Forever is a big deal. Heaven is a big deal. Eternity is a big deal.

You and I have probably thought about those things a lot. That makes sense. We should. Not only is eternity with God something to look forward to, but it gives us hope in the here and now.

That’s the part we can’t let slip away. Faith isn’t just about pursuing life after death, but life before death. Or, put another way, it’s not just about the after-life, but the during-life. 

I recently came across a Charlie Brown comic. Charlie Brown and Snoopy are sitting on the end of a dock. Charlie Brown comments: “Some day, we will all die, Snoopy!” Snoopy replies: “True, but on all the other days, we will not.”

It’s quite existential for a cartoon! Here’s what I think it was trying to communicate. 

What happens after death is important, but we’ve got a lot of living to do before that day comes. If we only ever focus on what will happen eventually, we might miss what is happening presently.

When we only let Jesus into our thoughts about the day Charlie Brown was focused on, but not into our thoughts about the days that Snoopy was focused on, we risk missing greater intimacy and power with God on a day-to-day basis.

Holding these two things together at the same time—what will happen eventually and what is happening presently—is a repeated theme in Scripture. For example, in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells us to “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20) while at the same time telling us to “not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself” (Matthew 6:24). 

We have one foot in heaven and one foot on earth. At the same time.

Faith isn’t just about pursuing life after death, but life before death. If we only ever focus on what will happen eventually, we might miss what is happening presently.

Let’s be people of heavenly hope—but also people who are truly present and available for those around us, unafraid in the face of uncertainty, and loving as the hands and feet of a Saviour who conquers death. 

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Notes:

–“Listen For It: Save Your.” Sermon. November 17, 2024. Click here.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.