2 Pet 3:10 (NIV) But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. It is obvious that you won’t live forever here on earth in your current body. It is also obvious that your current body won’t be the one you spend eternity in. But, it may not be obvious to you that this earth won’t be the one you will reign with Jesus on. Another thing that may not be clear to you is, your old body will be resurrected and turned into a new GLORIFIED body. AND, this current earth will be turned into a new GLORIFIED earth. All our worrying about taking good care of this earth means most people don’t know it is going to be made into a new one.

2 Pet 3:11-12a (NIV) Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. It is so easy to be distracted from God’s purpose for why you are on this planet. But, if you allow Jesus to help you get an eternal perspective, life here will take on a whole new meaning. There is a way for you to get money, possessions, positions, power, popularity, prestige, pleasure, and accomplishments while getting ready for eternity. Most people don’t know how to succeed in this life in such a way to totally win for eternity.

2 Pet 3:12b-13 (NIV) That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. Just like the servant who took his ten minas and doubled them, you can do the same thing yourself. And, just like he got ten cites to take charge of, you will enter into the new heaven and a new earth as someone who will be entrusted with great opportunities. Just like the successful servant didn’t know what would happen if he doubled his money, you don’t know. But, you can trust God to reward you even better than that king did.

2 Pet 3:14 (NIV) So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him. You have projected into your future by dreaming, setting goals, making future plans, and studying for a career. All you had to do was find something you could get excited about. Once some future plan captured your imagination, you started structuring your life around that dream. This is what Jesus is wanting to do in you; He wants to capture your imagination so you will start investing in your eternal future. BUT, He isn’t going to change your career and earthly procedures all that much. He isn’t going to move you into doing things that are weird, inhuman, extraterrestrial, or so foreign that you won’t fit in with the people around you.

Eph 4:11-13 (NIV) It was He Who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. If He asks you to make one of these fields of service to be your career, then you will be responsible for training everyone else on how to be successful in earthly, human careers. If He doesn’t, then your career will be one just like everyone else; but, you will accomplish it by using Biblical principles rather than human, worldly principles.

1 Cor 12:27-28 (NIV) Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Among those who are “Trainers Of Careers,” there are those with “normal” careers that you would see in corporations, hospitals, firestations, and special organizations for needy people. Regardless of what career you and Jesus come up with, the Biblical training is the same.

Rom 12:6-8 (NIV) We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. No matter what Jesus has or is leading you into as your life-career, the issue is for you to do it Biblically. You will need to let Jesus teach and train you in how to succeed in life by you using His principles to run your life, your marriage, your family, your business, your career, your friendships, and your relationship with God.