In Light of Eternity

2 Corinthians 10:5, “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”

“Ever since the first glimmerings of his own awakening, [Jonathan Edwards] was acutely aware that the human problem was to see one’s condition in its true perspective. Human self-centeredness was so overwhelming and this world was so alluring, that each person was by nature incredibly short-sighted, self-absorbed, and blinded by pride. People had to awaken to their true interests.”—George Marsden

Do we do this today? Take every thought captive in light of eternity. Today the Christian Worldview has become pretty much anything but Christian in our American culture. One only needs to look at the commercials on T.V., ads in the magazines or what comes across the screen when signing on the internet. If our “Christian” nation really acted accordingly, the majority of what is seen today would vanish.

It is even deeper then this, because those things mentioned above are only outcomes of what has happened to our view of Christianity and God. If we truly took everything into consideration before doing it then how would our lives change? How would the country change? When you choose your career or what you buy do you take it before God first and see what the value is in light of eternity? Do you weigh it before the Bible?

What about our thought process? If I am thinking Christianly then there will be a war waged against me, both spiritually and culturally (and I include the church culture in this). How does someone like Bono gain so much praise in the Christian circles when the man thinks that Muslims worship the same God? How does someone like Joel Osteen become so popular with his ‘self’ mentality? Making sure you have a positive self-esteem or a positive self-image is not in the Bible I read, just look at a few verses written by many different authors form both the Old and New Testaments (Romans 5:8, 3:23; 1 Timothy 1:15; James 4:8; Jeremiah 3:25; Psalm 106:6). They become popular because they appease the world. Did you ever wonder why the world loves them? Especially when the Bible tells us that if we are followers of Christ the world will hate us.

How about the way you vote? Does Christ enter there? Do you look at what the candidates’ platforms are and then take them to the Word of God to see if they line up with eternity? Or do you look at what “you” think would be best, and hope that lines up with God? Or do you just look the other way on certain issues, voting for the lesser of two evils, which by the way is still evil? I personally do not believe any of the Presidential candidates would be able to run if we as citizens thought in light of eternity. Just on morality issues alone, two of them wash out vehemently and the other one washes out, but not as drastic. Just look at what they vote for, what they write and say and you can see this.

We need to think Christianly in everything. Every area of our lives needs to be controlled by Christ and not the media, or the world.

Philippians 2:12-13, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”