HE SCENARIO: Anymore, this life is all just a bunch of “short-term stuff” to Aeternus. You see, Aeternus has a vision of eternity, and their place in it. They clearly see their great savior God Jesus pulling them through the short-term stuff, and upward and onward, ad infinitum. Hardly anything rattles Aeternus anymore these days: It’s all just a bunch of short-term stuff now… Aeternus is focused on that blessed place where they are going to be for a very, very, very long time, arm-in-arm with their great savior God.
In the outworking of this scenario please consider the following:
1. Aeternus has cultivated an eternal perspective that is squarely centered on Jesus Christ. And they would argue that this perspective does not conflict with, or short-circuit, their short-term “reality” (responsibilities, joys, etc.). What do you think—how can a Christian like Aeternus maintain both an eternal perspective, and at the same time be soberly functional in the reality of the here and now? Please base your answer on Scripture.
2 Does not Scripture require that a Christian stay focused on the (eternal) Kingdom of Heaven, and, specifically, on our great Jehovah God? Please cite at least one more Scripture reference besides the following that bears this out (Mat 6:25-34, 13:44-46, 19:29).
3. Why is an eternal perspective fundamental to (consistent) Christian living (how is God constructively served through it; how does it constructively affect the Christian walk)? If you do not think it is fundamental to Christian living, please explain. Either way, please be Scriptural in your answers. Again, from a slightly different angle—do you think that undue focus on the “here and now” is a detriment to Christian living? If so, specifically how? If not, specifically why not?
4. what lies might trap one into thinking “now” is all there is? Please list and discuss seven such lies with an eye to Satan’s ploys.
5. What is the role of age in cultivating an eternal perspective? Consider these age brackets: 8-14 years, 15-22 years, 23-33 years, 34-45 years, 46-59 years, 60-79 years, 80-99 years, 100+ years. As you consider these age brackets, try to think of factors that either shape, or hinder/outright prevent shaping an eternal perspective in (Christian) people of these ages.
6. One of the subtitle verses we chose for this scenario is Jhn 16:28. Jesus, in this verse, clearly asserts the eternality of the great God who is the basis of our eternal perspective. The resurrection of Jesus Christ “closes the loop” with respect to His assertion (‘…I return to the Father…’). We have come to see Jhn 16:28 in part as a vignette of that which a Christian might expect owing to Jesus’ labors on our behalf: We also came forth from the Father, in the sense that we were born into this world according to His good purposes for us (Psa 139:16-17), we are definitely in the world today, and we must all leave this world one day, and shall, in a manner of speaking return to the Father just like Jesus did, and thanks to Jesus (1Cr 15:52-57, 2Cr 5:6-9). This verse from Jesus is a great one to memorize, for it capsules well the Christian journey: Where we came from, where we are, where we are going…
7. Dear Christian friend, has your eternal walk with Jehovah God really begun? Are you excited about it on a day-by-day basis? Do you remind yourself often that a glorious eternity is in store for you that transcends everything thanks to Jesus? It is our prayer that nothing steals from you the peace and the joy and the holy confidence of that blessed walk, even until He calls you home to be in His manifest presence forever. Christ bless you much beloved Christian friend.