THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18 NKJV)
Your perspective is one of the major forces in life that primarily determines, influences, and controls your emotions, responses or reactions to situation in life.
It is not your circumstances that actually determine your emotions, responses or reactions, but the way you see, view, perceive or consider your circumstances.
If your perspective of a situation is wrong or negative, your emotions, responses or reactions to the situation will also be wrong or negative.
Therefore, it is very important to always have or maintain a right perspective regardless of your challenges, trials, or circumstances.
Even though things don’t turn out the way you have planned, dreamed or imagined, yet if your perspective is right; you will not lose your joy, peace, hope and confidence in the Lord.
What is the right perspective to life that every believer must have, keep or maintain in the face of any storm or tempest in life?
God’s perspective!
The only right perspective that can guarantee joy, peace, or rest of mind in the midst of any storm in life is seeing or considering things in the light of eternity – from God’s perspective.
As a born-again believer, your hope in Christ transcends this present life!
Apostle Paul points out this truth.
1 Corinthians 15:
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. (NKJV).
Hebrews 6:
19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain,
20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. (RSV).
In this temporary life, you may not have all the good things of life you desire; your rights may be withheld or taken from you; and you may even be unjustly punished, ostracized, victimized, or persecuted.
But, in the life to come which is eternity (time without end), God will wipe away every tear from your eyes and give you “an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” (1 Pet. 1:4 RSV).
Therefore, as a believer who has a sure, steadfast and eternal hope in Christ you must not see or consider things from the earthly or natural perspective as the unbelievers whose hope is not sure, steadfast and eternal, but that which will perish with this world.
The Scripture reveals that our Lord Jesus Christ endured the cross and despised the shame because of the joy that was set before Him. Undoubtedly, our Lord Jesus considered, regarded or viewed all His sufferings while in the world in the light of eternity – from God’s perspective.
This is how every believer should also consider, regard or view his suffering, tribulation or persecution in this life!
This is why the Scripture admonishes us to be “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2 NKJV).
On the night of His crucifixion, the Lord Jesus helped His fear-stricken, sorrowful and troubled disciples to see beyond His shameful and painful death on the cross and thus gave them a right perspective to the situation.
John 14:
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
2 “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
buy stromectol online www.epsa-online.org/wp-content/languages/new/prescription/stromectol.html no prescription
3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (NKJV).
Your heart will not be shaken or troubled regardless of what befalls you in this fallen world if you truly know and believe that there is “an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” (1 Pet. 1:4 RSV).
Setting or fixing your mind on your imperishable, undefiled and unfading inheritance kept in heaven for you is a sure and steadfast anchor for your soul in the midst of the tempest or storm of this life (Heb. 6:19-20).
The early disciples were able to endure severe hostility, suffering, tribulation and persecution for the sake of Christ because their minds were set on the eternal glory and joy awaiting them at the return of Christ.
When you also set your mind on the eternal joy and glory awaiting you in heaven, your present pains and sorrows will fade away or become insignificant.
Paul was certainly one of the apostles who suffered and endured many tribulations and persecutions for the sake of Christ.
How did Paul keep his peace, joy and hope in spite of his sufferings and tribulations?
By seeing things from God’s perspective!
Paul viewed or considered all his sufferings in the light of the eternal glory and reward awaiting him in heaven.
2 Corinthians 4:
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
buy doxycycline online www.epsa-online.org/wp-content/languages/new/prescription/doxycycline.html no prescription
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (NKJV).
Romans 8:
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (NKJV).
Paul endured hostilities and hardships without murmuring or complaining, and without losing his joy and peace, or becoming bitter because he considered, reckoned, viewed or perceived that the sufferings, hardships or tribulations of this present time are not even worthy to be compared with the glory awaiting him in heaven.
This is the right perspective that every believer must seek to have in this life!
Because Moses had a right perspective, he gave up all the rights and privileges of being called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, “choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” (Heb. 11:25-26 NKJV).
Moses rightly considered, judged, reckoned or perceived that what God had prepared for him in eternity was far greater than all the treasures of Egypt.
Like Moses, having a right perspective will make you shun all the pleasures or enticements of sins in this present evil world!
Beloved, in these perilous days, it is very crucial for you to have, keep or maintain a right perspective. This is an effective antidote against discouragement, worldliness, weariness, or backsliding.
buy strattera online www.epsa-online.org/wp-content/languages/new/prescription/strattera.html no prescription
You must always consider, judge or view every situation in the light of eternity. Things that have no eternal value should not be your priority, or be allowed to occupy, dominate or control your heart.
Like the early apostles, when going through tribulation or persecution for the sake of Christ, set your mind on the glory which will soon be revealed in you at the return of Christ, and consider that your present “light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”(2 Cor. 4:17 NKJV).
Beloved, God wants you to be of good cheer and faint not in spite of your present tribulation or persecution, for it will soon be over.
Paul assures, “For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:16-18 NKJV).
This is not the time to faint or give up in despair; rather, this is the time to begin to see things in the light of eternity, in comparison with the glory that will soon be revealed in you when the Lord Jesus returns to take you to Himself (Rom. 8:18).
Therefore, “look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” (Luke 21:28 NKJV).
Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, help me to always consider, judge or view my present affliction, tribulation or persecution in the light of the eternal weight of glory that will soon be revealed in me at the return of Christ for me, in Jesus’ name. Amen.