God’s first priority is the coming of His Kingdom. God’s first priority is the coming of His Kingdom. I believe the second major priority of God is to esteem the eternal before the temporal. God always puts the eternal before the temporal.
This doesn't mean we should try to get out of the temporal into the eternal. It's about getting the eternal into the temporal. I've already stated that the coming of God's kingdom on earth is priority number one. But we always have to bear in mind, that which is of ultimate importance is the eternal, not the temporal. And I believe it's true that God never sacrifices one fraction of eternity for the longest period of time, because eternity is of an altogether different value to time. No amount of time can equal in value the smallest fraction of eternity.
Paul speaks about this in Second Corinthians 4:17 and 18:
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, [or temporal] but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (NKJ)
So Paul says there are two categories of things that come into our lives - the temporary and the eternal. And he says, "God is working in us His eternal purposes but only as long as we look, not at the things which are seen, the temporal, but at the things which are not seen, the eternal." So, where we focus our gaze makes all the difference on how God is able to deal with us. Only if we keep our gaze focused on the eternal, can God work out His eternal purposes in us.
Eternal Father, I long for Your eternal Kingdom to be visible, here in the temporal world. And at the same time, like You, I want to focus on the things that are eternal, Father. Please help me so that my life brings You glory. Amen.
