How Eternal Perspective Changes Things and 11 Ways to Store Up Treasures in Heaven
In the past year, my perspective has undergone a massive reorientation. I suppose it’s because I’m finally old enough to be confronted with the imminent reality of death.
I’ve realized that, before I know it, I’ll find myself at the last moment of my life, because such is the passage of time. For me in that moment, everything worldly will pass away. My possessions, successes, appearance, family unit, marriage, everything that I’ve sought or worked for will be gone like a wisp of smoke in the wind. Gone like the wildflowers. Gone.
This present reality is passing away.
So why strive for money or comfort? Why entertain vanity or selfishness or sin? There is no eternal value there. Why demand my rights today? Why seek pleasure or happiness at the expense of godliness? No, these are not the way of wisdom.
Wisdom dictates that this life be lived with the next life in mind. You see, through Jesus we can have eternal life with God. If you want to know how, read about the gospel here.
According to the Bible, in this life there are things that do indeed hold eternal value for those under the grace of God (anyone who has chosen to follow Jesus).
These are things such as:
- Loving others. 1 Corinthians 13
- Obeying God and His way of living. Matthew 16:27
- Seeking Him. Hebrews 11:6
- Doing good. Ephesians 6:8, 2 Corinthians 5:10
- Sacrificing for the sake of the gospel. Mark 10:29-30
- Privately praying, fasting, and giving. Matthew 6:1-18
- Loving our enemies. Matthew 5:43-48
- Meeting the needs of others. Mark 9:41
- Withstanding trials and persecution. James 1:12, Matthew 5:12
- Faithfully stewarding our resources. Matthew 25:21
- Laboring for God. 1 Corinthians 3:8
Things, even relationships in the sense that we now know them, aren’t eternal. People are eternal. So maybe parenting isn’t so much about giving our children every educational opportunity, every advantage, every shiny thing. Maybe it’s more about cultivating their hearts to know and love God.
Maybe our finances aren’t so much about gaining comfort and fancy, fun possessions. Maybe they’re more about giving generously and demonstrating our faithfulness to God’s agenda for the world and our allegiance to Him over material things.
And maybe our day to day living isn’t so much about “having a good life” and being “happy” as it is about laying ourselves down on God’s alter and letting Him live through us.
Gaining this eternal perspective has changed me, and I know I’ll never be the same. My understanding of life has risen higher than I ever thought it could. I am so thankful that God, in His great grace, has allowed me to raise my sight and take a higher view of life. When I feel myself starting to get sucked back in to the world right in front of my nose, I quietly remind myself, “It’s all passing away,” and my perspective shifts back to God’s ultimate reality.
I see trials differently. I see my interests differently. I see my money differently.
I now have the opportunity and privilege of living out this new understanding for the rest of my days, and thereby benefiting for ALL ETERNITY. Worthwhile? I’d say so.
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Thank you, this is an excellent article and resource for life. Thanks for the list of “eternals” with scriptures! I will use this to teach my kids!
I’d also like to give you kudos for addressing a topic that just not talked about in our culture. We avoid the thought of death/brevity of life like the plague. So if you’re going through a season where you’re grappling with these things, it’s really hard to confide in people about it. It’s just so heavy and not something people talk about. The closest we get to it is saying something like, “they grow up so fast”, and the conversation ends there. If often wonder, do other Christians grapple with this, or are most of us distracting ourselves so that we never reflect too deeply on the fact that this present life is going to end. Anyway, this is all why it was refreshing for me to hear you talk about it.
Hi Katie,
I heard you on an episode of the Homemaking Foundations podcast, and it stopped me in my tracks when I heard you talk about the season you went through where God was really speaking to you about eternity, because I am going through what sounds like exactly the same thing! It started a few months after the birth of my now 7 month old. I’m enjoying my children so much at this stage, and just started reflecting intensely on death, the brevity of life, and grappling with some creeping doubts about God and the truth of the Bible’s claims. At first I thought, maybe this is some sort of depression, but other than the intense reflection on death and eternity, I am not depressed. I started really digging into some Christian resources on the topic, and I feeling like I am just growing so much in wisdom about life. Despite the sadness I feel at everything passing away so quickly, I am grateful to God that I have become more fully aware of the reality of death and the hope of eternity. It does change one’s perspective! I am hoping that this season (which I am still in) will shape my life’s focus as it did yours. Thanks so much for being open about this season. I would love to hear more about it!
Paige, thank you so much for your comments! I relate to you so well. And I can say, God has turned me inside-out through that season. The doubts are gone, but the perspective is not. My heart is truly set on eternity now, more than I ever could have done of my own will. I actually created an online course called Heavenly-Minded Mom that I will be rolling out in the coming months where I dive deeply into this exact topic (it will be completely free), and in it I share a ton of the wisdom I feel like God gave me through that season. I wish I could point you to it now, but it’s just not up yet, and we’re in the middle of a move, so it’s been put off a bit (although I’ve already recorded it, so it will happen!) The best way to find out about that when it is available is to subscribe to my newsletter.
Also, as you’re looking for things to read on the subject, I highly recommend the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon went through the exact same process you and I have experienced, and it’s so interesting and encouraging to read his conclusions. I have worn out those pages in the process of coming into this new way of seeing. And His journey was truly more difficult, because he couldn’t understand the scope of the gospel, as it had not been fully revealed.
Thank you again for commenting! It is so fun and encouraging to hear from you, and I look forward to getting to know you more!
So very proud of what God is doing in and through your life.
Hi Katie! This article is anointed and right on with God’s heart. I like how you remind yourself that “it’s all passing away” when you feel you’re getting sucked back into the world. One question…and sorry this is off subject but I wanted to ask about another article you wrote: I know you said you don’t give your kids presents on their birthdays, but instead give them quality time, but what do you do for Christmas?
Katie, thank you for the encouragement! And that is a great question! I actually do give gifts to them at Christmas, mostly because I enjoy it, so I don’t want to totally eliminate that from their lives! I use birthdays to give experiences and Christmas to give gifts. Last year we did two gifts to each child, plus helped them select and give gifts to each other. I was really happy with that! It wasn’t overwhelming gifts, but it was a lot of fun for all. They were able to appreciate and be grateful for each item. 🙂 I may do a blog post on that, because I’m sure others are wondering the same thing! What do you do?
Thank you for your recent post on what you do at Christmas! My kids are 5 months and 2.5 years old and yes we will be giving them gifts this Christmas. Are you giving more gifts this Christmas or still 2? This year my 2 year old will be getting about 5 medium sized gifts this Christmas from us. I feel like my 5 month old doesn’t need any more toys because he has many from his older sister. I was thinking about putting some money in his bank account instead of giving him more toys that he doesn’t need.
Thank you for all your posts… you are making a difference in many people’s lives! (Sorry for the late response… life is busy with kids as you know 🙂
I also loved this post. It was very timely for me as God has been dealing with me in much the same way lately. I am not one to comment very often, but I wanted you to know that this really blessed me today! 🙂
Thank you so much Colleen! I’m so glad you did!
I absolutely love this!! I know this is an older post, but we all need to hear more of this! Keeping an eternal perspective really does change what we pursue in life! Keep up the good work! I love your mind-set!
Thank you so much Alicia! I agree!! 🙂
I know the journey to reaching this point of eternal perspective tends to be difficult, but I’m so thankful that God has revealed Himself to you in this depth. Thanks for sharing; there’s much challenge and truth here…
Thanks so much for the encouragement. 🙂 It’s fun to look back on hard seasons and see the fruit of deepened understanding and changed perspective.