A Different Perspective
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.” John 17:20-21
As Christians, we see things differently than the lost world. When I say “lost” world, I am referring to everyone who is outside of the kingdom of God, lost in sin, “in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not…” (II Corinthians 4:3a). Having a Biblical worldview gives believers a spiritual perspective on events that happen as well as on day to day living. Followers of Christ no longer live for themselves, but for Christ because He lives in their hearts and gives them insights as He reveals His word to His brothers and sisters as they study and pray.
When we are born again, that old life of sin and selfish pursuits gives way to our new lives in Christ as His representatives to all those with whom we come in contact. For the individual who never attends church, never opens God’s word to take in the treasures of truth, and never gives a thought to his or her eternal destination, how else can they see Jesus and hear His call to join Him unless they see and hear the gospel from believers in Christ? To live a life pleasing to God and to witness of the power that enables the gospel to transform a sinner from darkness unto light, changing lives and giving purpose and joy to unbelievers is a pretty big deal. The Lord works through those who are willing to share the gospel with those whom the Lord puts into their path.
There are some folks who know something is missing in their lives, but they don’t realize what it is until someone shows them. I think about the treasurer of Ethiopia who was traveling by chariot from Jerusalem back home. He had been there to worship, because he knew that worship was a part of life, but he was unsure about the One that he worshipped. He was reading in the book of Isaiah concerning one of the prophecies about Christ. Philip, one of the newly appointed deacons of the church in Jerusalem, heard him reading, and God directed Philip to approach him. Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading, and he replied that he needed someone to explain it to him. Philip told him all about Christ, His sacrifice to pay the penalty for everyone’s sin, and His resurrection which was a sign that God accepted His sacrifice in full payment of man’s sin. The man believed everything that Philip said about Jesus. The man was baptized in a pond by the roadside. The Ethiopian was searching for that which he did not have and needed someone to tell him how to obtain the joy and peace that he desired (Acts 8:26-39).
The Ethiopian was a man who was searching for something that he needed, but there are others who go through life just going through the motions. How can individuals find what they are not looking for unless a believer makes them thirsty for that which they do not possess? In commercial advertising, a product may be something one never thought about until the advertiser convinces the person that he or she needs that product. Of course, most products usually do not live up to the promises of the advertiser. But that can’t be said about the gospel and life in Christ. Jesus promises peace, joy, freedom, and a forever Companion to see us throughout our lives and then welcome us into our eternal home with Christ in a perfect environment, God’s heaven. It is difficult to explain to others the inner joy and strength that come from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Living according to God’s word certainly gives the believer a different perspective on, well, just about everything. The Apostle Paul put it this way, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (II Corinthians 4:18). The bottom line is that the follower of Christ can see and understand things which are withheld from the unbelieving world. It takes eyes of faith to have an eternal perspective.