How Long-Term is Your View?

By Doug Franklin April 18, 2012

I believe that we are going to live forever as Christ followers. The first seventy-five years will be here on earth and the rest will be in heaven. So why do we act like our lives are only 4 years long? If we had a long-term view of our lives we would see obstacles as training for future service. That parent who drives you nuts would actually become an equipping lesson on compassion that one day you will use for God’s glory. That pastor who refuses to communicate with you becomes an example of how not to act when you are a senior pastor. When we have a long-term view of our lives in Christ we see obstacles differently and our attitude changes. It also changes our actions, knowing that God’s plan for us is eternal we have the freedom to look the fool for him. We can take risks that we thought were out-of-bounds for us Christians. How tightly are you holding your own life? What would it look like if you had a different, long-term view of yourself? What would it change? Two-hundred years from now you will still be alive; how will you describe your time back here on earth?