1 Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called…”
Do you ever think about eternity? You have a soul and when you die, your soul is going somewhere. Considering eternity would be worth your limited time on Earth. Thinking about eternity doesn’t appeal to us because we have to think about death. The world, the flesh, and the Devil say “Live for today! Live for the pleasures of this life. Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die!” The idea is because death is unpleasant don’t think about it and live for today while we have it. But it is wisdom to think and live for eternity (endless ages), not for a few years.
If Jesus has saved your soul, lay hold of eternal life by faith. Paul isn’t talking about grasping Heaven by works. Laying hold of eternal life is a frame of heart in the life and walk of the Christian who is called to eternal life. Think and live with eternal life in mind. Wouldn’t you expect someone who is called to eternal joy and bliss to live like it now? Some profess to know Christ, but devote all time and energy to their earthly calling and seem to never give Jesus Christ and His kingdom and their Heavenly calling a second thought. Penny wise and pound foolish.
We have been called from a city of destruction to a “land that is fairer than day”. God called His elect out of a life of sin and death, to a life of faith and light on our pilgrimage to our Heavenly home. Imagine a city (John Bunyan called it Vanity Fair) full of worldliness, the love of money, sorrows and sin; the home of the children of wrath and disobedience. The outskirts of this metropolis are lined with wounded men (I Timothy 6:10) pierced through with the deadly arrows of covetousness and heresy, having tried to live on the border of the city with one foot in each camp. They liked the idea of eternal life, but loved what this world offered to much to leave it behind. Timothy was called to break camp in this city of worldliness and sin and head to a city whose builder and maker is God. He walked away, ignoring the calls to stay put and continue in worldly pleasures, instead, setting his eyes on the blessed city of the glorious King. His heart and mind is fixed on the King and fair Zion’s heavenly rest. With his kingdom citizenship on his heart he goes clad in the Spirit’s armor and the Sword of the Spirit in his hand; laying hold on his Heavenly home and eternal life through “many dangers, toils, and snares”. Missionary Jim Elliot wrote, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” Are you laying hold of what you cannot lose or what you cannot keep?
