Perspective Is Everything

SYNOPSIS: From this side of heaven, it seems as though the believer is either in the sweet spot of God’s grace or the hot seat of challenging circumstances. Life seems to bounce between the two. Figuratively speaking, you are either just a step ahead of the poor house or you have one foot in the Promised Land. But when you discipline yourself to view things from a heavenly perspective, you will understand that nothing you experience—for sure, the good, but yes, even the bad—that first hasn’t gone past God and through Christ before it gets to you. Yes, perspective is everything.

Moments with God // Psalm 105:43-45

From this side of heaven, it seems as though the believer is either in the sweet spot of God’s grace or the hot seat of challenging circumstances. Life seems to bounce between the two.

Has that been true for you—figuratively speaking, you are either just a step ahead of the poor house or you have one foot in the Promised Land? Throughout my life, I have drifted from one to the other, sometimes on a daily basis, but mostly it has been seasonal. Of course, I prefer the sweet spot to the poor house—who wouldn’t?

That’s the human perspective—we either get a burden to bear or a blessing to enjoy. This psalm speaks of both: Joseph under the oppressive yoke of the Egyptians (Psalm 105:17-18), or Joseph in the driver’s seat of Pharaoh’s court. (Psalm 105:20-21) The same was true for the nation of Israel: They suffered the indignity of slavery in Egypt for 400 years (Psalm 105:23) but later were delivered to the Promised Land, where they enjoyed the blessings for which others had labored. (Psalm 105:43-44)

But what we see as either burdens to bear or blessings to enjoy, God sees from the perspective of purpose. At times, God gives us a problem; at other times, God releases his provision—but at all times, God is fulfilling his purposes in us, for us, and through us. That is the better perspective—a heavenly perspective.

What a better way to go through life—whether we are enduring a season of burdens or enjoying a season of blessings! When God allows us to endure a problem, his purpose is that through it, we would live with an attitude of gratitude and call attention to his glorious deeds:

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. (Psalm 105:1-2)

When he has brought us into the sweet spot of his favor, he does so that we might be energized and enabled to bring praise to his name through our obedience:

Remember this! He led his people out singing for joy; his chosen people marched, singing their hearts out! He made them a gift of the country they entered, helped them seize the wealth of the nations…So they could do everything he told them—could follow his instructions to the letter. Hallelujah! (Psalm 105:45, The Message)

Perspective is everything. From an earthly point of view, we bounce between problems and promises! But from heaven’s perspective, God is faithfully fulfilling his purposes.

Now let’s see—earth-bound view or heavenly perspective? I’m thinking heaven is the better way to go!