Dear Rose Park,
Once a year I’ll read the book “You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity;” it’s written by Francis Chan and I’ve found this book to be a healthy rhythm for my marriage with Sam. Every year I’ll find myself making notes or highlighting a different section that speaks to me differently than the year previously. In contrast to most books about marriage, Chan doesn’t offer practical advice rather he offers what he calls an eternal lens to marriage.
In the introduction to the book he writes these words:
I am working to make sure that my family is set up for the future. When most people make that statement, they are talking about financial security for their last few years on earth. When I say it, I’m referring to the millions of years that come after that. People accuse me of going overboard for preparing for my first ten million years in eternity. In my opinion, people go overboard in worrying about their last ten years on earth.
To me, this is an eye-opening statement. I know I am guilty in worrying far too much about my time on earth as it compares to my heavenly home. My eyes become so narrow towards schedules, appointments, calendars, services, etc. that I need an eternal lens to bring my eyes back towards the heavens. With this eternal lens, he writes these words as it relates to his wife Lisa:
Because I am crazy about Lisa, I want her to have a great life. But more than that, I want her to have a great eternity. I want her to look back at her life without regret. I want her to be confident that the time she spent on earth prepared her for heaven. Most importantly, I want her to hear God say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master’ (Matthew 25:23)
Chan is reminding us that though this life on earth is a gift from God, the greatest gift is still to come. Perhaps the greatest service we can offer to each other is to help each live in such a way that we are preparing for heaven. With this in mind, an eternal lens certainly goes beyond the scope of marriage. The greatest service we can offer our children, grandchildren, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and community members is to help each other live in such a way that we are preparing to hear God say, ‘well done, good and faithful servant.’
As you navigate another week, may your eyes see with an eternal lens and be lifted towards the heavens to see beyond the here and now.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Mark