Philip P. Eapen
Do your choices reflect your hope in heaven? When your life on earth ends, will you have truly lived for what matters most?
As Christians, we often talk about heaven and eternal life as our ultimate goal. We sing about it, pray about it, and profess our hope in it. But do our daily choices reflect this belief? Too often, our lives tell a different story. We say we are living for eternity, yet we make decisions as if this world is all that matters.
Leonard Ravenhill once asked, “Are the things you are living for worth Christ dying for?” This piercing question forces us to evaluate whether our daily priorities align with the eternal purpose we claim to have. If we truly believe that heaven is our home and that eternal rewards matter more than earthly success, then our choices—how we spend our time, money, and energy—should reflect that reality.
A common example of this disconnect is how we choose careers and academic paths. Many Christians claim to trust in God’s eternal rewards, yet when it comes to picking a profession, the primary concern is often financial security and social status rather than eternal impact. How many of us ask, “How can I serve God best with my life?” instead of, “How much will I make?” If we truly believe that our lives belong to God, our career choices should be guided by how we can bring glory to Him and expand His Kingdom, rather than how much we can accumulate in this life.
John Piper warns against wasting our lives on things that don’t matter in eternity:
“The great tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it. And the way most people wait is by giving their lives to trivial things and calling it success. What a tragedy to come to the end of your life and realize you have lived for the wrong things.”
Success, in the world’s eyes, is often about power, wealth, and recognition. But in God’s economy, success is measured by faithfulness, love, and obedience.
Another area where our choices often contradict our stated beliefs is in how we use our time, money, and pursuit of pleasure. Many professing Christians spend hours on entertainment, social media, and personal hobbies, but claim they have no time for prayer, Bible study, or serving others. Likewise, many Christians give only a small fraction of their income to missions, church, and charity, while spending lavishly on things that have no eternal value.
Beyond time and money, our generation is also consumed with carnal pleasures—gluttony, sexual immorality, extravagant vacations, luxury cars, and self-indulgence. Instead of practicing self-control and generosity, we are often caught up in vanity and materialism. The obsession with physical appearance, designer brands, and social status is prioritized over inner character and godliness. Even when choosing a life partner, many place more importance on physical beauty and financial status than on spiritual maturity and devotion to Christ. This is especially evident in cultures where extravagant weddings and hefty dowries are expected, leading to financial burdens rather than Christ-centered marriages.
Jesus commanded his disciples:
“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… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt 6:19-21)
If our hearts are truly set on eternity, our spending and time management should reflect that. Investing in eternity means supporting missions, serving the poor, discipling others, and sharing the gospel—not just indulging in temporary comforts.
Some argue that focusing too much on heaven makes Christians irrelevant in this world. But history tells a different story. C.S. Lewis famously wrote, in Mere Christianity:
“If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The Apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the Slave Trade, all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.”
When we truly fix our eyes on heaven, we don’t become lazy or disengaged—we become more passionate about bringing God’s Kingdom to earth. Those who live with an eternal perspective are the ones who make the greatest difference in the world because they are not distracted by temporary pleasures or worldly success.
If we genuinely believe that our true home is in heaven, then we must live in a way that reflects that belief. We must choose careers that align with God’s mission, invest our time and money in what truly matters, and keep our focus on eternity. As Jesus said in Mark 8:36, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”
The challenge is simple but profound: Live each day as if eternity is real—because it is. Let your choices reflect your hope in heaven, and make sure that when your life on earth ends, you will have truly lived for what matters most.
Pastor Philip Eapen is based in Kochi, India. Visit philipeapen.com/svv to read his latest book
Date: Feb 25, 2025
