Internally vs Eternally Minded

What does it mean to be eternally minded? Many Christians would say that this means you think of heaven and of the second coming and meeting Jesus in the air, and I wouldn’t disagree this is true in part, but the danger I have witnessed from this interpretation of being “eternally minded” is that we often become oblivious to the responsibility and urgency of building God’s kingdom where we are at and instead unintentionally live very self-serving lives while we wait for the day Jesus returns.   I would like to add to the interpretation of eternal mindedness to include also being aware of what your actions now, what your choices now mean for eternity. It means asking questions such as, “Does this have eternal value?” or “Is this the best use of my resources and my life in light of eternity?” Jesus says this to Peter and I believe He is still saying it to us today:

“And Jesus answered him, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:17-19 ESV

The gates of hell shall not prevail. We must be mindful of our responsibility to gain ground for God’s kingdom wherever we go. We gain ground and the forces of darkness cannot withstand us. Being eternally minded is part of aggressive Christianity.  It also means as we wage war on this earth we are mindful for what and for Whom we are fighting for, and Whom the battle belongs to.  

In war it is incredibly important to know and have deep conviction about what you are fighting for. In the American Revolution, for example, though the Americans were vastly outnumbered and out gunned their convictions , their purpose was much stronger than their enemies and it was what kept their resolve during the hardest of times. It wasn’t what won them the war, but it is what kept them from quitting during it.

Paul often talks of keeping his mind set, and remembering the reward that lies before him.  I believe if you are internally minded you only think of the battle you are currently engaged in, the hardness of it, the price of it, but if you are eternally minded you think of the  eternal reward that lies before you.  Moses was a great example of this. The Bible says this about him:

“[Aroused] by faith Moses, when he had grown to maturity and become great, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, Because he preferred to share the oppression [suffer the hardships] and bear the shame of the people of God rather than to have the fleeting enjoyment of a sinful life. considered the contempt and abuse and shame [borne for] the Christ (the Messiah Who was to come) to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt, for he looked forward and away to the reward (recompense). [Motivated] by faith he left Egypt behind him, being unawed and undismayed by the wrath of the king; for he never flinched but held staunchly to his purpose and endured steadfastly as one who gazed on Him Who is invisible.” Hebrews 11:24-27

Moses was definitely eternally minded.

There is much to be said about how we wage war against the enemy and build the kingdom of God, and the methods aren’t natural at all. For me, I have learned that loving people, praying about everything, trusting God, and taking the time to meditate on His word and spend time in His presence have been battles, I am sure as I grow in the Lord that there will be new levels and I know there is so much I don’t know, but for now, my challenge is this; to be eternally minded.