When we share the gospel with a lost person, we help the unbelievers to also participate in eternal life with our Savior. For God offered His Son to be the perfect sacrifice to fully pay for all his past, present, and future sins: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8) Each believer is saved by the grace of being justified by faith alone in the “death, burial, and resurrection” of Christ alone (I Cor. 15:3-4) Our salvation is not by our good works.

“And if [salvation be] by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. …” Rom 11:6

Likewise our growth as saints is on the same basis of faith in God’s grace that is gifted to us. “For It Is God Which Worketh In You both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 (KJV)

After believing Christ’s provision of the cross, the saved ‘saint’ can think on verses like these to bring him to a new viewpoint and motivation as to how we are to live our current life. As proper saints we allow God to live His life in us, as Paul wrote; “Laying up for store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold [take hold of] on eternal life.” (I Timothy 6:19)

In its context, the above verse warns believers not to trust in temporary, earthly riches, but we focus on building upon God’s eternal treasure by His Word, working in our lives to manifest Christ’s glory. These riches are of His resurrection life working in us, for which we will obtain rewards in eternity.

“Henceforth there is laid up for me [Paul] a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8 (KJV)

We can exalt and keep these spiritual things in our minds, so that Scripture becomes more real and all-important to us than the challenging and ungodly things that we see in this world. 

To exercise sound teaching unto godliness is to be our focus. This is immersing ourselves in the Word and working out what we learn in the details of life. There is great value to living Christ’s Word: now, while we yet live on this earth, unto eternity. (cf. I Timothy 4:8). God works His glory (His character and attributes) in and through us as we believe. Christ living in us is seen by those around us, even when we don’t speak a word. It is God’s “intent” that the angels also observe and learn as they see God’s glory, His power and wisdom shining through us in a world that is ever so darkened by Satan. (cf. Eph. 3:10)

So, it is for us in this life to be building a store of ‘spiritual treasures in heaven.’ These spiritual treasures are the very assets that will help us to function in the eternal realm, specifically in the heavenly position God plans to give to us. We need to be “looking” and believing for His appearing in heaven’s glory because our appearing will be with Him when He appears.

“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in [heaven’s] glory. Col. 3:4

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Titus 2:13
“For our conversation [Old English for; citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: ²¹ Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body…” Phili. 3:20-21

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high [upward] calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

The result maintaining this ‘heavenly mindset’ is to have joy in the face of the difficult issues of this life, but even more, it strengthens us to glorify God for ever more.

Our choices as to whether to read and apply the Scripture concerning Paul’s “Great Mystery” of Ephesians and Colossians, along with living and laboring with and by Christ, as training for reigning “in the heavenly place,” will affect the role we will ultimately have in heaven. “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him [Christ]: if we deny him, he also will deny us [from reigning]:” 2 Timothy 2:12

This truth is an inter-dispensational issue as well. Read what is taught in Jesus’ parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-28. This reinforces the fact that what we do on earth matters:

“For the love of Christ constraineth [Gk. synecho, compels] us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (II Corinthians 5:14-15)

(Some Portions adapted from “Supply of grace”)