Living With An Eternal Perspective (Part One)

From the desk of Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible expositor and teacher. The apostle Paul teaches the believer, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). In other words, God desires for us as believers to set our sights on heaven where our citizenship lies rather than to waste our lives wantonly wishing for worldly wants – as if they could ever fully satisfy our inmost longings. Indeed, God wants His children to long for their heavenly home - eagerly waiting our Savior from there. In contrasts with those of this world, believers are to have a very different perspective on life. It’s an eternal perspective. As Paul reminds us, our homeland is in heaven, not here on earth. James reminds us, “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). A vapor is a fine mist like fog. It quickly burns away when the sun comes up. It has no substance and leaves nothing behind. Comparing our lives to a vapor illustrates how fleeting our days on this earth are. Brothers and sisters, our heavenly citizenship and destiny are of far more importance than our fleeting travel on earth! Be encouraged!