The Bible reminds us that our life is short. As we set our goals for this year, let us do so with eternity in perspective. Life goes by so quickly that we often get too caught up in life’s multiple tasks and forget that we are not promised tomorrow,  as James 4:14 says, “ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James is refers to human life as a vapour, which appears for a while and then vanishes. We would have an easier time if we remember the purpose of life on this earth. Life really is not about accumulating wealth, power or fame. It is about fulfiling God’s purpose for us. We must, therefore, focus on His eternal perspective. Col 3:2 reminds us to “set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Even though we live in this time, God really created us for eternity. Likewise, Eccl 3:11 also says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” King Solomon in Eccl 3:11 says that God has placed in our heart the concept of eternity. We may live in this time, but we must have eternity as the backdrop of our life. We must learn to live for eternal purposes.

There is eternity for every soul. Each soul is in desperate need of knowing God. When this is in the forefront of our mind, it helps us to extend a helping hand to all who call on the name of God as his Lord and Saviour. The way we relate to others is inevitably influenced by our thought that life hangs in balance with God. Our focus in life should not be trying to make our first million dollars by 30 years old, climb up the corporate ladder, or to cling on to power and fame.

We should strive for non-temporal things, and work towards goals with eternity. Abraham knew this and thus did not treat his home as permanent. He would rather live in tents and move around like a nomad. Heb 11:8-11 says that “by faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.”

Let us model after Abraham by setting our goals for this year with the perspective of eternity in mind. We will soon hold our evangelistic meetings monthly. Let us strive to bring the gospel to our loved ones. Let us begin by identifying a few people for whom we may pray to attend the gospel meets. Let us begin by praying for the lost souls and make an effort to invite them to the gospel meets.

We should aspire to keep ourselves healthy, maintain a vibrant spiritual life, excel in our studies, and master a skill-set in the course of our career. We should excel in our work and studies to bring the glory of God to others. By winning souls for the Lord, we are paving our way to heaven, to spend eternity with God, and receive God’s praise and rewards for eternity.

Have a blessed and fruitful year 2021 in the Lord!