Packing for Eternity

Packing for Eternity

How many of you have ever traveled internationally—gone to another country with a different language, a different economy, a different currency? Sometimes the values are different. Sometimes just the way of life is different. And the way you prepare for a trip depends entirely on where you're going.

I'm thankful I've been able to travel to some pretty cool places, and every time I go, it gives me perspective. It helps me see how blessed I really am at home. We get caught up in our day-to-day lives—office politics, classroom dynamics—and usually that puts us in a place of want: "I wish I had this lifestyle. I wish I had that car. I wish I could go on that vacation."

But when you travel and see people who live differently than you do—especially in a place where people live in squalor, with dirt floors and no plumbing—it gives you perspective to be thankful for what God has blessed you with. Gratitude is really important.

Preparing for Where You're Going

If you were only visiting a country, you'd prepare one way. But if you were moving there full-time, you'd prepare differently. You'd learn more than "hello," "goodbye," and "where's the bathroom." You'd learn the language, the history, the customs. Because that place has values, culture, and customs you'd need to know.

And you'd pack appropriately. Moving to Tahiti? You don't need your North Face gear—you want shorts, bathing suits, and sunscreen. Moving to Alaska? Pack for the cold.

Well, for the Christian, we want to pack appropriately for our future destination, which is heaven. The Bible tells us that we are citizens of heaven. And heaven has a culture, a language, values, and a King. It is every Christian's eternal destination.

"There are many whose conduct shows that they are actually enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite. They brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives, and we are eagerly awaiting for him to return as our Savior." (Philippians 3)

We are citizens of heaven, and we need to live in anticipation of our future home—to live out its culture, to worship, love, and obey the King, and ultimately to take as many people with us to heaven as we can.

"For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come." (Hebrews 13:14)

Everything in this world will pale in comparison to heaven. As amazing as the places we visit here are, none of them is a lasting city. Only heaven will last forever, and that is our future home.

So I've titled this message Packing for Eternity. While we live life here on earth, what are the things we should pack in anticipation of moving to heaven someday?

Point One: Pack Gratitude

Let's read Luke 17, starting in verse 11.

"Now it happened as he went to Jerusalem that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a certain village, there met him ten men who were lepers, and they stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, 'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.' So when he saw them, he said to them, 'Go show yourselves to the priests.' And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, 'Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the other nine? Were there not any found who returned to give God glory except this foreigner?' And he said to him, 'Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.'"

The obvious takeaway is this: gratitude matters to Jesus. Ten lepers cried out. Ten were healed. But only one returned to thank Jesus.

The Horror of Leprosy

This trip to Jerusalem was Jesus' last—the beginning of the end of his physical earthly ministry, which would result in his crucifixion. Even as he walked toward the cross, he was ministering and healing.

Leprosy is largely lost on us today—it's been wiped out and can be treated with antibiotics. But in Jesus' day, it was a terrible disease. It infected people and forced them to live away from society in leper colonies, quarantined because it was extremely contagious.

Leprosy damaged the nerves, causing numbness in the extremities—fingertips, nose, lips, toes. So you'd stub your toe, cut yourself, get infections—and not even feel it. Bits of your toes, fingers, nose, and lips could fall off. I've read accounts of rats coming in at night to nibble at the exposed flesh.

Catching leprosy wasn't a death sentence, but in a way it was worse—it was living death. It meant complete removal from normal society, from your family and friends. If you were married, you'd never sleep in your home again. You'd never embrace your children the way you once did. You'd never attend your daughter's wedding or your son's graduation. Anyone who walked near you, you'd have to announce, "Unclean! Unclean!" You'd endure shame and hopelessness for the rest of your life.

So these ten lepers weren't just healed of any disease—they were healed of perhaps the worst disease imaginable. And yet only one returned to say thank you.

Has God Ever Met Your Deepest Need?

Jesus commanded them to go show themselves to the priest, which was the custom for someone healed of leprosy—the priest would verify they were clean so they could reintegrate into society. As this one leper went, obeying that command, he saw he was healed and turned back praising God with a loud voice.

His deepest need had just been met. His most longed-for request had just been answered.

Has God ever done that for you? A great need, your deepest desire, and God reached down and answered it? He's done that for me. He's forgiven me, delivered me, restored my life. He's met our deepest and most important request.

But honestly, a lot of us are like those other nine. We ask God for something—"God, do this for me, do that for me"—and then he answers, often through a doctor or some tangible means. And we forget to come back and say thank you.

Why Gratitude Matters to God

As a parent, I loved giving my kids gifts. And I loved it when they showed gratitude. I remember my son, about five years old, coming to me two days after I'd bought him a small toy and saying, "Dad, you're a good dad. You bought me that toy and you didn't have to do that, and I love you." Baby, don't play with my heart—whatever you want, man! It's amazing how far a few kind words can go.

Gratitude matters to God in the same way. When he answers our prayers, we need to come back and say, "Thank you, Lord, for healing me. Thank you, Lord, for bringing my grandson into a relationship with you." And yes—thank you, Lord, for the unanswered prayers, too.

But gratitude is more than good manners. Showing gratitude to God aligns your heart with the Giver rather than just the gift. So often we want God to be our genie in a bottle: "Give me this, take care of that." But when you show gratitude, you're saying, "I want more than the gift—I want your heart. I want to be like you. I want to show the generosity, the forgiveness, the love that you have shown me."

"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)

Many people want to know God's will for their lives—who to marry, what job to take, whether to move. Those are great questions. So take special note whenever Scripture explicitly says, "This is God's will for you." Be thankful in all circumstances.

Even the secular world has picked up on the benefits of gratitude—studies say it's good for your weight, your cortisol levels, your attitude, your skin, and your sleep. One study even found that dogs with stressed owners have synchronized long-term stress levels. In other words, if you're a jerk, your dog will be a jerk too.

Thankful in All Circumstances

It's easy to be grateful when times are good, and easy to pray when you're desperate like those lepers. But we're told to be thankful in all circumstances—even when Jesus doesn't answer that longing.

The Apostle Paul asked the Lord three times to remove a thorn in the flesh. Each time the Lord responded, "My grace is sufficient for you; my strength is made perfect in weakness." That caused Paul to depend on the Lord even more. That's the lesson: in our weakness and struggle, we still depend on the Lord.

We're not thankful because God withholds something. But we can always be thankful for what Jesus was heading toward as he walked to Jerusalem—the cross. That was the greatest miracle of all. You could say every miracle in the Bible points to the greatest miracle: what Jesus did on the cross for us.

"So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us... For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ." (2 Corinthians 5:20–21)

He made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him. So when God looks at you, he sees you with the righteousness of Christ—not your imperfections, not your struggles, not your past sins. That identity is enough to make you a new creation.

What Kind of Faith Do You Have?

All ten lepers were healed—but they all eventually died and faced judgment. What matters most is what happened when they stood before God. Only one returned to Jesus, a Samaritan, and Jesus said, "Your faith has made you well."

The original Greek word here is sozo, used throughout the New Testament to mean something more than physical healing—it means being saved from sin. This leper wasn't just healed of leprosy; he was healed of his sin. A second miracle: salvation.

All ten had faith enough to call Jesus "Master" and ask for healing. But only one had a faith that resulted in trust, gratitude, humility, love, praise, and worship.

So what kind of faith do you have? Some might say, "God has forgiven me of some stuff, but my life wasn't that bad." But the Bible says, "He who has been forgiven much loves much." The truth is, all of us have been forgiven much—because one sin is enough to keep us out of heaven, enough to separate us from God for eternity. Whether you were raised in the church and never walked away, or you have a dramatic story, all of us have been forgiven much. And all of us should have a faith that results in gratitude.

Point Two: Pack Light

Let's continue in Luke 17:20.

"Now when Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, 'The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, "See here!" or "See there!" For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.'"

And skipping to verse 31:

"In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it."

The first point was what to bring. The second point is how to bring it: pack light.

How many of you are chronic over-packers? I try to travel with just a carry-on, but I still overpack. I get there and think, "Why did I bring twelve pairs of socks for a four-day trip?"

Spiritually, we need to pack light. In this life, we pick up all kinds of baggage—beliefs and assumptions about what heaven is like, what God is like, how we get things (like through performance). It's so important that we understand the character of the King and the values of heaven.

The Pharisees Missed the King

Jesus makes important distinctions here about the kingdom of God. He says it "does not come with observation." The Pharisees expected a physical, political kingdom. There will come a time when Jesus establishes his kingdom on earth—at the second coming—but that wasn't why he came the first time.

How do we know the Pharisees were misguided? For starters, they killed Jesus. They persecuted his followers. These were religious professionals—students of Scripture who dedicated their lives to studying the prophecies and looking for the Messiah. And yet when the Messiah himself stood right in front of them, they were questioning him about a kingdom to come. They were so busy looking for the event on the horizon that they missed it standing right in front of them.

They wanted a political Messiah to free them from Rome and restore the days of King David. That was a great hope—but it paled in comparison to what Jesus really came to accomplish. He didn't come to free the Jews from Rome; he came to free mankind from sin.

They were spiritually blind. As Jesus said to Nicodemus:

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3)

The Pharisees were so loaded down with the baggage of their own expectations and theology that they failed to welcome the King himself.

What Would You Run Back For?

Jesus tells his disciples how not to miss his second coming. If you're on the rooftop when that day comes, don't go inside for your stuff. If you're in the field, don't go back to the house.

The point Jesus is driving at is: what are you willing to leave behind? What is so important to you that you would hesitate in that moment? If the Lord was returning, what would you run back for—your stuff? Your phone? Your savings account? Your social media followers? Your reputation? Your comfort?

This reveals the things that potentially own us. My wife and I have talked about what we'd grab in a fire. Beyond family, I'd probably go for my hard drives—years of photos of our kids. That question shows us what really matters to us. Jesus is doing the same thing here.

Remember Lot's Wife

Then Jesus hits us with three words in verse 32: "Remember Lot's wife."

If you know the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis, that carries weight. God was judging a wicked, perverse city where Lot and his family lived. Angels literally led them out by the hand because they were reluctant to leave. Lot's wife made it out safely—but she looked back, because that's where her heart was. God had specifically said, "Don't look back." And she turned into a pillar of salt.

Jesus tells us to remember her because most of us won't dramatically renounce our faith and sprint back into the world. What happens is we look back. We reminisce. We drive down that old street. We type that old number into our phone—"I just want to punch the digits." We type that old website—"I'm not going to hit enter." And that can be enough to make us stumble and fall back into old patterns.

It's been said: you can't stop a bird from flying over your head, but you can stop it from building a nest in your hair. That's a great picture of temptation. You can't stop a tempting thought from entering your mind—it happens even in the middle of church—but you can stop yourself from taking it to the second, third, and fourth place. In those moments, rebuke it: "Get behind me, Satan. I'm worshiping the King right now." Because if you dwell on it, next thing you know you've got plans, and then you're executing on them.

Don't look back. Remember Lot's wife.

Losing Your Life to Save It

Jesus summarizes it all in verse 33:

"Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it."

You cannot hold on to your old life and your new life simultaneously. The person who packs heavy—loading up on comfort, possessions, and the things of earth—will find they're weighed down and even kept from their true home. But the person who packs light, holds this life loosely, practices gratitude, and lives as a citizen of heaven arrives with everything that actually matters.

The Suitcase of Gold

There's a story about a rich man determined to bring some of his money to heaven. For years he petitioned God, and finally God relented: "Okay, you can bring one suitcase." The man decided what to fill it with, and eventually died, suitcase in hand. At the pearly gates, Peter said, "We heard about your negotiating skills up here! So what's in the case?" The man opened it—full of 24-karat gold, the purest you can get. Peter looked at it and said, "Bro, why'd you bring asphalt with you?"

It's a silly picture, but it's true. The Bible tells us the streets of heaven are paved with gold. So the most valuable things in this life are going to be stepped on in the next. The most amazing experiences here will pale in comparison there.

Let me be clear: I am not saying you shouldn't pursue academic or financial excellence. Absolutely work hard, make a good living, better yourself, leave an inheritance to your children. Go on beautiful trips and enjoy God's creation. But don't get caught up thinking that's what life is all about. It's not all about you—it's all about the King. We are called to be ambassadors of heaven.

The Most Heavenly Minded Do the Most Earthly Good

It's been said that if you're too heavenly minded, you're no earthly good. But I'd say the opposite is true: those who are the most heavenly minded do the most worldly good.

Did you know it was the church that created the hospital? The orphanage? The first universities—Oxford, Cambridge, Yale, and Harvard (they've deviated quite a bit since)? It was the church that rescued unwanted Roman babies left to die on hillsides, adopting them and raising them. It was the church that drove the abolition of slavery through Wilberforce in England and the abolitionists in America. It was the church that fed the hungry, clothed the poor, visited the prisoner, and sat with the dying when no one else would.

The most heavenly minded people in history do the most earthly good, every time. Show me a thriving, healthy society, and I'll show you a church that was at the center of it.

You Need a Ticket

We started by talking about packing for a trip. We've seen we should bring gratitude, that we should live as citizens modeling the traits of the King, and that we should pack light, not carrying earthly values that weigh us down and are worth nothing in heaven.

But if you're traveling somewhere, you need a ticket. And in this case, there's no suitcase of gold that can pay for your ticket to heaven. You could never earn it. In fact, your sin has marked you so you'll never get there on your own. One sin is enough to keep you out, and all of us have committed thousands.

But that's the good news. Jesus came for that very purpose—to pay a price you could not pay. He paid a debt he did not owe, because you owed a debt you could not pay. He came to die on the cross for your sin. His eyes were fixed on the cross the entire time.

So if you haven't yet made that decision, what's holding you back? Remember Lot's wife—she almost made it out, but didn't. Remember the ten lepers—all ten were healed of a temporary disease, but only one was delivered from the greatest disease of all: sin.

Don't be like Lot's wife and almost make it. Knowing about God, knowing some Bible verses, even knowing the gospel—that's not enough. It's not even enough to cry out "Jesus, Master." You need a faith that results in spiritual fruit. And that begins by calling on his name, recognizing you're a sinner, and believing Jesus is the Savior.

Prayer of Salvation

Would you like to do that today? Let's pray.

Dear God, I know that I'm a sinner, but I know that Jesus is the Savior who died on the cross for my sin. And I turn from my sin from this moment forward. Help me to walk with you and to be like Jesus. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. It's in Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

God bless you who prayed just now. Congratulations.