E is for Eternal

Eternity.

Our human minds have a difficult time comprehending it. Everything we know has a beginning and end. Books. Songs. Days. Seasons. Life.  It's hard to grasp a never-ending time.

So often we get caught up in the here and now, focusing on only the present moment. Unfortunately, that seems to be the motto for our society: if it feels good, do it. Don't think about the outcome. Don't worry about the consequences. Just do what you want.

We strive to teach our kids a different way of life. There's nothing wrong with doing things you want, as long as those things match up to what God wants. When our life here is done, all those fleshly desires won't matter anymore. This poem explains it perfectly:

Only One Life
by C.T. Studd

 Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. 

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgment seat;
Only one life,’ twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. 

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say ‘twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’ twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Eternal.

Those are the things we want to focus on. Those are the things we want to instill in our children. We want them to make the right decisions now, so it'll be easier to make the right decisions as they grow up. That's why we choose which movies they watch, why we choose which music they listen to, why we choose what types of clothes they wear. We don't base our standards on what is accepted or what everyone else is doing. We live the way we live because of the Bible. We live for the eternal.

Sure, that means we tell our kids they can't do some of the things their friends do. There are words they can't say, shows they can't watch, holidays they can't participate in. They're not always happy about it and they don't always understand. It's not easy to see our little ones unhappy, but it's better to see them unhappy now than disappointed when they meet Christ. We're not focused solely on their current happiness, but instead on their eternal joy.

There are things that Leighton and I do that we do not allow our children to do now but will one day be acceptable for them - things like staying up late, using the oven, driving a car, drinking coffee.  But there are things that we as adults technically can do according to worldly standards, but as Christians choose not to do - things like drinking alcohol, smoking, watching certain shows/movies, going to certain places. This is a big thing we're struggling with Jake right now. There are some movies that he really wants to watch, movies that star favorite characters and sound exciting. He's under the impression that when he turns 13 in just over 6 years, he can watch them all. We're trying to get him to understand that just because he'll be the assumed proper age, it doesn't mean it's ok to watch (just as we do not watch all PG movies either.) We don't follow the ratings that Hollywood has placed. I do believe that some movies with a PG13 rating are acceptable, but there are so many more that include elements that we do not condone. What you put in is what comes out. How can we teach our kids that they shouldn't say certain words when we allow them to listen to them repeatedly? How can we train them to stay away from certain activities when we let them watch others do them? Why should they do as we say when we allow them to watch things that contradict those very words? In doing so, we'd be undermining our own rules. And we determine those rules, those standards, those convictions on the Word of God.   

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, 

and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, 

and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 

Matthew 6:19-21

We want our hearts - our kids hearts - to love the things of God. In order for that to happen, we can't love this world. We can't place the emphasis on temporal things. We must focus on Christ. We want our lives to point others to Him. We want to live our lives focused on the eternal.

  * We do not claim to be anyone's Holy Spirit. Each individual must pray and search the Scriptures to determine what is proper and acceptable for their own family. We may not agree with your decisions, but we judge no one.