“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporal, but what is unseen is eternal.”- 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
In Chapter 6 (“As It Is in Heaven: Let Heaven Frame Your Relationships”) of The Wall Around Your Heart, author Mary DeMuth observes that the phrase “as it is in heaven” is a holy decree, an intense desire for things to be made right. However, the author states, we are “earthbound people” and tend to keep our thought firmly grounded on earth. Heavenly thoughts tend to interrupt only when we are facing tragedy.
Mary confesses that when she has been hurt by someone, her initial reaction isn’t to think about heaven or even consider what God’s will might be for that situation:
“It’s when I look at people through my eyes that I grow agitated and vengeful. But when I truly view them as God does, through the lens of heavenward eternity, I realize the small size of the offense between us. It’s a blip. And my anger about the blip should shrink in the light of that.”
In the next blog, Mary presents five ways to cultivate a heaven-bent heart that will help us endure relational pain, yet thrive in the aftermath.
Today’s question (from Mary): Think of someone who has wronged you. How does picturing that person in heaven, fully free, fully alive, fully forgiven help you think differently? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The joy of heaven on earth”
