The Freedom of Being Eternity Minded
As a Christian, one of the things that really gets my goat is condemnation. It’s a tool that the enemy uses regularly and forcefully. The result is often God’s precious children beating themselves up and feeling guilty over some failure or mistake. I know this because I’ve been there in a big way.
What prompted the thoughts I am about to share is the scripture in II Peter 3:8
But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
You may ask, “What’s that got to do with condemnation”? Everything…and it will set you free. Five years ago I collapsed in my living room, hardly able to breathe, and in excruciating pain. This turned out to be final stage Multiple Myeloma cancer. I do not remember much from those days but I do remember the moment the doctor gave me the diagnosis. I sat there staring at him, straight-faced and calm, with no fear at all. Immediately the Spirit of God rose up in me like a pit bull and the words came, “I will live and not die” (from Psalm 118:17). This sounds like a normal response from a person who has their trust in Jesus doesn’t it? But here’s the catch; I had been out of fellowship with God, living a life of bitterness and disobedience for about three years. Now I have your attention, don’t I? Religion would say, “That cannot be”.
Many years before I turned into this bitter, angry person I had been a loving follower of Jesus and put His Word in my heart regularly. I may not have understood it all but I was sincere. I wanted to serve God. I memorized scripture, prayed, worshiped, and did my best to live for Him. Thank God I’ve come a long way from ‘Trying my best’ but that’s not my point for today. My point is that His Word never goes stagnant in your heart and never returns void ( Isaiah 55:11). We may think three years is a long time and feel condemnation over it- especially if the devil is screaming it in your ears- but with God, it is just a moment. For Him, it had been merely a blink of an eye since I put that word in my heart and it was still powerful. God does not operate in our version of time. He is eternity minded.
The picture God showed me was a toddler throwing a ten-minute tantrum. I have three kids so I am very familiar with this as most of you probably are. Most times I found this a bit humorous and stood by them and watched, trying not to laugh. When they were done screaming, flailing, and kicking I simply said, “Are you done now”? They got up and we went on with our day. Not once did I scold or condemn them because all children throw tantrums from time to time. I did not think less of my child or hold it against them.
Have you ever been upset with your spouse for a short amount of time and then got over it, apologized, and made up? Did you beat yourself up over it? Did you question whether or not you could ever be restored to each other and have a good marriage? Of course not- the thought of it is almost laughable. It was a momentary blip. Do we think our loving heavenly father would behave any differently toward us when we mess up? There is a reason the Bible tells us over and over that God is patient, kind, full of love, and merciful. He is not mad at us.
Consider these thoughts as you read from the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. I love how the father ran toward his wayward son, snatched him in his arms, and wouldn't even let him get his speech out.
Please do not receive any condemnation because you had a time of disappointment, anger, or discouragement that took you out of fellowship. Run back into the arms of your father as I did. God did not scold me, put me on probation, or hold me at arm's length till I proved myself. He just received me, restored me, loved and carried me. It was just as if I’d never sinned. That is the God we serve and I can’t help but love Him more than ever.
