Eternal perspective
I don’t know if you’re like me or not, but I tend to easily get bogged down in the here and now. Whatever is going on in my life at the moment, in the life of our church members, in my sons’ lives, on campus, takes a lot of my time, attention and worry. If my son is having difficulty on his job, or there is turmoil on my campus, if a friend is having marital problems, or there is a conflict at church, I spend my time pondering, worrying and trying to fix the problem. It’s hard to see past it, to see beyond the immediate problem. I read the bible and pray, and try to gain that eternal perspective I so desire, but then an other issue pops up that distracts me again and I lose focus.
Last week over spring break our family went on a cruise to the Bahamas. One of the highlights was a parasailing adventure with my oldest son. Initially I was nervous, but when I saw the first mother-son duo go up and come down safely, my fears abated and I relaxed. Josh and I were strapped in to a harness, and both attached to a metal rod with strong clasps. We sat down together on the small motor boat, and as the cable was gently released we floated up, up and away! I’m not sure how high up we were, but it seemed like 7 or 8 stories high. We were floating in the air, up near the clouds, above the noise, confusion, stress and difficulties of life. My perspective changed for those few minutes we were sailing in the sky. I could see the whole island and the surrounding ocean. The ocean stretched limitless in every direction, and I got a small sense of how God sees the beginning from the end.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
God sees the beginning and the end. He knows the journey we have been on in our lives, and He knows the end of our journey. While we worry and fret, focusing solely on what is right before us, He is working in us His purposes.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
May we rest in the knowledge that God has plans to prosper us and to give us hope and a future. Let us fix our eyes on Him, trusting Him to complete His will and work in our lives. Let’s try to live above the fray and inculcate an eternal perspective.
What a great reminder to rest in Him to see us through the difficulties this side of heaven. Parasailing looks so much fun. 🙂
Thanks Iris. Perspective is so important.