.
Your Birthday into Eternal Life
If you have a relationship with God through Jesus, you don’t need to fear death. It’s the door to eternity. It will be the last hour of your time on earth, but it won’t be the last of you.
Rather than being the end of your life, it will be your birthday into eternal life.
Living Each Day with Eternal Purpose
Years ago a popular slogan encouraged people to live each day as “the first day of the rest of your life.” Actually, it would be wiser to live each day as if it were the last day of your life.
Matthew Henry said: “It ought to be the business of every day to prepare for our final day.”
Measured against eternity, our time on earth is just a blink of an eye, but the consequences of it will last forever. The deeds of this life are the destiny of the next.
Day 4 Reflection Questions:
- Point to Ponder: There is more to life than just here and now.
- Verse to Remember: “This world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever.” – 1 John 2:17 (NLT)
- Question to Consider: Since I was made to last forever, what is the one thing I should stop doing and the one thing I should start doing today?
Your Eternal Perspective Challenge: Today, make one decision based on eternal value rather than temporary pleasure. Ask yourself: “Will this matter in 100 years? Will this honor God and prepare me for eternity?”
Tomorrow’s Preview: We’ll discover that seeing life from God’s perspective changes everything about how we view our circumstances and challenges.
How has thinking about eternity changed your perspective on your current priorities? Share your thoughts below. Remember, you were made to last forever – live like it matters, because it does.
Get the chapter summary and more from Day 4 on Purpose Driven Website
John Thole is the voice behind Beyond Salvation, a blog that captures the highs and lows of life through faith, laughter, and honest reflection. With a passion for storytelling, technology, and spiritual growth, he creates content that resonates with seekers, believers, and anyone navigating life’s journey. Whether sharing personal insights, devotionals, or thought-provoking discussions, John aims to inspire, uplift, and spark meaningful conversations.
