On This Sunday: How Eternity Should Motivate You

As the Bible discusses purity, often it encourages us to ponder eternity as a motivator.

Peter writes:

¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless…” (2 Pet 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:

¹¹ 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 Pet 3:11-13)

What we know about eternity motives our purity today.

The Apostle John’s Perspective

John also connects purity with eternity. He writes:

² 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)

As a loved child of God, when we consider our eternal future where we are told we will eventually be in eternity like Jesus, we strive to live in purity. Or, as is the point of this blog, being like Jesus in eternity motivates our purity today. Because we know about our eternal future, we seek to live in purity today.

The Apostle Paul’s Perspective

Paul also connects understanding eternity with motivation for purity today. Notice how he describes it:

²⁴ Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. ²⁵ And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. ²⁶ Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. ²⁷ But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (2 Cor 9:24-27)

Paul refers to the prize of running our race on earth well as an imperishable crown. We run (or live) today as one who runs a race. Our goal is to finish well and receive the future prize. Therefore, he disciplines himself. He lives as a pure person who brings his body into subjection. In other words, eternity motivates him.

In a different text, Paul challenges us to live as pure because of our eternal citizenship in heaven.

²⁰ For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (Phil 3:20-21)

We live today as citizens of an eternal heaven. When we were forgiven of our sins and saved, God made us citizens of heaven even though we will not enjoy living there until the future. As such, we live pure, not as enemies of the cross (Phil 3:18), but as citizens of heaven.

Joni Eareckson Tada on Purity as it relates to Eternity

Notice how Joni Eareckson Tada refers to this:

When a Christian realizes his citizenship is in heaven, he begins acting as a responsible citizen of earth. He invests wisely in relationships because he knows they’re eternal. His conversations, goals and motives become pure and honest because he realizes these will have a bearing on everlasting reward. …He gives generously of time, money, and talent because he’s laying up treasure for eternity. He spreads the good news of Christ because he longs to fill heaven’s ranks with his friends and neighbors. All this serves the pilgrim well not only in heaven, but on earth; for it serves everyone around him.[1]