The Most Vital Perspective

          In previous blogs on the value of finding new perspectives I neglected to mention the most important of all perspectives:  the hope and confidence that comes in knowing our eternal destiny.  Bill and Gloria Gaither said it well in the final stanza of a song:  And then one day I’ll cross that river, and fight life’s final war with pain; and then as life gives way to victory, I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He reigns.”  Because He lives we can face tomorrow.

          Isacc Watts, an early song writer, in his final stanza of a song wrote:  O God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come.  Be thou our guide while life shall last, and our eternal home.  In a previous stanza he speaks of the brevity of human life in contrast to God who is everlasting:  “Time like an ever-rolling stream bears all of us away; we fly forgotten as a dream dies at the opening day.”  For the person of faith, spending eternity with God makes life doable..

          An encouraging New Testament passage is found in Roman 15:13:  “Now may the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in believing.  May you abound in all joy; may you abound in all hope by the power of the Spirit of God in you.

          I’ve had the privilege of being with believers as they face their final days. Too often we avoid talking about final days because they make us uncomfortable.  Jack Hayford, the author of “Majesty, Worship His Majesty” suggested that we include thoughts of heaven in ministry to children.  Sometimes we wait too long to prepare for the glorious, final chapter of life. Let’s plant seeds of hope in the lives of God’s people.