How does our soul cope with the reality of the eternal while living in the temporal? What good could come from focusing our attention on the kingdom of God when decisions and direction are based on our current resources, time, and talent?
Episode Notes:
Historically there is a belief that our soul was created with eternity in mind.
Some of the earliest and most popular understandings of this ideology can be seen in the Egyptians' sacred ritual practice of mummification.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV) | “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”
The origins of the eternity paradox date back to the Genesis narrative.
Heaven and Earth were once combined, the soul was intimately involved in both the eternal and what is now temporal.
The sin of man created a split in which eternity is no longer intimately experienced, it is something our soul longs for.
Heaven & Earth | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy2AQlK6C5k
Colossians 3:2 (NIV) | "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV) | “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.”
Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV) | “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Joni Eareckson Tada writes in Heaven: Your Real Home
“When a Christian realizes his citizenship is in heaven, he begins acting as a responsible citizen of earth. He invests wisely in relationships because he knows they’re eternal. His conversations, goals and motives become pure and honest because he realizes these will have a bearing on everlasting reward. …He gives generously of time, money, and talent because he’s laying up treasure for eternity. He spreads the good news of Christ because he longs to fill heaven’s ranks with his friends and neighbors. All this serves the pilgrim well not only in heaven, but on earth; for it serves everyone around him.”
The eternity paradox is an invitation to:
Love differently.
Serve differently.
Think differently.
Music - Snowjah (feat. Tane) by Peter Spacey
