Living with Eternity in View - Part One
Isaiah 55 (KJ2000)
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As we mature in the things of God, one of the things that will reveal our growth is that our priorities and focus will change. It is true that when we start as believers, God’s thoughts will not be our thoughts, and God’s ways will not be our ways. However, as we grow up in Him, His thoughts will become our thoughts, and His ways will become ours. We will be transformed into men and women who desire what God desires.
Many believers remain babes in Christ because they are so obsessed with their priorities, that they never take out time to discover God’s priorities. In the natural, no child could turn out well if he or she only did the things they wanted. Perhaps many of us would never eat a healthy diet or go to school in that case.
One of the areas in which the Spirit of God is calling His Body back to God’s priorities is the issue of living with eternity in view. A casual study of the New Testament reveals that the saints were often reminded about eternity and their hearts were encouraged by references to our glorious hope. A deep acquaintance with contemporary Christianity concedes that many in His Body today are hardly exhorted about the world to come, if you excuse admonitions not to “miss heaven”.
Romans 8 (KJ2000)
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
2 Corinthians 4 (KJ2000)
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
I have often heard the 18th verse of the 4th chapter of 2 Corinthians quoted by some preachers who exhort us to stop seeing ourselves as poor and wretched in this world but to see ourselves riding new cars and living in comfortable mansions. That’s all well and good, but that’s not what Paul had in mind when he wrote that verse under the inspiration of the Spirit of God.
Paul said he and his companions were not focused on temporal things, which are seen. Instead, they were focused on eternal things, which are not seen. Seeing cars and houses you do not have yet but which you’re believing God for is still seeing earthly and temporal things!
Please note that this isn’t an exhortation against wealth. Indeed, so many other legitimate things that we desire and long after, are of little or no eternal value. Many believers seem to be so focused on challenges like unemployment, doing well on their job, infertility, poor health, staying healthy, managing poverty, managing wealth, getting an education, funds to feed with, funds to be clothed with, etc. These are legitimate concerns, but they pale into insignificance when compared with eternity!
Matthew 6 (KJ2000)
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, How shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.
33 But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for tomorrow: for tomorrow shall take thought of the things for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
For the rest of this series, let’s reflect on eternity and the changes we may need to make to our lifestyles.
Continue in grace!