Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 123 - Engaged With Eternity

Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast
Episode #123 – Engaged with Eternity

Thank you for entrusting and investing your precious time with me to seek, find, and follow Jesus together as we live with purposed eternal perspective.

If you are a Christ follower, do you remember when you first accepted Jesus as your Savior? I recall the intense beating of my heart that magnified the urge to get out of my seat on the day I went forward in church. The choir was singing “Just As I Am” and when I hear that song even now, I clearly see myself moving forward down the church aisle all these years later. There was no way to ignore or deny that God was at work within me.

Even though my life was immediately transformed, as I was now a Christian, for me, my new life in Christ came in incremental steps as I learned more about my new relationship with Jesus and began to release self to rely on Him. It took time and lots of intentionality, to get to the maturing relationship I now possess. Just like each of us should strive for, I hope I’m not the same person tomorrow that I am today. I want to continue purposeful growth. Years of mistakes and spiritual growth through relationship with Jesus have taught me to be intentional daily about the walk I have and more importantly, about seeking to view life through eyes and heart like Christ.

As I have shared on this podcast before, although I had a close and growing walk with Christ when my daughter passed away, it wasn’t until I lost her that I felt God lifted a veil and I was able to feel the world with a heart seeking eternity; I felt as though was living with half of my soul in this world and half existing in Heaven.

Of course, I thought I was living in that manner before, but sometimes it’s only after we suffer such great loss that we allow reality to sink in and see the world with eyes more attuned to how Christ would call us to view life. I knew that as believers we were to see the world as a journey we pass through, and I tried to do just that, but now, I can honestly say that each and every day I value life with a much deeper eternal appreciation and long for the day I will be in Heaven with joy and anticipation, yet I love being where God calls me to serve Him at this time. However, I am cognizant of the truth that I can never reach the level of gratitude that I should carry. I will never honor God as highly as He deserves. Yet I no longer call this world my home. I long for a life with my Savior and the fullness I will receive once I am with Him. How about you?

Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

His ways are not our ways. The Kingdom of Heaven is flipped the opposite of what this world preaches and sells. It’s different than what our human flesh calls us to do. Yet, followers of Christ have hope for this life and for eternity. We know to keep our gaze focused on our eternal home with Jesus. But do we always do so?

Life moves quickly. Activities, emergencies, work, family, social life, shopping, cooking, cleaning, church, school, and obligations keep our minds and our calendars beyond full. Simply watching the news can throw our attention into a whirlwind of worries or scary speculations that squander time and alter our attitude.

Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

1 Peter 1:13 says, “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.”

Life is fleeting; none of us know the number of the days assigned to us.

Anything can happen from one second to the next. In fact, it is only through my faith and reliance on Jesus that I am not a nervous wreck after the loss of my oldest daughter. It would be easy to worry about those I love and expect to lose them at any time. Without the Holy Spirit living within me, I know I would not be the same person. He is my strength and hope each and every second. He allows me to live with peace, joy, and hope that I would not have without Him.

Because I have suffered great loss, I know how quickly we are surprised with unexpected trials and tragedies. Life changes in the seconds between our plans. Emergencies and unexpected events have their own timetable.

Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

God knows the last breath we will take, the last word a loved one may utter, when will we receive the last kiss or smile from those closest to us.

Job 14:5 says, “A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.”

When we’re young we don’t think of our later years; they seem so distant that we somehow don’t fully believe they will arrive. I remember only thinking about retirement at 401K enrollment time at my first “adult” job. The date set for me was such a long time in the future that it seemed it was written for another person. Now that time is almost here. What if all I had to place hope on was the temporary pleasures or concerns of this world? Because of the love and sacrifice of Christ, I have much more.

2 Corinthians 4:16b-18 says, “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

James 4:14 says, “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

How often do you reflect on the fact that God created you for fellowship with Him? I know you know that truth, but do you live like you believe it? His desire is that we joyfully choose to walk with Him, to talk with Him, and to share with and for Him. The Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last is above all and created all; He alone deserves our love, respect, honor, and praise.

Psalm 90:2 says, “Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”

Our Heavenly Father is never surprised by what has or will happen. He created each of us with great care, love, and purpose. You were created for reasons no one else will fulfill. Even the mistakes you have made were already known by our wondrous, loving Heavenly Father.

Isaiah 46:11 says, “From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.”

Knowing what His beloved creation would do and be like, God created a way for us to have eternal fellowship with Him. Clearly making the way to Him known, God made a beautiful pathway to His feet so that we would never question salvation.

John 14:6 says, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

John 5:24 says, “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”

Scripture instructs us toward Christ’s greatest commands for us: Matthew 22:37-39 says, “Jesus declared, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”

How often do you think of these commands with eyes and heart that seek eternal perspective?
2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”

1 John 2:17 says, “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

There is no way we can do the will of God without knowing Him. How do we do what we don’t know? Are you keeping in the Word of God? If you are a believer, do you make time daily to study scripture? Even a short, but consistent amount of daily time will allow your eyes and heart to view God with an eternal mindset that will alter the way you view this world and the actions and reactions you make.
Do you listen for His still, small voice? Do you seek clarity from Him before moving with actions you want to take, so that you know you are living the steps He purposed?

Matthew 6:19-21 says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Acts 17:31 says, “For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”

Christ calls us to keep our gaze fixed on Him, pressing forward toward our eternal future.

What are ways you can purpose to live for eternity now?

Philippians 3:12-14 says, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

I urge you to assess your life through eternal perspective today. Prayerfully seek the Lord and ask Him to give you a heart for eternity. Ask Him to give you eyes that see the world through an eternal lens. See how He would guide you to follow Him differently, cling to Him more closely, and serve Him more intimately. Nothing we do for God is wasted. As we love Him more purposely, even the way we serve others is truly work done for Him. What will you change to walk with Him and serve Him more closely today?

Dear Heavenly Father, there is none like You. Your goodness overwhelms us. Your love astounds us. May we seek You with eyes and hearts that intentionally desire Your eternity-driven perspective. May we intimately view life with the expectation of an eternity with You. Please fix your words and perspectives in our hearts and minds, and help us to value and remember them as You desire. Keep our minds in perfect peace because we steadfastly cling to You. Help us trust in You forever, for You, our LORD, are the Rock eternal. Help us to pay attention and turn our ears to Your wisdom, and please apply Your heart to all we think and do as we trust in You. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Thank you for listening to this podcast. If you find value in what you hear, and you would like more information on the topic we discussed today, I invite you to listen to previous episodes. To hear episodes that deal with living with eternal driven hearts, I suggest listening to Episodes 004, Eternity Driven Hearts, 026, Mind Fixed on Eternity, or 056, A Passionate Life for Jesus. You may find these episodes on the terrihitt.com website. Just click on “podcasts” and type in the topic or title you wish to hear about in the search bar at the top of the page or wherever you listen to podcasts

I want to remind you that the Live With Eternal Perspective podcast may be found at terrihitt.com, but is also a part of the Spark Media Network, and now the podcast may also be found on the Edifi app, where you can find thousands of the best Christian podcasts in one place for your listening enjoyment.

Have you rated or reviewed this podcast on Apple Podcasts yet? For those who have, I thank you so very much! If you haven’t, would you please consider doing so? When you review my podcast on Apple Podcasts, it helps to elevate the standing of the podcast online so that more people are allowed to find and hear it. If you believe the content you hear should be heard so that more people can begin to deepen their walk with Jesus and live with eyes set on eternity, would you please write a review and rate the podcast for me?

I also want to ask if you have you listened to my second podcast, “Purposed Parent/Connected Child” yet? I hope you will listen to this new podcast, especially if you are raising children or influencing grandchildren. Please follow and share both of my podcasts with friends or family who would like to choose Christ over culture and be a parent (or be a grandparent) who connects with eternal purpose.

Remember, if we are not purposed in knowing Jesus ourselves and showing Him to the next generation, the world will direct them away from Christ. Live With Eternal Perspective helps us to find, trust, and follow Christ more intimately. Purposed Parent/Connected Child shares biblical, practical truths for parents and grandparents to influence and mentor Christ over culture.

I pray that what you hear on this podcast draws you nearer to God and helps you cling to Him, despite any circumstances in your life. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to Live With Eternal Perspective.