How Do You Keep an Eternal Perspective in a Temporal World?
As humans on this planet Earth, we view time from a temporal perspective. Time is what we experience in our daily lives. It’s linear, measurable, and finite. It’s relative and deeply personal. Type A personalities are often time driven, never wanting to be late for anything, no matter how insignificant. Type B personalities are more relaxed and carefree about time; they are not stressed about being late, no matter how significant.
In Christianity temporal time is the period of human history and life on Earth, while eternal time refers to the everlasting life promised in the afterlife. Verses like 2 Corinthians 4:18 highlight this distinction: “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.”
The Bible emphasizes that God works with time from an eternal perspective. Unlike us, God can clearly see how everything fits together for all time; in fact, He created time. Revelation 1:8 describes God’s declaration that He is the beginning of all (the Alpha) and the end of all (the Omega): “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” God is in control of time, and He never stops working. We can rely on God to finish whatever He starts. God works within time in perfectly strategic ways. The Bible says that God chose just the right time in Earth’s history to have His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, come into our world. His redemptive work for humanity was accomplished “when the set time had fully come” (Galatians 4:4). In addition, the Bible includes guidance on how we human beings can use our limited temporal time wisely, so we can fulfill God’s good purposes for our lives.
Keeping an Eternal Perspective in a Temporal World
One of the greatest challenges for Christians is maintaining an eternal perspective. Life goes by so quickly. And yet we often get caught up in the day-to-day tasks and forget that we are not promised tomorrow. James 4:14 refers to human life as a vapor: it appears for a while and then vanishes.
Perhaps if we remembered this truth we would have an easier time also remembering our purpose on earth. Life isn’t about accumulating money, power, or fame. Life is about fulfilling God’s purpose for us. We must focus, therefore, on His eternal perspective.
Colossians 3:2 tell us, “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.” Although we live in temporal time now, God created us for eternity. As Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “God has also put eternity in their hearts.” We may live in time, but eternity must be the backdrop of our life. We must learn to live for eternal purposes.
An eternal perspective affects our priorities and actions. We must live in light of God’s perspective. God does not look at time in the same way that we do. His timetable is not our timetable. 2 Peter 3:8 “But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” While He is patient with us, God works on His own clock. We do ourselves a disservice when we evaluate things by our clock and calendar rather than by His. Although it may seem that God’s timing is slow from a human perspective, God’s timing supersedes our understanding. We must be willing to trust His wisdom by adjusting our lives according to the timetable that He sets in place.
Here are some of the ways believing and relying on God’s eternal truths will affect your life:
– You will realize that suffering on earth is momentary. 2 Corinthians 4:17 tells us that our afflictions here on earth are “light and momentary” and are “achieving for us an eternal glory” that will far outweigh anything else. In other words, the things we experience here on earth are shaping us and preparing us for eternal life.
– You will find it easier to love others. Every soul is eternal, and each is in desperate need of knowing God and His immense love. When this is at the forefront of our mind it helps us extend love and mercy to those around us. Our loving witness may be used by God in eternally significant ways.
– You will not be fearful. People are afraid of many things, and especially of death. But 1 John 4:18 tells us that there is no fear in love and that perfect love drives out fear. We have perfect love from our Savior. It was through His perfect act of love on the cross that sin, suffering, and death was defeated (1 Cor. 15:55-57). He has made eternal life with Him available to us. This means we no longer have to be fearful of anything, not even death.
When we learn to distinguish and choose rightly between the temporal and the eternal, we will begin to live in light of the eternal world that is to come, and it will be a driving force in what we say and do. An eternal focus leads us to live righteously, with holiness and godliness, not allowing those who question the Word of God to lessen our focus on eternity. The culture today is in desperate need of Christians who will unapologetically shift their lives to reflect an eternal focus and openly oppose that which slights the Word of God. We need to be Christians who live in anticipation of God’s eternal promises.
Joni Eareckson Tada writes in “Heaven: Your Real Home”
“When a Christian realizes his citizenship is in heaven, he begins acting as a responsible citizen of earth. He invests wisely in relationships because he knows they’re eternal. His conversations, goals and motives become pure and honest because he realizes these will have a bearing on everlasting reward. …He gives generously of time, money, and talent because he’s laying up treasure for eternity. He spreads the good news of Christ because he longs to fill heaven’s ranks with his friends and neighbors. All this serves the pilgrim well not only in heaven, but on earth; for it serves everyone around him.”
