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 life’s challenges.
It is not your circumstances that 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 essential always to have the proper perspective regardless of your challenges, trials, or circumstances.
Even though things don’t turn out the way you have planned, dreamed, or imagined, you will not lose your joy, peace, hope, and confidence in the Lord if your perspective is proper.
What is the proper perspective to life that every believer must have, keep or maintain in the face of any storm or tempest in life?
God’s perspective!
From God’s perspective, the only correct perspective that can guarantee joy, peace, or rest of mind during any storm in life is seeing or considering things in the light of eternity.
As a born-again believer, your hope in Christ transcends this present life!
Apostle Paul points out this truth.
1 Corinthians 15:19 – NKJV
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
Hebrews 6:19-20 – RSV
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.
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 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. He thus gave them a proper perspective of the situation.
John 14:1-3 – NKJV
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.
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.
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 amid 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 eternal joy and glory awaiting you in heaven, your present pains and sorrows will fade away or become insignificant.
Paul was undoubtedly 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 despite 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 4:16-18 – NKJV
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
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.
Romans 8:18 – NKJV
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.
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 of being compared with the glory awaiting him in heaven.
This is the proper perspective that every believer must seek to have in this life!
Because Moses had a correct 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 proper perspective will make you shun all the pleasures or enticements of sins in this present evil world!
Beloved, in these perilous days, you must have, keep or maintain a proper perspective. This is an effective antidote against discouragement, worldliness, weariness, or backsliding.
You must always consider, judge, or view every situation in the light of eternity. Things with 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 despite 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; instead, 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 always to 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.