I remember hearing my father repeat a powerful phrase as he looked out over the staff, “You are doing eternal work.” This reminder would usually come in the depths of the summer, when staff were tempted by fatigue and distracted by thoughts of the upcoming fall. In the midst of these misgivings, Dave would snap us back to the present moment, urging us to remember the dignity and wonder we shared at having a hand in shaping a human soul – a soul born for eternity.
In our daily lives, how often do we recollect that were born to live forever? Often, in my unspoken unconscious assumptions, I catch my self considering death the last laugh. How good and how refreshing it is to recall some of Jesus’ promises to us:
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. – John 14:2-3
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28
Teaching about Heaven was important to Jesus. He worked hard to impress upon his disciples and all listeners the importance of openness to God’s eternity:
Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, and yet you people do not accept our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven – John 3:12
Then He told them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.” – John 8:23
Jesus insisted that his disciples practice a healthy detachment from the things of this world. Anything that we may be tempted to put into “storehouses”, Christ reminds us that we can not take it with us when our lives are demanded of us by the Father. This is sobering and scary from an earthly perspective. From a Christian perspective, this is freeing and simplifying – we were born to live forever! We were not made for this world but for the bosom heart of our loving Father who beckons us constantly, whether or not we listen.
Christ’s call can be received by the childlike and those willing to be dependent on him; he invites us to a simpler sort of life and love. He calls out to us that we might not “perish” but live! “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
At CKC, while our campers and staff members are still very much enjoying the fruits of this world, there is nonetheless a unique environment where members of our community can enter into a different sort of contemplation, one that is open to the eternal questions ringing through the cosmos. This is a place of simplicity; a place where childlike openness is celebrated and where faith is normalized. Here, maybe unlike any other space in some of our campers’ lives, the noise is removed and our ears are opened to the deeper call – the call to do “eternal work” on behalf of God’s kingdom and to set aside any kingdom we would attempt to build for ourselves. Herein lies our happiness as creatures of a creator: in listening to his call, tailor made for each one of our hearts, and obeying.
“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:27-30
“Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” – Matthew 6:20
“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” – 2 Corinthians 4:17
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore.” – Revelation 21:4
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and… the Lord Jesus Christ… will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body.” – Philippians 3:20-21