The Eternal Perspective of Christ
.... Having obtained a window into Jesus’ thoughts through our first precept, true representation, we are now challenged to interpret His thoughts correctly. Jesus sees things from a different perspective, so to understand Him we must appreciate His frame of reference. And fortunately, God has provided an exact analogy to explain this:
.... "‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts’."
(Isaiah 55:8-9)
.... God’s ways are higher because they have descended from above, from a heavenly perspective, and they are designed to meet heavenly goals. But man’s ways are always temporal, focused on the things of this world (John 3:31). These are the two frames of reference, and here's how they effect us differently:
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.... Because man is earthly, he speaks of the earth, and his goals match his earthly surroundings. He walks by the sight of his eyes (John 3:31). With never a thought for eternal consequences, he desires the things of this world. He yearns to get ahead in life; he seeks the temporal advantage: he pursues material gain.
.... Because man is earthly, he speaks of the earth, and his goals match his earthly surroundings. He walks by the sight of his eyes (John 3:31). With never a thought for eternal consequences, he desires the things of this world. He yearns to get ahead in life; he seeks the temporal advantage: he pursues material gain..
.... Yet Christ is from above, and testifies what He has seen and heard. He walks by a higher perspective, that is, a heavenly: "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Through His teachings, Jesus always looked beyond the temporal to envision heavenly results – those which bring forth fruit to eternal life:
.... Yet Christ is from above, and testifies what He has seen and heard. He walks by a higher perspective, that is, a heavenly: "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Through His teachings, Jesus always looked beyond the temporal to envision heavenly results – those which bring forth fruit to eternal life:.... "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."
(John 6:27)
.... Let’s consider the outcome of the two perspectives in the short run and long run. A worldly focus may seem wise enough for this lifetime - and indeed, there are times when it may even seem wiser (Luke 16:8). But one day Jesus will return to reign on the earth, and 
the entire world system as we know it will pass away (Revelation 11:15). When this occurs and the old system is gone, the wisdom that pertained to that world will be cast adrift; there will no longer be a context in which it makes sense.
the entire world system as we know it will pass away (Revelation 11:15). When this occurs and the old system is gone, the wisdom that pertained to that world will be cast adrift; there will no longer be a context in which it makes sense. .
.... Instead, the great Day of the Lord will come, and everything we have said or done will be reviewed by this higher, heavenly context, for our judgment. Here we will understand that our life was short, like a breath, and instead of seeking a result for the day itself, we should have envisioned this day, and prepared for it all along:
.... Instead, the great Day of the Lord will come, and everything we have said or done will be reviewed by this higher, heavenly context, for our judgment. Here we will understand that our life was short, like a breath, and instead of seeking a result for the day itself, we should have envisioned this day, and prepared for it all along:
.... "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"
(Matthew 16:26x24-26)
.... This is the eternal perspective of Christ, the persistent frame of reference for everything He said or did. We will discuss this further in our next posting.
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Daily Bible Reading: John 20
posted by loren at 12:25 AM
6 Comments:
If we understand the eternal perspective of Christ from the beginning, and make all of our present decisions with that perspective in mind, we may have to make some sacrifices in this lifetime. But in the regeneration we will find ourselves perfectly positioned to please Him, and we will obtain a reward (more on that in future postings in this series).
By
loren, at 8/30/2005 12:30 AM
In his book The School of Christ, T. Austin-Sparks referred to the ‘other-ness’ of Christ. By this he means that we think one way, but Jesus always seems to think ‘other’. The eternal perspective of Christ is the key to understanding much of the other-ness of Christ that Austin-Sparks had noticed, especially in conjunction with our third precept, Divine motivation. More on that in a future posting.
By
loren, at 8/30/2005 12:31 AM
In this lesson we see an answer to one of the questions we began with. Jesus told us to cut off our own right hand if it caused us sin; for it is better to enter the kingdom of heaven with one hand, rather than having two hands to be cast into hell fire. Obviously He is talking about an extreme situation; yet any temporal sacrifice we make is worth it, if our eternal destiny depends on it.
By
loren, at 8/30/2005 12:31 AM
While focusing on ‘Christ-mindedness’ one should consider that He designed us. More specifically, God created us so He could fellowship with us. That means we were originally designed to be ‘everlasting’. Adam, through the fall - cut us off from that inheritance - Jesus on the Cross, restored it. The point is that while ‘Christ-mindedness’ is a difficult task in a fallen world, we were designed to think in that perspective. Romans 12:2 tells us we can be of that ‘mind’, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Many are familiar with Romans 8:28, it is the ‘all things work together for good’ verse. Romans 8:29 explains ‘what’ that ‘good’ is, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Our purpose is to be ‘like-minded’ with Christ. How do we become ‘like-minded’ with Christ? Romans 12:2 is a good start, but how are we to ‘be transformed by the renewing of our minds’?
Philippians 4:8 tells us how to start, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
By
Unchained Slave, at 8/30/2005 1:39 PM
Excellent points! We were designed to think through an eternal perspective, though later events and the entrance of sin have clouded this intention:
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end."
(Eccl 3:11)
By
loren, at 8/30/2005 1:43 PM
> God’s ways are higher because they have descended from above, from a heavenly perspective, and they are designed to meet heavenly goals. But man’s ways are always temporal, focused on the things of this world.
Excellent post Loren!
Unchained Slave, You have some great thoughts.
By
Bhedr, at 8/30/2005 10:59 PM
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