A Change in our Perspective

When I go somewhere new, I become a stereotypical tourist. Every new thing delights and amazes me, as I annoy the people around me by exclaiming over everything that to them seems perfectly ordinary or insignificant.

But I am in good company, because in Mark 13:1, one of the disciples does this very same thing, exclaiming over the massive stones and majestic buildings of the temple:

“And as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples saith unto Him, Master, what manner of stone and what buildings are here!”

Instead of getting caught up in the admiration of these “modern marvels,” Jesus puts these displays of human engineering and architectural prowess into perspective.

“And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? There shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”(v.2)

Jesus then sits down and begins to teach His disciples about events in the period we often call the “end times.” Theologians call this passage the Olivet Discourse, and it is one of several key passages that give us information about Christ’s return and the tribulation period. But notice Christ’s change in perspective.

The disciples had their eyes on the grandeur of human accomplishment. Their attention had been captured by the temporal, the earthly, the things that were destined for destruction. Jesus’ abrupt statement of the temple’s future shocked the disciples, but also gave them a proper perspective on what they saw around them.

The disciples’ focus needed to be readjusted, and Christ said just the right thing to get their minds (and hearts) off the earthly and onto the eternal.

We could go on and look at the rest of the Olivet discourse, for this post I want to ask one question: what about you and I?

So often, we, like that one disciple, get caught up in everything we see around us, whether it be wonders of technology or science or medicine, and fail to remember that the earth and all within it will one day perish.  2 Peter 3:11-12 shows us how the certainty of the world’s eventual destruction should affect us:

“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

You see, just as the disciples, we need the reminder that this world is not all there is. It is temporary, destined for destruction. As the song says, “This world is not my home, I’m just a-passin’ through.”

You and I are not to set our hearts, minds, or identities on anything this world has to offer. Colossians 3:1-4 tell us,

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God: Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.”

We are dead to this world, made alive to Christ, destined to dwell with Him in glory. The whole of this world’s existence is but a fleeting moment when seen in the grand scope of eternity. God has much in store for us when we leave this world to enjoy His presence forever, but He also has much for us to do for Him here on earth.

When we let our eyes fix upon on the things of this world, we fail to be that light of holiness and godliness to the lost around us. Instead, we allow the world to change us, to conform us into its own image. We get off track, off task, and off kilter in our Christian lives.

I have been reading lots of Christian biographies lately, and I have noticed that even the most devoted Christian sometimes gets distracted by temporal things now and then. Thus, like everyone else, you and I need our perspective shifted back to the eternal from time to time.

How is your perspective today? Are you living in light of eternity, or has the temporal caught your eye?

“For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18