40 Days of Preparation Day 4

Today, Tuesday February 28, 2012, is Day 4 of preparing our hearts, souls, and minds for Easter Sunday.  I must “put off”  Temporal values and “put on” eternal values. Temporal values refer to things which are of this world and eternal values refer to things which will be important for us in heaven or the next world.

That’s right the next world.  The Scriptures teach that this world is temporary but the next world will be eternal.

¹³ But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13 (ESV)

Peter teaches us that Jesus taught him that the disciples were to wait on the new heaven and Earth where sin would no longer govern human endeavors but where righteousness instead would dwell. As a Christian my attitudes, desires and ambitions should be focused on this eternal reality rather than the temporary and transitory concerns of this earthly life. The ultimate eternal reality is recorded in the last book of the Bible, the Revelation of John.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. Revelation 21:1 (ESV)

This Earth which all of humankind is known as its home will be destroyed but God in his infinite power, wisdom, grace and mercy will create a new heaven and a new earth. This new heaven and new earth will be the home for God ‘s kingdom and his  people throughout all eternity.

Temporal values are more of an attitude which leads us to sin than an actual sin in and of themselves. There are two primary areas which reveal our true attitude toward things temporal and eternal, our checkbook and our schedule. For example there is nothing wrong with money in and of itself, but the love of money is clearly condemned in Scripture. Had the good Samaritan not had some coins he could not have been such a blessing to the man who had fallen among the thieves.  If we truly understand the temporary nature of both our lives and thus planet then we will be able to use money for eternal purposes. This is how Jesus’ teaching about treasure is to be understood.

¹⁹ “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19–21 (ESV)

If we have “put off” temporal values and “put on” eternal values then we are free to be stewards of the money which God gives us so that we can use it in a way that will bless others here and now and bless us there (in heaven) and then (for eternity). While it is true that you can’t take your money with you according to this teaching of Jesus you can send the blessings of having used your money for God’s eternal purposes on ahead.

Another area which reveals our true attitude or temporal values eternal values is how we use our time day by day.  If we are not living for eternity is very easy to become disheartened as we see our physical bodies changing as we age. An extraordinary amount of money is spent every year in the United States on cosmetic surgery, cosmetics, exercise equipment, and gym memberships.  According to Paul this emphasis reveals an this place focus on the importance of this life over and above our eternal life in heaven.

¹⁶ So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (ESV)

The American society has become much more concerned with what is seen and fleeting but what is unseen and last forever. When we examine our schedules and find that we are spending much more time working out our physical bodies a praying or reading God’s word this reveals our need to “put off” temporal values “put on” eternal values.