Christian Behavior…
"Hope is one of the Theological virtues. This means that a continual looking forward to the eternal world is not (as some modern people think) a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The Apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the Slave Trade, all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither."
Having a right understanding of heaven is necessary for having a right aim at heaven. Right understanding from God’s Word. Right aim from God’s instructions in His Word.
At what are you aiming?
I think much of our preoccupation with the things of this world stems from an incomplete understanding of the glories that await. What a difference an eternal perspective would have in the way I live my life!
Very well put! Just looking at my personal life, I can see when I am focusing on the eternal I am much more effective a Christian down here on earth. When I am more focused on the earthly things going on in my life I am not as effective with my Christian walk. Looking at the eternal goes hand in hand with walking a powerful Christian walk here on earth!
I really like that quote–nice post!