Two Vocations
God has also planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds, a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (AMPC, Paraphrased)
We have two vocations in life, our labor by which we earn a living, and our covenant vocation (sometimes “covenant of vocation”). Our covenant vocation is the task given to every human being: Reflect the glory of God into the world and the praises of creation back to Him (see also the Christian Mission Statement “to know Him and to make Him known”).
The primary difference between the two vocations is that one is temporal and the other is eternal. While our earthly vocation can be part of our covenant vocation as we work “heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23), it will inevitably come to a close. But our vocation as image-bearers for God (Genesis 1:26-27) is an eternal one. As we transition to a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1) we will continue our eternal vocation of glorifying God.
God put eternity in our hearts for a reason – to remind us of our eternal purpose of honoring Him.
“Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity..” E. H. Chapin