How does eternity serve to motivate you? Clearly, the Apostles considered eternity as a great motivator for each of us today. If you have believed on Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, then the certainty of your eternal future should motivate the way you live today.
In life, of course, many things motivate us. If you are a follower of Christ, no doubt the love Jesus Christ demonstrated for you motivates you (c.f., 2 Cor 5:14-15). Further, authentic love for others surely motivates you as well (c.f., Mark 12:29-31). In the Bible, eternity also motivates. God tells us about eternity in order to help us in several ways in our lives. Consider at least one key way how eternity should motivate you.
Eternity Should Motivate Us Toward Purity
The Apostle Peter’s Perspective
As the Bible discusses purity, often it encourages us to ponder eternity as a motivator.
Peter writes:
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless…” (2 Peter 3:14).
Looking forward to what things? The coming day of God. The future when God melts away this current earth and universe and recreates a perfect universe in which those who are saved will enjoy throughout eternity. This eternal perspective should motivate us to be pure – without spot or blameless. Again, Peter specifically places the responsibility of purity on our perspective of eternity. Look at his question and explanation:
Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:11-13)
What we know about eternity motivates our purity today.
The Apostle John’s Perspective
John also connects purity with eternity. He writes:
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:2-3)
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