Day four of The Purpose Driven Life picks up where day three left off. After ending the previous day with an explanation of how this life is but a dress rehearsal for eternity, Warren keeps his focus on eternity. He says that earth is just “the preschool, the tryout for your life in eternity.” Humans were created to live forever, and regardless of who I am or what I believe, I will live forever. My time on earth is only the tiniest part of my life.
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Warren quotes 2 Corinthians 5:1 which describes how my earthly body is but a “tent” compared to my future body which is a “house.” The point is clear. One is solid and enduring. The other is only temporary. Life on earth offers many choices, but eternity offers only two: heaven or hell. The relationship I have with God in this life will determine whether I spend eternity with Him or seperated from Him.
A knowledge of eternity is important as it will make me live in the light of eternity and determine how I handle every aspect of my life. So many things that are important in the 80 or 90 years I have here on earth fade to nothing in the light of eternity. Every action I take and every choice I make has eternal consequences! What a vast and intimidating thought! Why hoard wealth if I can have it only for my life here on earth? The very second I die it will no longer be mine. Building on this, Warren shows how God’s purpose for me does not end with life on earth. God’s purposes for me are eternal.
Bible Passages
In this chapter Warren quotes nine passages using 5 translations and paraphrases. I found his use of Scripture solid throughout the chapter.
Question To Consider
Today’s question to consider is “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?” That really is a significant question. There are so many things that seem utterly insignificant in the light of eternity, yet consume my life. It is so easy to say that I should not be overly concerned with money while on this earth, and honestly I don’t think my life is consumed with materialism, yet I do spend the bulk of my week working just to scrape together enough money to support myself and my family. Is that wrong? I certainly don’t think it is. I supose there needs to be a balance where I work to provide for my family, yet do not work so much that I become consumed by it. Or perhaps the difference is in motives. Is there a difference between working with the motive of providing for my family and providing for minstries I support versus working because I believe money provides security? I guess there must be.
In the end I just find that it seems so strange that so much significance is placed on something so fleeting. Life on earth represents only the tiniest fraction of life eternal, yet the rest of eternity depends on it. As Warren says, “the deeds of this life are the destiny of the next.” The choice to serve God in this lifetime is the most important decision I have made since my place in eternity depends on it.
Up Next
Tomorrow’s topic is Seeing Life From God’s View