28,550 Days

Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.

Colossians 3:2

I remember the first time I was shown the example of a rope with a small piece of blue tape wrapped around the very beginning of it.

Francis Chan was using the rope to help us understand what it means to live with eternity in mind.

The blue portion represented our life here on earth.

That’s it.

Just that little piece.

The rest of the rope stretched out and continued on and on and on, representing eternity.

I remember my friend David would often remind us of the average lifespan of a man and how many days that actually represents. When you think about your life in days instead of years, suddenly it doesn’t seem very long.

Francis talked about how much of our lives can be spent stressing, straining, worrying and agonizing over decisions.

If I can just get this job.

If I can just get into this school.

If I can just make this team.

If I can just move there.

If I can just make the right decision.

In the moment, these things can seem enormous. Sometimes they feel like the most important decisions we will ever make.

But then look at the rope.

Look at that little blue section.

And look at everything that comes after it.

There is another picture that has stayed with me through the years. I remember hearing Corrie ten Boom speak about forgiveness after all that she had endured during the Holocaust. She had suffered unimaginable loss, including the death of her beloved sister Betsie.

Yet Corrie understood something about how we are called to live.

I remember the picture of open hands.

With our palms open before God, we don’t have to hold tightly to the things He never intended us to carry.

Bitterness.

Anger.

Hatred.

Fear.

Worry.

Frustration.

We can release those things to Him.

And with those same open hands, we can receive what He desires to give us.

Peace.

Hope.

Joy.

Love.

Grace.

Maybe that’s another way of looking at the blue part of the rope.

We spend so much time worrying about what is happening inside those few inches when God continually reminds us to lift our eyes toward eternity.

Jesus said:

“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.”

John 14:1–3

Jesus also told us:

“But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 6:33

And Paul reminds us:

“Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.”

Colossians 3:2

We live in a world that comes at us incredibly fast.

Look at this.

Watch this.

Buy this.

Go here.

Go there.

Make this decision.

Don’t miss out.

Keep up.

Maybe we need to look at the rope again.

Maybe we can take a little pressure off ourselves about what happens during this tiny blue portion and spend more of our time thinking about what will matter for eternity.

Build relationships.

Help someone.

Serve someone.

Forgive someone.

Encourage someone.

Tell the people around you that you love them.

Let them know that you see them.

Let them know that you’re for them.

Tell someone about Jesus.

Because eventually, the blue part ends.

But the rope keeps going.

Forever.

And if you’re reading this and you’re not sure about eternity, I would love to have a conversation with you.

Eternal life is a gift.

A free gift.

It’s not found in religion.

It’s not found in traditions.

It’s not found in rituals.

It’s found in a person.

Jesus Christ.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 6:23

Maybe today is a good day to look at the rope and ask ourselves:

Am I living for the blue part?

Or am I living for eternity?