An Eternal Perspective

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I recently finished the book, The Christian Mind, by Harry Blamires. One area I would like to probe a bit more is this idea that Mr. Blamires brings up the supernatural orientation that Christians should have in their thinking.

He writes, "a prime mark of the Christian mind is that it cultivates the eternal perspective. That is to say, it looks beyond this life to another one. It is supernaturally orientated, and brings to bear upon earthly considerations the fact of Heaven and the fact of Hell. . . . The Christian mind sees human life and human history held in the hands of God. It sees the whole universe sustained by his power and his love. It sees the natural order as dependent upon the supernatural order, time as contained within eternity. It sees this life as an inconclusive experience, preparing us for another; this world as a temporary place of refuge, not our true and final home."  Pg. 67

Too often we think and act like eternity is not real. We think like all we have is the here and now.

If we think like the non-believer, the concerns over our retirement account, type of car we have or where we live take on an importance well beyond what they should. The pleasures of this life and today's circumstances take precedence over the love of God and our neighbor.

Our life right now is full of all kinds of things that take our minds off what is important eternally. Selling our house, packing and getting organized, transitioning out of my firm, trying to find a home on the Reservation. It is easy to get caught up in the uncertainty; to be anxious and try to take things in our hands. Even to begin to doubt when things don't go as smooth as we would hope.

It is also easy to get caught in all the things that we have to do and not focus life here and now. Emily going to Homecoming, our Pastor's wife that had a miscarriage and showing them love and care, taking advantage of opportunities to share the Gospel as we tell people what we are doing, speaking the truth to friends that are having marriage troubles. Life is going on around us and it is so easy to lose sight of what is important and what the Lord has before us - specifically - to do for His glory.

But then we go to church on a day like today and hear the following passages of Scripture read. A true dose of reality that helps focus perspective on life.

Preparation of Confession:  For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in mercy to all who call upon you.  Psalm 86:5

Assurance of Pardon:  We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4

The Law of Christ:  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.  II Peter 2:9-10