Eternally Minded in a Daily Life
On Understanding the Functional Role of Eternity in the Daily Walk
This morning I was reminded of something. Every day we live is meant to be lived with eternity in mind. We were not meant to be so focused on the present so as to lose sight of the future, but we were also not made to be so focused on the future we lose sight of the simplicity of the moment.
Track with me here- When God made man to work and watch the garden,1 man was made for a present function with eternity in mind. He was only forbidden to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, not the Tree of Life.2 God had intended the man and woman to live and work the land in paradise and have eternal fellowship with Him.
When mankind destroyed that with sin, the great plan to rectify the situation was kickstarted. God knew this was going to happen. Man did not, but God still had made a way. Man lived in the moment, but had an eye on something more, the yearning for eternity. The promise of forbidden knowledge led to sin, knowledge that would supposedly enhance the life they were living. Now, as eternal beings, we were made to continually work/till/grow and keep/watch/guard. We were meant to do this with God and present with God.
Yet in our existence, far detached from the physical presence of God, it is often easy to push the idea of the supernatural away from ourselves. To distance ourselves from the conflict around us. We often forget that in the time of Jesus, demonic forces were present and active, and guess what, they are still today. Ignorance is bliss, and our ignorance of the spiritual forces at work around us are the aim of the Enemy. If you are attuned to the things of God, His eternal kingdom, the Enemy will bog you down with the cares of this world. Your job becomes too much, you get overwhelmed or stressed. These are all things the Enemy will use to help you forget that no matter what, God is with you and up until this point in life has cared for you- why would God stop caring now? Our focus should not be on the struggles, but on the One who helps us through the struggles. The mindset of Eternity should be ever-present in our hearts.
We are warned throughout the Gospel of Matthew to be on watch for the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus told His disciples to look out for Him. The mindset of eternity should be always present, spurring us on to work for the Lord, to expand the Kingdom and to purify ourselves. The Enemy wants to bog us down, to avoid this work because we are too busy in the moment.
Remember Brothers and Sisters, this world is not our home and we need to remember where we have been, where we are, but most importantly, where we are going- and work the land of our lives and guard it, while cultivating a life well lived. Will it be comfortable? No. Will it make us rich? Nope. Not on this earth at least and certainly not in this lifetime. Will it be rewarding? Beyond anything we can even imagine…
Genesis 2:15
Genesis 2:16-17
"Yet in our existence, far detached from the physical presence of God, it is often easy to push the idea of the supernatural away from ourselves."
Even Adam and Eve who were in the presence of God pushed the ideas or principles of God away in pursuit of what enticed their ego. We do the same every day. Praise God that He is gracious and merciful to us mud creatures.
“Our focus should not be on the struggles, but on the One who helps us through the struggles.”
Love love this!!!!