Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast Episode 131 - An Eternal Perspective Life

Welcome to the Terri Hitt – Live With Eternal Perspective Podcast
Episode #131 – An Eternal Perspective Life

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.

1 John 2:25 says, “And this is the promise that He made to us—eternal life.”

Eternal life. Forever Alive. No death. It’s impossible for our human mind to grasp the depth of this promise. We cannot comprehend all that God has in store for the ones who humbly love Him, and follow Him with humble faith, love, and obedience.

So many believers hear the words eternity, eternal life, or live with eternal perspective and have a moment of gratitude for the gift God promises. How many of us actually grasp those words and apply them to daily living? What does it even mean to purpose to live with a perspective beyond self and this world?

1 John 5:13 says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.”

When people imagine the end of their life, they hope for something good. Many imagine life with Christ in eternity, but only have our limited human understanding of what it might be like. Many don’t want to dwell long on the thoughts because they begin to feel depressed or anxious. Because of Jesus, we can be assured of life eternal with Him and that it will be far beyond our miniscule expectations.

1 Corinthians 2:9 says, “Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

This promise isn’t based on how we feel, but on truth. If you have confessed and committed your life to Christ, you can rest in assurance through faith that you will have eternal life with Jesus.

I want to share four beautiful verses with you that offer hope, truth, and assurance for us now and in the future.

Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

Jesus stresses that He knows how difficult it is to follow Him. Represented by the two gates are the two choices each person must face. Will you purpose to faithfully and intentionally follow Jesus or something else?

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

This verse captures more about God’s plan than any other I can think of. Who would sacrifice their beloved son? But God’s plans are never what we expect, but somehow they are exactly what we need, even before we know or carry the ability to understand.

Ephesians 2:8-10 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Believers are not saved by our works, but we have been saved for the good works He will accomplish through us. As we mature our personal relationship and grow a godly lifestyle through maturing our Christian walk, the works are an outgrowth, an extension of Christ within us as He works through our humble, obedient spirit.

John 14:1-3 says, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

In these precious words from Jesus, we find assurance that our way to eternal life is secure. If your hope and faith are in Him, you can trust that He has personally prepared your way to and in life eternal. Jesus didn’t give specific details, but with faith, we don’t need them.

Our trust is in Him and our future is with Him.

Obviously, the promise of life eternal is not based on our works, but His Word and His sacrificial act. Why wait for eternity to begin claiming this gift?

We can live for eternity in the present. Now. In ways that honor and please Christ.

Jesus lived with a heart and mind fixed on eternity – not this world. This place was a temporary holding ground that enabled Him to fulfill the purpose God held for Him.

How do you view this world? Do you live for fleshly desires or to fulfill God’s will? Do you live with your eyes fixed above, knowing Jesus could return at any moment? Do you live with a heart that longs to please your Heavenly Father? Do you live with a mind that honors and dwells on thoughts pleasing to God?

No matter the suffering Jesus faced, He did not falter or fail because He carried a godly and righteous view of eternity. Jesus lived backwards according to the way most humans live on earth. The Lord looked to the end of His earthly days to plan what He did and relied on in His present. His life was defined by His longing for obedience under God and eternity with Him.

When we live with Jesus’s mindset, we carry His mind and strength to cleanse our life of the sin that pulls us away from our Heavenly Father. It is only by His grace and Spirit within us that we can begin to understand and desire a life focused beyond this world. Then we can allow our relationship with Jesus to dictate our earthly walk and fellowship with Him and others. We can allow Him to show us what to count as important or worthy of attention. We consider what our life should look like under God and strive to live in ways that others may detect His presence within us and be drawn to Him because of it.

What are ways to ensure you live for eternity now?

1. Cling to Jesus – with an intentionally intimate and deepening relationship.

2. Connect with prayer – With intimate conversation throughout each day, set times to pray, scriptural prayers, and heartfelt musings, remain connected to the Father through this lifeline to Him. Listen for His responses and guidance.

3. Read, study, and share God’s word – Mature your walk and share Him and your testimony with others, whether they be friends, family, or strangers, not only through words, but in your actions, reactions, desires, and integrity. The way we present ourselves must be in alignment with how we live and how we treat family members, friends, and strangers. Our lifestyle must be in alignment with God’s Word.

4. Love the Lord - with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind and expose Him through words, actions, reactions, and desires.

5. Find and follow God’s will – Following and obeying the Lord, studying His word, and conversing through prayer, listening for His voice and direction, and heeding sound biblical advice are ways to find and follow the Lord.

6. Raise children to know and honor Him – As we draw nearer to Him, our children are drawn closer, as well.

How do you begin self-development that prepares for eternity with Christ?

Self-care is a huge goal for many women. I understand the foundation for it, but believe it is taken to extremes often in our society, especially in advertisements and through influencers. We need to care for ourselves mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically, and financially. What I have learned through years of following Christ is that when I seek His care first, I lose the desire to obsess over or constantly seek self-care. As I rely on Him and deepen my relationship with Him, He handles the cares I have and the needs that occur.

Because the Bible tells us that the body is a temple of Christ, and we want to treat it well in all the areas I mentioned, and of course taking care of yourself is essential. Yet, when we release self to Jesus and learn and grow in Him, our goals and attitude change as we move closer and closer to Him and we lose the focus on caring for self obsessively as we serve others in a holier way.

As we submit to Christ, we also move into what I call godly-development. It definitely ties to self-care, but in an organic and Christ-driven way. Growing in and through Christ truly is a moment-by-moment process that transforms who and what we desire and are. Through this development we think less of self, and more about others, with thoughts centered on Christ most of all. As He flows through all that we are, we become more like Him. We see the world more as He does, and realize more of the desires He crafted within us.

So often we scan the library and bookstores to find the perfect books to improve and change us or to change others. Books challenge and develop us, but not always in the ways God desires. The Bible is the single most important book ever written, yet so often we pass it by as we seek the newest fad or forget the true wisdom it holds. The keys to healthy, joyful living and the secrets to living with eternal perspective are written in every book the Bible contains.

As a book lover and a reader, I understand the value of reading books with godly values, but please don’t overlook the most important and influential book. Don’t place it to be read last or when you think you have time. Make sure to read it first, then include other quality books that align with God’s morals and directives.

The focus of your heart behind the desire to change or improve as a believer should be what directs and propels you to act. Place Christ at the forefront of daily thinking and witness the changes He makes in and through you. This self-development is the most important change you can make because the results matter for eternity.

1. Search the Scriptures
2. Humbly submit to Christ
3. Honor the Father
4. Serve how He calls
5. Witness the changes He makes in you and others because of your obedience

Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

As you draw nearer to God through Scriptures, prayer, and relationship, your faith becomes a deeper love. One that humbles you to receive what Christ desires to accomplish within and through you.

Luke 9:23 says, “And He said to all, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

Dying to self is not something we can accomplish on our own. By trusting Jesus more each day as you grow your walk with Him, looking upward toward the eternal plan He has established, toward the eternity you will have with Him, you will be drawn to allow Him more access to your heart and home.

Galatians 5:22-26 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.”

Living with eternal perspective takes the sting out of disappointments as we trust the Father. This eternal-driven mindset takes the competition out of daily life. We trust that our personal life holds a purpose no one else has. Likewise, we recognize that the lives of others are unique and purposed by the same Hand that crafted each individual with intention. The fruits we receive from the Holy Spirit thriving and growing within us become focused on serving others over self.

Intentionally developing godly character qualities honors the Father who intentionally crafted each one of us with purpose. Jesus placed others before self, yet allowed God full reign over His life. Each step we take toward following Christ moves us closer to eternity as we live for it in the present.

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

Dear Heavenly Father, help us in Your Sovereign love for us, to view this world through Your eyes. May our treasures be placed under You because they are what You have deemed worthy of praise. Help us to decrease as we allow You to be increased within us. Lord, You tell us that if we hate our life in this world we will keep it for eternity. May we follow You as faithful servants yearning to honor and please You. May our minds be sober and our intentions pure as we cling to Your promises of tomorrow today. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Thank you for listening to the “Live With Eternal Perspective” podcast. This and my “Purposed Parent/Connected Child” podcast may be found at terrihitt.com, iHeart Radio, Spotify, and they are part of the Spark Media Network. Both podcasts may also now be found on the Edifi app, where you can hear thousands of the best Christian podcasts in one place for your listening enjoyment.

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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.