Maintaining an eternal perspective requires dedication and daily, renewed commitment.
Eternity, a simple word, but a complex concept. We waited an eternity for our food; the car ride lasted an eternity; it seemed an eternity before our baby slept through the night. These statements exaggerate something that seems to go on and on, but no one truly comprehends eternity. Yet, the Bible has much to say on the topic.
John 3:16 tells us that we will have eternal life if we trust in Jesus. Ecclesiastes 3:14 says God has put eternity on man’s heart. God cares deeply about where we will spend eternity but holds us accountable for how we spend our time on earth (2 Corinthians 5:10). So, we must ask ourselves, "How do we live our short time on earth with eternity on our hearts?”
What does the Bible Say?
God has given us His Word, which outlines everything we need to know to live in accordance to His will. Second Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that all Scripture is God-breathed; we can be confident that the words on the pages of our Bibles are precisely the message He wants us to hear, to read, to trust and obey. Filtering our lives through the lens of God's Word gives us a sharper, eternal perspective. God clearly tells us to submit to the authority of the Scriptures and apply its timeless truths to our lives, even when our flesh wrestles against it, which it definitely will.
Why am I here?
A lot of time and money are spent figuring out one’s purpose or calling in life. But, here’s the good news - you can stop searching; God created you with one! Although He desires us to know Him (John 17:3) and make Him known (Revelation 4:11), according to Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, our chief purpose or end in life is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever.
Do I prioritize the eternal over the temporary?
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." Even for the most dedicated Christian, it is difficult to continually keep our hearts focused on what's godly and eternal instead of worldly and temporal. How easily we are distracted by “shiny things"; these things in and of themselves are not wrong unless we seek them over the kingdom of God and use them as substitutes to satisfy our souls rather than a relationship with Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:33).
Maintaining an eternal perspective requires dedication and daily, renewed commitment. Thankfully, the Lord gave us the Holy Spirit to run by our side to help us stay on track, and covered by our Heavenly Father's rich mercy and abundant grace, may we glorify Him as we look with eyes of faith toward eternity and the heavenly home prepared for us (Philippians 3:13-14).
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