This perspective is actually the hardest one for me to discuss, because this is my perspective. Therefore it’s the one I analyze the most, and my conclusions vary on a day-to-day basis. I’m constantly trying to find an appropriate balance in what I view to be important, what I view to be real.

As opposed to the Non-Christian perspective, where reality is based on life on earth, and that’s all you have to think about, reality from a Christian perspective is much more complicated. Now not only do I have my life here on earth, but I also have to think about eternity. I have to find a balance between living for eternity with Christ and the fact that I’m here, right now. So what’s important?

Sometimes my focus is more on my life on earth. I lose focus of eternity and my balance shifts to the temporal side of the scale. I get caught up in my job. I get stressed about the contract I’m on and if it will be extended in three weeks, or if I’ll have to look elsewhere. I get stuck trying to figure out the details of my upcoming trip to Cameroon. I wonder what life will be like in five years. Ten years. Twenty years. I want money, just like everyone else. I want the security of a steady job. I want pleasure. What’s life if I don’t enjoy it? I want to be in control. Somehow I think that if I were in control everything would be good.

Then I take a step back and realize that my view of reality, and what’s important, is completely skewed and I’m not focusing on God, or eternity, at all. Oftentimes I overreact and the scale tips drastically to the eternal side of things, and daily life doesn’t mean much of anything.

When the scale is tipped this direction, I shrug everything off to God being in control. Which He is, but it doesn’t give me a right to act like nothing here matters. In this mindset, I start looking at life with a birds eye view, just waiting for this all the pass (in the blink of an eye) and for eternity to begin. The job I have — unimportant. Whether I get married or not — irrelevant. Money — inconsequential. Pleasure — fleeting. I really do get to the point that nothing matters.

Which is where the whole idea of having a balance comes into play. Because life here does matter. Eternity has already begun. No, it’s not all about money, or pleasure, or being remembered. Those things don’t really matter. The Bible tells me that God will provide for my needs, and true joy is in giving Him the glory. What does matter, is that while I’m here on earth I need to be living in a Christ-like manner. I need to be spreading the gospel. I need to be living for Christ every day at my job, and in my interactions with both Christians and Non-Christians. I need to display the love the God to those around me. That can hardly be accomplished by acting like nothing matters.

So that’s where I’m at. I know that my view of reality consists of both life here on earth, and eternity with Christ. It’s a matter of balance. Where am I placing the most weight? Am I too focused on my daily life, stressed by things that don’t matter in the long run? Or am I too far in the other direction, just waiting for life here to be done so I can be in heaven?

And the same goes for you… how do you view reality? Where is your focus? What do you consider to be important?