The Beacon: 2024 07/21

It's easy to believe that the world I see is all there is. The things right before me that I can touch and see quickly dominate my thoughts and feelings. It's easy to think that the present is more important than the afterlife. Furthermore, my mind can be easily deceived, often causing me to focus on temporary things that promise happiness but are never truly satisfying.

The only way to heal these deceitful thoughts is to return to the truth, nourish my soul with heavenly bread, and strengthen my spirit with God's Word. I must remind myself daily of what is truly important and build my life with an eternal perspective rather than on the shaky foundation of worldly concerns.

As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NLT), "So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. The things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." This verse encourages me to turn my gaze from my daily concerns to the eternal and unseen, truly important things.

However, it is easy to get comfortable here, adjust to earthly life's rhythms and pleasures, and forget that we were created for something greater. We often think that we were made for the earth we see, not for eternity with God in Heaven.

Kenny Chesney sums up this feeling well in his song:

Everybody wants to go to Heaven
Own a mansion high above the clouds
Everybody wants to go to Heaven
But nobody wants to go now.

If we are honest, even most Sunday churchgoers would agree. Heaven is a beautiful place to look forward to, but it's not where we want to go this week. We cling to our lives here and don't want to let go, even though we believe something better is coming.

The death of my child changed everything. Heaven is more personal now. This world, once full of promises, doesn't feel so friendly anymore. My eyes are no longer drawn to shiny store windows, creative TV commercials, or flashy cars and clothes. Instead, they seek a glimpse of God's glory at sunrise or sunset. The gentle rustling of leaves in the wind reminds me of His Spirit and makes my heart cry, "Come, Lord Jesus!"

I want to have clear priorities that reflect my eternal perspective for the rest of my life. I don't want to waste my days on insignificant things. Every moment and every interaction has eternal significance.

C.S. Lewis wisely said, "There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal." This profound truth reminds me that human beings are eternal and that love is what really matters. So, I am turning my eyes to the unseen and my heart to eternity. In the process, I hope to live a life that reflects the eternal realities of God's Kingdom, appreciating what is truly important and letting go of the rest.

Life can be overwhelming, and getting lost in the shuffle and forgetting the big picture is easy. But losing my child has given me a new perspective. I see things differently now. I don't get lost in the trivialities that once consumed my energy. Instead, I look for moments that reflect God's love and glory and strive to make every day memorable by focusing on what is truly important.

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