None of us are blank slates. This is true both biologically and theologically (Psalm 51:5, and Romans 5:12, and Romans 7:14-25). Moreover, we are all born with different abilities, skills, interests, and so on. Even with all of these differences, we each have a responsibility to love God and to love our neighbors (Mark 12:30-31, and 1 John 4:7-21).
“PUT ALL OF YOUR STRESSES, YOUR FEARS, AND EVEN YOUR SORROWS INTO THE CONTEXT OF ETERNITY . . . I’m not saying that it is simple or easy, only that WE HAVE TO STRIVE TO BE ETERNITY-MINDED.”
Maybe your professor, coworker, or a friend has been in an unusually bad mood. The difficult part about this is that you do not know what that person may be going through. Especially considering the massive upheavel in the year 2020, there is no telling what kinds of stresses people are experiencing. Even so, no matter the stress, we know that we can have steadfast hope (Romans 5:5); and, by extension, we may be a light to those around us that feel trapped in a cave of hopelessness, surrounded by the darkness of unbridled stress and anxiety (Matthew 5:14-16).
Therefore, not only does context have to be taken into account concerning people, but most importantly, in reading the Bible. We live in a much different time than that of the Biblical authors who penned the original manuscripts. Still, God’s truth is truth for all time, and the authors were themselves guided supernaturally (Isaiah 40:8, and 2 Peter 1:21). Considering all of this, there is still a context that must be understood if we are to realize the full depth of what we are reading. For example, when the Apostle Paul writes his letter to the Church in Philippi, he is in prison. So, when Paul tells us to rejoice, he is not speaking as a man clothed in the finest attire, living in a palace (Philippians 4:4). Rather, he is speaking as a man imprisoned for the faith that he is continuing to write about. This is exactly why we must take into account the context when we read. In doing so, we will be able to better capture the full weight of the message.
In light of all that has been said, I encourage you to put all of your stresses, your fears, and even your sorrows into the context of eternity. Furthermore, put them all into the context of your blessings and all of the things to be thankful for. It may be your health, your family, or something else. I’m not saying that it is simple or easy, only that we have to strive to be eternity-minded. No matter the case, hope is always in front of us, especially knowing that 2021 will be here eventually. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).
