“Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later…with eager hope, we look forward to the day when we will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.” Romans 8:18

One of the few advantages of getting older is perspective. Aging gives us the experience of living through things. The more we grow through these experiences we gain a greater perspective and viewpoint.

I remember my first broken bone and the terror that gripped me when I saw my arm at an unnatural right angle. I panicked, wondering if I would ever be able to use my arm again. My mother assured me that I would be healed up and back to my favorite summer activities soon enough. The doctor reset and cast it while I began waiting for that glorious day to have full use of my arm restored.

The perspective gained from living through that experience became a little clearer to me when, just a few months later, I got my second broken bone. It still wasn’t an enjoyable experience, however, I didn’t panic. I knew “the drill” as they say. It meant that I wasn’t stuck in the immediate view of my brokenness but instead, I had the LONG VIEW of healing ahead.

IN TIMES LIKE WE ARE LIVING TODAY WE NEED A LONG VIEW!

We need to be able to have hope that is anchored on healing instead of the short view of trouble and suffering. Paul writes about the importance of this in Romans 8:18:
“Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later…with eager hope, we look forward to the day when we will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.”

Notice that taking The Long View in life does not mean that we are without pain, hurt, doubt, fear, anger, loss, or betrayal in the short term. We will still cry, bleed, wait, and experience times of brokenness. But these short view experiences do not find us alone. For even while we groan (Romans 8:22) we are met in that painful short term by the Holy Spirit who helps us in those times of weakness (Romans 8:26).

Following Jesus means that we allow Him to transform our perspective to the Long View of God’s working in our lives and in this world. Faith in Jesus and His salvation lifts our eyes from short view sufferings and adds a Long View perspective of hope. And that hope lifts our eyes and focuses through the immediate into the glory ahead.

I love how this verse describes the EAGERNESS that comes with a Long View approach. That phrase creates a picture in my mind of moving to the edge of my seat just peering ahead to the destination. It reminds me of getting that cast off finally. I was leaning forward watching the doctor remove that cast and so eager to see if the bones in my arm would be back to their normal orientation!

So too, in Advent, we learn to lean forward and look for the day when Christ returns and all that is upside down will be put right side up.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, we look forward to that day of Your return. We see things around us, and we experience suffering and pain in these moments. Yet You give us an opportunity to endure these moments and You see us through those moments – that we might not only experience Your power, Your goodness, Your healing, but that we would also learn a greater long-view perspective.

Would You grant that to us during the season of Advent? Especially Lord, as we await, and we lean to the edge of our seats, anxiously awaiting for the day when You will return. And until then, Lord, fill us with hope as we continue to follow You, as we continue to be changed by You and as we continue to follow the mission that You have us on. It’s in Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.