BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE
DATE: THURSDAY, JANUARY 15TH, 2026
THE ARCHITECTURE OF ETERNITY
MEMORISE: “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)
BIBLE READING: COLOSSIANS 3:2-3
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”
I. THE DELUSION OF THE IMMEDIATE
One of the greatest tragedies of the twenty-first century is the “tyranny of the now.” We live in an era of instant gratification—high-speed internet, instant messaging, and fast food. This culture has birthed a generation that lives almost exclusively for the present moment. Many young people today live recklessly, not because they are inherently evil, but because they are “eternity-blind.” They fail to realize that life is not a hundred-meter dash; it is an introductory chapter to an infinite book.
The Bible warns us in Matthew 16:25-26 that our current decisions are the currency with which we purchase our eternal state. If you spend your life chasing things that have an “expiry date,” you are committing a spiritual error of catastrophic proportions. Wisdom dictates that you do not trade a diamond that lasts forever for a piece of candy that melts in a minute.
II. EVALUATING YOUR SPIRITUAL PORTFOLIO
In the world of finance, people are very careful about where they invest their money. They look for assets that appreciate over time. Why then, as children of God, are we often so careless with our “time capital”?
1. The Fading Assets
In 2026, the pressure to conform to the “digital world” is immense. Many are preoccupied with:
Social Media Validation: Spending hours trying to grow followers who don’t know your heart and cannot help your soul.
Material Acquisition: Accumulating gadgets and fashion that will be obsolete by next year.
Temporal Fame: Seeking the applause of men, which is as fickle as the wind.
2. The Eternal Investments
Colossians 3:2 instructs us to “set our affection on things above.” When you invest in your walk with God, your academic excellence for His glory, skill development to serve humanity, and the building of godly relationships, you are “laying up treasures” that neither moth nor rust can consume (1 Timothy 6:19). These are the only things that survive the transition from “Now” to “After.”
III. THE HIDDEN LIFE: DEAD TO THE WORLD
The scripture says, “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” This is a profound mystery. To live effectively for eternity, you must first die to the “frivolities” of the earth. This doesn’t mean you stop living or working; it means the world no longer has the “remote control” to your emotions and priorities.
When you are “hid with Christ,” your motivation changes. You no longer study just to pass; you study to become an instrument of God’s wisdom. You no longer work just for a salary; you work to fund the Kingdom and impact lives. You realize that you have a unique purpose, and every day is a “rehearsal” for your eternal assignment.
IV. THE EXCHANGE RATE OF THE SOUL
Jesus asks a haunting question: “What will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Everything you see around you—the skyscrapers, the luxury cars, the gold—has a price. But your soul is “priceless” because it was bought with the blood of God’s Son. To exchange your soul for the “pleasures of sin for a season” is the worst business deal in history.
My dear child, avoid reckless living. Every party you attend that dishonors God, every compromise you make in your integrity, and every moment you waste in idleness is a withdrawal from your eternal account. Live with “Heaven-vision.” Let the light of eternity guide your footsteps on the dark paths of this world.
REFLECTION:
If you were to step into eternity this very moment, what “assets” would you have in your spiritual bank? Are you preparing for a destination, or just wandering through a transit lounge?
PRAYER POINTS:
For Eternal Vision: Father, open my eyes to see beyond the “Now.” Deliver me from the blindness of temporal pleasures.
For Proper Investment: Lord, help me to invest my time, energy, and resources in things that have eternal value.
For Total Surrender: Father, I surrender my life afresh to You. Let my life be “hid with Christ in God.” Let the world see You through me.
For the Youth: Lord, arrest the hearts of the young generation. Turn them away from reckless living and lead them to their divine purpose.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Matthew 12:1-21, Genesis 36-37
HYMN: ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER
All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all…
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Eternity is too long to be wrong. Start preparing for it today!
