The daily grind is still here. But when viewed through an eternal filter, the perspective changes.
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” – Romans 8:12-13
Eternity is a long time…it’s forever. How much of this life’s precious time do we spend wrapped up in the toils of the day? I tend to be a pragmatist. I spend most of my time dealing with the issue at hand, the responsibilities of the day. The here and now demand my attention and I’m all too willing to give into to the topic de jour.
The above verse is a stern reminder that my obligation “is not to the flesh, to live according to it.” My view needs to be eternal, regardless of whether I’m praising God, or I’m crunching numbers in a spreadsheet. When my view is always eternal, I “hope for what I do not yet have and wait for it patiently (Romans 8:25). As I hope for what I don’t have, my perspective changes.
So what does life in the light of eternity look like? The daily grind is still here. We still need to provide for our families, deal with our daily responsibilities, to make the donuts. But when viewed through an eternal filter, the perspective changes. When we truly believe, and our focus is on Him, not on the things of this world, we can truly “live” regardless of the situation. As Paul says, “you will live.”
God has given us the power we need to overcome ourselves and our sin. Eternity is real. How we spend eternity is an issue for the here and now, an issue of most importance. The here and now will come and go, but eternity is forever. Let’s choose wisely.
