God has 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. Our covenant vocation is the assignment given to every human being: Reflect the glory of God into the world and the praises of creation back to Him.
The primary difference between the two vocations is that our labor vocation is temporal and our covenant vocation 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 covenant vocation as image-bearers for God (Genesis 1:26-27) is an eternal one. When we transition to a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1) we will continue our eternal vocation of bringing honor and glory to God.
“Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity. ” E. H. Chapin (1814 – 1880)