Perspective

A view of the sky from our vacation in Maui; closest thing to Heaven.

In another blog, I had written about my friend Jesse.  Here's a link to that blog:  FAITH WALK  He’s afflicted by a disease that is trying to claim his life.  I’ve been part of a large group of family and friends that have been believing for his healing.  I do believe he will be healed and fully restored either on this side of eternity or the next.  The hardest part about this process is knowing that the door of death is involved in reaching the rest of our lives beyond this earthly existence.  I’m exercising my faith and trying with all that I have to see beyond and gain heaven’s view instead of my own time restricted earthly view.  This isn’t the first time I’ve had to stretch my faith concerning a friend who’s facing a deadly illness and I suspect it won’t be my last. 

What I’m trying to overcome is my natural earthly instinct to see life’s trials and afflictions as finality and with that comes the thought of “no hope”.  I’m in process of getting my mind to grasp hold of God’s truth and to get in alignment with heaven’s perspective; that life will continue on for all of us, either in the eternal presence of our Creator in Heaven, or in eternal torment in Hell.  One path gives us hope of full restoration, including our bodies, living a life void of pain and suffering. The other path without Christ offers no hope, no freedom from pain. 

All of us are eternal beings and whether we choose to believe that or not, life will continue on forever for all of us.  Ecclesiastes 3:11 …He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. This verse clearly states how all of us feel; that we can’t even fathom the scope of eternity.  That this earthly existence is a mere speck of time compared to eternity.  

Every trial and hardship we face on earth is like a drop of water in a vast ocean that never ends. 

Many are facing divorce, losing their house, have lost a job, struggling with addiction, and are contending with illnesses and injury.  Jesus sees us within our earthly time restraints and in his compassion is with us through it all.  Job 28:24 for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.  Nehemiah 9:27 …But when they were oppressed they cried out to you.  From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them… For us, a hardship can seem forever, but in heaven’s perspective it’s just a fleeting moment.  I remember when my first child was born, and that first year was so hard.  My husband and I wondered if we would ever be able to sleep again, eat a meal on time, or have time for ourselves.  It seemed like a very long year.  Now that same child is 15 yrs. old and taking Driver’s Education.  Where did the time go?  What I perceived at the time was an unending season of hardship turned out to be such a small amount of time in my life.  Perspective. 

Whether you’re hardship is illness, finances, loss of marriage, loss of a child there is HOPE.  We have an eternal hope through Jesus Christ.  This time spent here is nothing compared to the joyous future we are heading towards if you are in relationship with Jesus Christ.  Are you in need of hope today?  If you want to experience the hope of eternity then choose to be a follower of Jesus.

Pray this prayer with me, it’s not so much the words as it is your heart attitude.

Lord Jesus, thank you for dying for me, forgive me for my sins, wash me clean.  I choose a new path now, to follow you all the days of my life, and to honor your name.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

If you’ve just prayed that prayer, congratulations!  Your next step will be to find a local church to encourage you in your relationship with Jesus.  Now that you are a part of God’s kingdom, you too can begin to gain a heavenly perspective to help you navigate life’s hardships.

Go to the iTunes store and download and listen to the song, There is a HOPE by Life Center for further encouragement.  “There is a hope and his name is Jesus.” –Life Center Ministries

You can reach me on Facebook here:  Tasha Johnson, Author "Path of the Blessing"  and through Amazon.com you can find my book, Path of the Blessing to help guide you to staying on course with your relationship with God.