The Moment To Shine

Philippians 2:14-18

You will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. (Philippians 2:15-16, NIV)

IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT THE ONLY eternal thing we can do on earth that we can’t do in heaven is win souls for Christ. This appeals to the evangelists among us; after all, the turning of hearts toward the Savior is a beautiful thing. But this maxim reduces our life’s mission to words of persuasion. Is that really all God intends for us? Are we meant to live as escapists waiting to be rescued from a sinking ship? Are there really no other eternal investments we can make?

In fact, there are plenty. We can live as a reflection of our Father and glorify him in places where glory is hard to see. We can worship God in the midst of adversity, which we will no longer face in heaven but which makes for a startling testimony in the here and now. We can do the works of Jesus by his power (John 14:12), like feeding the hungry and healing the sick, allowing others to experience God’s touch long before heaven. We can pray for the Kingdom of God and against the evils infecting this world (Matthew 6:9-13). We can comfort people with the comfort of God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). We can forgive people of their sins as representatives of Jesus (John 20:23). We can do the kinds of good works that prove we are God’s handiwork (Ephesians 2:10). In short, we can shine in the dark—an opportunity that we will not be able to fulfill in the Kingdom of light. We are invited into a robust, comprehensive mission.

Your lifetime, however long it lasts, is your moment to shine with eternal truth in the midst of a fallen, broken creation. Never minimize that opportunity; it will become visible to men and angels as a reflection of who God is and what he has done. Your light becomes an eternal testimony to the glory of God—now and forever.

{Father, I will face no adversity in heaven, no obstacles in giving you my praise. But here, may my praise flow as a testimony of your light in the midst of darkness. Let my life be filled with eternal wonders that make you known. Amen.