Looking on the "Up" Side of Things

 

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."  Rom 8:18

 

Some days it seems that things go more wrong than right.  Do you know what I mean?  It seems like pain, stress, and crisis awaits us at every turn.  Flat tires, unexpected medical bills and relationship problems seem to zap all of the joy out of life.  At times like that, it is easy to get tunnel vision about life.  But as Christians, we must look at things from an eternal perspective.

 

No matter how minute, or disastrous, your problems are, in light of eternity, they are small.  This life is very much like the pains of childbirth.  Just one glimpse of eternity in heaven with Jesus (like the first sight of a precious newborn) is enough to make us forget all that we went through to get there.  The joy, the peace, the rapturous delight before the throne will make all of this seem slight and unimportant.

 

So how does that help us now?  To me, it indicates that we can never get too wrapped up in this life,  that we cannot see it in the scope of eternity.  Knowing that in Christ we have the victory, helps erase some of the fear of failure.   Knowing He has prepared mansions for us in heaven, helps us remember how much He loves us.  Remembering that one day we will have no more sickness, poverty or death, inspires hope. 

 

We cannot afford to look at life in any other way.  We are just pilgrims passing through this life.  We are all aliens, with our homeland elsewhere.  When you stay in a hotel, do you worry constantly about the cost of repairs?   Of course not!  Because it is not yours.  Your house is elsewhere.  Let us endeavor to see this world in the same way.

 

Dear Lord, help me to approach life with an eternal perspective.  Thank you that you have prepared an amazing future for me.   Open my eyes to see things the way that you do.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

 

Sherri