Daily Awakenings
October 26
Sharpen My Eyes
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
John 12:25
It was early one morning, while in my study, that I received an urgent phone call from Leonard Ravenhill. "Stevie," he said, "This is Len. I want you to make a sign for me to hang in my study. This is very important. The sign only needs one word: Eternity." Without asking any questions, I proceeded to make the small sign. The word "eternity" was suspended over a background of clouds. In just a few minutes I was finished. He loved it!
Leonard introduced me to many of the classic Christian writers. Joseph Hall was one who spoke often of eternity.
Eternity is that only thing which is worthy to take up the thoughts of a wise man. When added to evil, thoughts of eternity make the evil infinitely more intolerable; and being added to good, they make the good infinitely more desirable. What soul is able to comprehend you? What strength of understanding is able to conceive you? Be ever in my thoughts, ever before mine eyes. Be the scope of all my actions, of all my endeavors; and, in respect of you, let all this visible world be to me as nothing. Further, since only the things which are not seen by the eye of sense are eternal, Lord, sharpen the eyes of my faith, that I may see those things invisible; and may in that sight, enjoy Your blessed eternity.
I encourage you, dear reader, to begin to live each day focused on eternity. Whatever circumstances you find yourself in will pale in comparison to that glorious reality.
2 Kings 7; 1 Timothy 4;
Daniel 11; Psalms 119:25-48