Many consider that the only things that matter are those that have earthly consequences. But in God’s plan of things, He created both the temporal and the eternal, the physical and the spiritual. Others who see this connection between the two have a different view of how things matter.

These two fundamental ideas comprise two various different philosophies which, when seriously adhered to as guides for thought and conduct, lead to two quite distinct ways of life.

That is why some fix their concerns upon the preservation of all that they can in this life. They have only one world, only one life to live. And they intend to make the most of it.

On the contrary, Christians have two worlds, both important, but one more important that the other. Indeed, it is thought by some that all the Christian cares about is the world to come. Pie in the sky when you die bye and bye, if you will. Not true. An informed Christian knows that he can begin slicing the pie right now! He sees both worlds as inseparably linked. What happens in the one affects what happens in the other.

This basic view of life for the Christian means that he is concerned about how he lives here, not merely how he will fare in the future. His activities, however, ought to reflect the fact that he has interests that are much broader than the one who is an earthling—confined in his thinking and living to the here and now. Contrary to those who look on the faith as restrictive, it actually enlarges those who live it biblically

It is something like a man who lives in America, but who knows that there is a Europe as well, longs to travel there, and is day by day preparing to travel there. Others spend their money and time on things that mean the most to them at the moment. He, on the other hand, is saving up for the trip, is reading up on the foreign country to which he will go, and is learning all he can about it before he leaves. He is having a whale of a time anticipating it. He’s having a good time of it. He may even spend time learning the language. While he is huddling over Rosetta Stone, others are out carousing—or simply having a good time doing things that won’t last. That have consequences only in this world of here and now. While they are engaged in temporal entertainments he is devouring the travel guides to the land across the sea.

So, because of the distinct view of life and death, things that we do here and now matter. They matter because the two worlds are immutably united. That which unites them, of course, is the cross of Christ.