Romans 16:25-27. Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Living in the presence of God 24/7 will inevitably lead to His appointed time of glory and power being revealed in your life for the sake of the gospel. When you enjoy the presence of the Triune God and follow His covenant day by day, there comes a time when God does what no human effort can accomplish. His power, wisdom, and grace are displayed through your life, not for your own glory, but so that Christ may be made known. That is His 25th hour.
Because the mystery of Christ was revealed to you by the eternal God, the work He began in you is also eternal. Your salvation is not temporary. Your calling is not temporary. The kingdom you belong to is not temporary. Everything God accomplishes through the gospel carries eternal significance.
If your life can be used as God’s chosen instrument to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth, there is no greater life to live. This is the life of a witness of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit to testify of Him wherever God sends you (Acts 1:8). Such a life brings everlasting glory to your Father in heaven.
Like Priscilla and Aquila, when the purpose of your profession, business, studies, or career becomes evangelism and world missions, everything you do gains eternal value. Though they were tentmakers by occupation, they lived for God’s kingdom. They opened their home, supported the ministry of the gospel, risked their lives for God’s servants, and helped raise future leaders for Christ (Acts 18:1-4; Romans 16:3-4). Their names continue to be remembered because they invested in what would last forever.
When God gave us faith in Christ by His grace, He had something eternal in mind—our salvation, “the end result of your faith” (1 Peter 1:9). Therefore, we must not live merely for the things of this world, which are passing away. Wealth fades. Positions change. Human praise disappears. But God’s kingdom remains forever. This is why Paul urged believers to set their hearts on things above rather than on earthly things (Colossians 3:1-3).
Scripture reminds us of who we are and what we are living for: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).
We are not laboring merely for temporary rewards in this life. We are living for eternal rewards in God’s kingdom as Paul wrote: “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy” (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20).
To Paul, the people who came to Christ through the gospel were his greatest reward. He looked forward to the day he would stand before the Lord with those whose lives had been transformed by the grace of God. They were his joy and crown (Philippians 4:1). Nothing brought him greater satisfaction than seeing souls saved and disciples established in the faith.
The Lord Jesus Himself confirmed this eternal principle:
“‘Truly I tell you,’ Jesus replied, ‘no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life’” (Mark 10:29-30).
God never overlooks anything done for His kingdom. Even the smallest act of service done with a heart for Christ will be remembered by Him:
“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward” (Matthew 10:40-42).
Thus, today matters. How you think matters. How you pray matters. How you respond to people matters. How you live before God matters. Every moment carries eternal significance because it is lived before the eyes of our eternal God.
Fill your heart with godly sorrow rather than worldly sorrow. Worldly sorrow leads to despair and death, but godly sorrow leads to repentance and salvation, leaving no regret (2 Corinthians 7:10). When your heart breaks over what grieves God’s heart, lives can be saved and eternity can be changed.
Therefore, cherish and enjoy the eternal realities that God has already given you today. Enjoy the presence of the Triune God:
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14).
Hold firmly to His living and eternal Word:
“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8).
Look for those whom God has prepared to save through your life:
“When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48).
And embrace the blessing promised to the evangelist:
“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).
We have only one life to live. Compared to eternity, it is but a moment. It is too short to spend pursuing things that will soon disappear. Instead, let us devote our lives to what God desires most—saving this generation through the power of the gospel and passing the covenant on to the next generation.
To that end, let us remain rooted in the complete covenant of God. Let us enter deeply into prayer and enjoy Christ daily until no person, circumstance, problem, or condition can shake us. Let us discover the true happiness of living in God’s presence and the true strength that comes from His covenant.
Then, like Paul, let us continue to “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [us] heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
Prayer. Father, open my eyes to see the eternal blessings You have prepared both here on earth and in Your kingdom. Help me to enjoy Your presence, hold firmly to Your Word, and live for what truly lasts. May my life become a witness of Christ who brings glory to You and blessing to others. Use me to save the people You have prepared and to leave behind an eternal legacy through the gospel. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.