In View of Eternity
I came across a statement in the book, Sacred Marriage that made me really stop and think. It was, “I feel sorry for Christians who try to live obedient lives without keeping heaven firmly in their sights. Meditating on the afterlife is one of the best spiritual exercises I know of. It strengthens me like few other spiritual disciplines do.”
Once in a while I think about heaven and it’s usually when I think of Brock and seeing him again or when there are tragedies in the world and I think how wonderful it will be when we live in eternity, free from tears and heartache.
Rarely do I think of it in the context of how I live my daily life. I don’t base my responses or my actions in view of eternity. Generally they are based on the moment and the circumstances at hand.
But how would my responses and actions change if I did view them with eternity in mind? Would the situations still seem so big or the emotions so dramatic? The truth in every situation is that this too shall pass. It may pass like a kidney stone, but it will pass.
So how do I view them with eternity in mind? The answer is found in God’s word, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 which reads, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 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.” Fixing my eyes God and His promises will place my focus where it needs to be and my actions will follow.
A couple of years ago God blessed me with a mind picture and in that picture I was on the front lawn of my current home, healthy and happy in my marriage. When I received the mind picture we were trying to buy this home and running into several delays and troubles. God was faithful and in time we purchased the home. Shortly after moving in I had some medical issues and again God showed me His faithfulness in healing me.
Over the last several years I had emotionally distanced myself from my husband through the struggles and in doing that my mind picture began to fade. But God reminded me that His promises do not fade when troubles arise. He is faithful and I need to trust in Him.
When God showed me that I needed to change and began showing me how, the mind picture became clear again. His promise remains and He is walking with me through every light and momentary trouble.
When I choose to respond to my circumstances in view of eternity, the troubles don’t seem as big and it instantly places God in the middle of them. Those circumstances then become opportunities for spiritual growth and when I follow God’s leading there is a peace that transcends understanding that fills my soul.
When trials and situations arise I need to ask myself a few questions. What am I learning? How is this causing me to grow? What is this doing for me from an eternal perspective?
Just thinking about eternity reminds me that in time everything will turn out just as God planned. In the meantime, my light an momentary troubles are providing opportunities for developing Godly character in me.
My Prayer
Father, thank you for Your word and Your promises especially the promise of eternity. Help me to view my daily circumstances in view of what You have in store for me in eternity. I’m so blessed to have Your promises and Your presence in this life to guide me and teach me. Help me to life for You and I pray that I continue to be refined into the person You created me to be. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Where does my help come from?
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 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.