H.U.N.G.E.R. - E is for...
Eternal Perspective for the Everlasting Adventure……. (thanks Emily!)
The truth is that we are being prepared for eternity. This world is built on immediate gratification and living for the present. If we are only focused on the “now” then we are living with a temporal perspective. There is certainly nothing wrong with enjoying the blessings of this life but a temporal perspective will produce a life that looks very different than what God has called us to. I believe that living the life that God wants us to will produce a life lived with an eternal perspective.
So, then what does that really mean and how would that be reflected in how we live our lives? Great questions - I’m so glad that you asked. Ha.
An eternal perspective is a way of seeing the purpose, pleasure and pain of our lives as part of God’s greater story - our Everlasting Adventure (thank you JH.). It is seeing through the daily grind, the highs and lows of life, to our eternal destiny. It impacts how we think, view relationships and spend our time. Everyone is destined for eternity: some will experience eternal life with Him.
“...You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God. . . . In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him” 2 Peter 3:11-14
Living life with an eternal perspective will produce certain desires and characteristics in us. We certainly won’t ever be perfect in these areas, but over the course of our lives, we will be able to see their impact.
Vibrant and consistent personal devotional time with God. We will crave personal time with God and being exposed to His goodness. Our lives won’t feel complete without it.
Christian Community - We will crave to be around other believers in worship, small groups and individual relationships. Christianity is not just a relationship with God but also with God’s people. We need the encouragement and accountability that those relationships bring.
I Thess. 5:11 Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you are doing.
Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
3. Knowing our spiritual gifts and how to use them for for God’s glory in serving others. We are created to do good works. We are His workmanship and the tools that he uses to transform lives.
1 Timothy 6: 17-19 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or put their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
4. Great stewards of the possessions that God has entrusted us with. We are called treat our material blessing likes stewards instead of owners. A steward recognizes that it is all God’s and we are just managing it for Him. This brings a whole new perspective on how we view “possessions.”
Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
Some might view living with an eternal perspective as a loss of complete freedom to enjoy this life. That pursuit will always be a frustrating venture that wealth, fame and power cannot satisfy. I believe that the opposite is true. An eternal perspective frees us from the bondage of trying to make this world our heaven.
Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for rigorousness for they shall be satisfied.
Stay hungry,
Big E