For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an
eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things
that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen
are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
Finding Hope In This Broken Life
This broken life. It is full of mess and pain
and all kinds of trials and grief. How does God expect us, in our humanity, to
traverse these roads with hope – and even joy - in our hearts? The answer is
with an eternal perspective.
With an eternal perspective, we can see beyond the momentary weakness,
pain, and sorrow, and look ahead to the joy that is ours in Heaven. That joy
can give us hope to get through this life. Even though we cannot control what
happens to us, we can control how we react. There is a time to weep, but joy
comes in the morning. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30b
An
eternal perspective helps us put our priorities in the right order, not wasting
time on things that don’t really matter, chasing empty dreams and searching for
fulfillment in material possessions. We spend all our time and energy focusing
on life here on earth, when in the grand scheme of eternity, the time we will
spend on earth will be very short compared to the time we will spend after this
life is over.
Eternity
waits for all of us and if we are born again, we get to spend eternity in heaven
with God. Worshiping is one of my absolute favorite things and I like to think
of spending eternity in one giant time of worship – singing and praising God
for the rest of all time. Because I love to worship, turning on worship music
helps me when I have lost my eternal perspective and the weight of this world
has brought me down. Think of things you can do to help you get your focus back
on God when life is hard.
We have
the gift of the Holy Spirit the minute we are saved. He stays with us and works
in our lives as much as we let Him. When we yield to Him, we will walk by the
Spirit and not gratify the sins of the flesh. Gratification of the flesh is
focused on the things of this world. Surrendering to the Holy Spirit will give
us an eternal perspective. I have been crucified
with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the
life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me
and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Spending
time with God in His word and praying helps us to remember to look at this life
with an eternal perspective. It renews our mind and brings fresh hope. We need
this continuing renewal of our minds on a daily basis for strength and to
continually set our minds on things above.
This
world is not the end of your story. The hardship you are facing is not the end
of your story. Whatever you are going through will not last forever. It usually
feels like it will, and Satan loves it when we lose hope. He is the father of
lies and he uses every chance he can get to make us believe his lie that there
is no real hope. This life can really be a struggle at times but by keeping our
eyes on God and remembering all we are experiencing is temporary and life in
Him is eternal, we can find hope.
