Eternal or Temporal?

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:18 

 If you want to live a courageous life, you must ask yourself a very important question. Do I want the eternal or the temporal? When you phrase it that way, it sounds like a very easy question to answer. But if you wait until you are in the moment to make this decision, you are likely to choose the temporal.  

 Think about that today. We have the option of focusing on today. But when we think about the TEMPORAL, we won’t think about the ETERNAL. When we find ourselves overwhelmed with temporal doubts, fears, worries, and shortcomings, we are not simultaneously thinking about the sovereignty of God and the fact that He is 100% in control. 

 On the flip side, when we are focused on His control, we are thinking about the eternal and we are trusting in God. It allows us to live courageously in a completely countercultural way. 

 See, the culture is going to tell you to “just go for it.” People around you will advise with the phrase “YOLO, You Only Live Once!” because the culture is all about the here and now. They want you to feed into your emotions and choose what you want in the moment. But this is such a short-sided, temporal point of view. 

 When we step back and ask ourselves, “Do I want the eternal or the temporal?” it is much easier to remember the greater reward that stands on the side of eternal, versus the long-term consequences of choosing the temporal pleasures of life.  

 But if you want to overcome temporal temptations and decisions, you must think about what you really want before you are in the moment! If you do not have your mind made up, and you are not clear on what you are after, you will choose the temporal. When you are mindlessly making decisions, the temporal is always the easiest decision. 

 But the greatest rewards lie in choosing the eternal. It will not always be easy, but it will be best. Someone once told me, “Do not give up what you want most for what you want at the moment.” This is the eternal mindset Christ wants you to live by! 

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bible verse

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

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