Jan. 18, 2026

The Rest of My Life... -  Living with Eternity in View

Pastor Dave reveals powerful biblical truths from 1 Peter 4 about embracing Christ's mindset, finding meaning in suffering, and making every moment count for God's glory. Discover how to live each remaining day with eternal purpose, hope and prayer.

Pastor Dave's sermon begins at 28:01 min into the video. The music "My Life Is In You", "I Sing Praises", "Build My Life", "I Give You My Heart",  "Just a Closer Walk with Thee", and "His Mercy Is More" are licensed under CCLI Copyright #2723035 and Streaming Media #22024223 licenses.

He challenges believers to live with eternal perspective, asking the crucial question: "How should we live the rest of our life with the knowledge that time is short?" He opened with a humorous story about two preachers holding signs saying "Turn around before it's too late" and "The end is near," only to discover they should have warned about the bridge being out. The message was clear—we're living in the last times, and that reality should shape everything we do.

Arm Yourselves with the Mind of Christ

Since Christ suffered for us, Peter tells us to "arm yourselves also with the same mind." Pastor Dave explained that being armed means being prepared for battle—having readiness and determination. "Jesus was not a victim. He was a volunteer," he emphasized, reminding us that Christ's suffering was willing and purposeful. To have Christ's mind means being surrendered to God's will, even when we're not pleased with it. Pastor Dave got honest: "I don't know about you, but there's a few times in my life that I knew God's will and I wasn't too pleased with God's will." Like Jesus in the garden, we wrestle but ultimately say, "Not my will, but Yours be done."

We Will Suffer in This Life

Pastor Dave didn't sugarcoat reality—suffering comes in multiple forms. Sometimes we suffer because of our sinfulness, wrestling with behaviors we know aren't right. "Is anybody besides me, are you still wrestling with some things?" he asked with characteristic honesty. We also suffer through our associations when old friends ridicule us for living differently, and through life's trials in this fallen world. But here's the key: "There is no useless suffering." God uses it all to draw us closer to Him and shape us for His glory.

Live Differently and Be Sober

Knowing Christ suffered for us and that the end is near should change how we spend our remaining time. Peter says we've "spent enough of our past lifetime" in worldly pursuits—lewdness, lust, drunkenness, and idolatries. Now we're called to live for God's will, bringing our lives into alignment with His purpose. Pastor Dave used the illustration of a bent tire rod: "If you go down the road with tires like that, guess what happens? You can't hardly steer it." When our lives align with God's will, things work better. We're to be sober-minded—not intoxicated by worldly things that pull us off track—and watchful in prayer, depending on God rather than declaring independence from Him.

Pastor Dave closed by reminding us that prayer aligns our will with God's, not the other way around. His challenge was simple but profound: live the rest of your days in right relationship with God, serving Him and living for His glory. As we left, his words lingered: we have the opportunity to live each remaining day with the mind of Christ, ready for whatever comes and determined to glorify God through it all.