Eyes on Eternity

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Do we have our eyes on eternity?

Eric Liddell is famous as a Scottish sprinter, an Olympic gold medallist, his story is told through the famous old movie “Chariots of Fire”. As a keen Christian, Liddell decided he would not run in the heats of the 100m as they were being held on a Sunday. He saw this as a conflict with his faith, instead he began to train for the 400m, and eventually won gold, setting a world record in the process. From there Liddell walked away from sport to pursue Christian mission in China.

There are countless other stories of those who have walked away from worldly prestige to serve Christ. American Missionary Jim Elliot gave his very life in Ecuador trying to share the gospel with a remote people. Barnabas in the early church sold a field and gave the money to the apostles to use for mission. William Carey gave up his life and job in the USA to translate the bible into various languages. Sydneysider Aaron Moore was confronted by the teaching of Jesus to sell all you have and give to the poor, and did just that. In a week he sold or gave away all of his possessions to give to the poor.

Eyes on eternity. When the tomb of Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamen was discovered in 1922, the boy kings body was found amongst large amounts of gold, jewellery, chariots, artifacts—much of which can be seen displayed in museums today. None of it went with him.

Jesus doesn’t say to us that where our heart is, there our treasure will also be. He actually tells us that where our treasure is, there our heart will also be. It’s sad to think of King Tut, his treasure buried with him, revealing a heart bound by the things and cares of this world. And perhaps it sheds a new light on how we spend our time, what we pursue in life, and how we view the world around us. If Eric Liddell had success and accomplishment, rather than Christ, as his treasure, then his heart would have led him to further compete on the track rather than to compete for Christ in seeking lost souls.

Are we seeking success, security, safety? Or do we have eyes for eternity? It ought to shape our priorities, spending habits, speech patterns, indeed our very lifestyle.

In Christ’s Love, Craig Olliffe, Senior minister