Philippians 1:24-25 But it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith.

This is an attitude that unbelievers flat do not understand. They live for themselves, their own enjoyment and advancement and whatever, but a Christian believer knows that what is ahead is far better than anything they could have or experience here, so their time on earth isn’t for themselves, but for the benefit of those around them. That’s not at all to say that life here doesn’t have it’s good moments, because it certainly does. However, even at its best it is no more than a prelude for what is to come. Actually, that applies to unbelievers as well, even though they don’t know it. For them, even at its worst it is just a prelude to what is to come. If they really grasped that, it would certainly scare them into repentance! Not wanting to go to hell is a very low-level motivation, but if it gets the job done, it certainly isn’t to be sneered at. All that said, it comes back to the question of why are we here? The first purpose is to find and get to know our Creator, so that we will indeed be able to spend eternity with Him, but the second is to do the good works that He has prepared for us to do, (Ephesians 2:10) specifically so that the people around us will be blessed and drawn to God themselves, hopefully to repent and believe for their salvation. Victor Frankl wrote that mankind’s greatest need is for purpose, and there you have it. Our purpose is to know and love God and serve as His agents in blessing the people around us. Various studies have been done as to what produces the greatest happiness, and the very highest correlation was with being kind to those around us. The attitude most related is gratitude. If you are grateful for the opportunity to be kind to others, then you are blessed indeed!

All of this is being taught to me more and more as the days and years go by. As I have commented recently, my anticipation of heaven is growing all the time, but like Paul, I am convinced that I have more work to do here, so I don’t expect to go momentarily, or anything like that. I work to stay healthy, not so much for my own sake as to stay fully available for my wife, because she would be most inconvenienced if I were to be incapacitated or depart ahead of schedule. I do enjoy life, and particularly moments like on Monday, when I was able to explain God’s salvation to two ladies who likely had never heard it before. However, I do get tired and have various aches, pains, and frustrations. I need to keep remembering what is laid up for me in heaven, and treat all that stuff as the very small potatoes it really is. Here or in heaven, my purpose is in Christ Jesus my Lord, and I must never forget it!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me keep this in focus, so that I will indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in You just as You have told me to do, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!