Jack Graham
February 5, 2003
10:30 am
Message Summary
Life is full of ups and downs. We remember with great joy those times we triumphed and how we felt as though we were on top of the world. We also remember those times we felt as though we couldn’t lift our head; those times we felt suffocated by the worries of the daily grind. Yet we are not called to live in the past, but to live for our future.
In his message, Jack Graham noted the question on so many peoples’ minds today. “What next?” From Sept. 11, to the recent shuttle explosion, our world seems to keep being hit by tragedy and an insecure heart would easily fear the future. “This is a prime time,” stated Graham, “to share the hope we have of eternal life.
For believers, we know that our hope is not in the things of this world. How futile are so many things in this world, and how quickly they pass away. Our future is in Heaven, but are our hearts? Where are we laying up our treasures? Graham opened up to Matthew 6: 20-21 and 33 where he pointed out, “it is when our eyes are focused on what He has called us to do then we will be able to live holy lives.
Graham gives four ways that we can live for eternity and therefore have the focus God wants for our lives. To live for eternity, we are to have a believing heart. We may not know what God has in store for our lives, but we can cry out to Him in faith believing that He has the best plan for us (I Corinthians 2:9). Believing in our eternal home means sharing Christ and knowing that the spiritual investments we make in this life will be stored up in Heaven for us.
Secondly, we must have an expectant attitude. Our goal and our aim need to be for Heaven. The apostle Paul lived his life expecting the great eternity God had in store for him. “But for me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Christians have Heaven as their home, but they are not homesick. “Appreciate this life,” said Graham, “and be expectant of the next life—the best is yet to come!
To live for eternity is also to have a worshipful spirit. Our eternity is going to be spent worshiping God, so we need to start now. For Graham, the style of worship is not an issue as long as the focus is on the King. Oftentimes, we get so caught up in our preferences that we forget that worship is a matter of the heart.
Lastly, living for eternity means to have a watchful eye. Graham quotes Howard Hendricks when he said, “We are in the land of the dying on the way to the land of the living.” As the words of the great hymn state, “This world is not my home, I’m just passing through” we are reminded of the great hope that we have. The greatest things of this life will pale in comparison to the day when we are united with our Lord forever!
If our hearts are in Heaven, then our focus is on Heaven and the treasures we lay up will be for Heaven. Graham concluded, “So until that day, we live with passion, purity, focus and we make the biggest difference now. We give our lives laying up the treasures in Heaven looking forward to the day when we meet Jesus. A summary will be posted shortly after the session.
Student Response
What an encouraging and challenging message! Where is my heart? Where am I laying up my treasure? Graham emphasized Matthew 6:33 which says, “But seek first His kingdom…” Seek after God. Why is it that we get so caught up in the things of this temporal world? If we truly desire to live holy lives, we need to focus on eternity. May I seek to live a life that stores up treasures in Heaven, which will keep my heart of the things of God. “We know that Heaven is our hope,” stated Graham, “so we live with Heaven in our hearts.
—Allison Hlad, Senior, Communications/Print Media major