Reorienting Priorities to an Eternal Focus in Christian Life

Reorienting priorities to an eternal focus in Christian life involves a conscious shift from temporal concerns to those that have lasting significance in light of God's kingdom. This reorientation is rooted in biblical teachings that emphasize the temporary nature of the visible world and the eternal reality of God's unseen realm ^[4]. Believers are called to "set their minds on things above, not on earthly things" ^[5], recognizing that their true life is "hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3).

Central to this reorientation is the concept of "eternal life." This expression appears frequently in the New Testament and refers to the future of the redeemed, standing in contrast to "eternal punishment" ^[7]. It is the ultimate reward and glory for God's children ^[7], a "Sabbath of rest" (Hebrews 4:9) ^[7]. The Bible indicates that eternal life is revealed by Christ ^[1], and to know God and Christ is eternal life itself (John 17:3) ^[1]. It is a gift from God, given through Christ and found in Christ ^[1]. Those who believe in God and Christ receive it ^[1], as do those who are willing to "hate life for Christ" (John 12:25) ^[1]. Adam Clarke notes that Christ's commandment is "life everlasting," and that believing in Him leads to peace, happiness, and glory ^[11]. John Gill further explains that eternal life is the "end" of having "fruit unto holiness" after being freed from sin and becoming servants of God ^[14].

The pursuit of an eternal focus requires believers to "press on to perfection," moving beyond the foundational principles of Christ such as repentance from dead works and faith toward God ^[2]. This pressing on is not a passive waiting but an active commitment ^[10]. The apostle Paul, in Philippians, describes this as "forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before" (Philippians 3:13). The commentary by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown highlights that looking back can lead to regression, much like Lot's wife, and that God's command is always to "go forward" ^[9]. This forward movement is a continuous striving towards maturity, with Christ himself as the standard ^[8]. The Spirit's work is to transform believers to be fully like Christ (Romans 8:29) ^[8].

A key aspect of this reorientation is the development of hope. Hope is considered one of the three main elements of Christian character, alongside faith and love (1 Corinthians 13:13) ^[6]. It is distinct from seeing or possessing, as it pertains to what is unseen ^[6]. Easton's Bible Dictionary emphasizes that hope is an "essential and fundamental element of Christian life," so much so that it can define the essence of Christianity itself (1 Peter 3:15; Hebrews 10:23) ^[6]. Unbelievers, in contrast, are described as being "without this hope" (Ephesians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:13) ^[6]. Christ is the ultimate object of a believer's hope ^[6]. John Gill connects the Gospel ministry to bringing souls to the "hope of eternal life," noting that while hope is a gift of God's grace, the Gospel is the means of its initial production ^[12].

Practically, reorienting priorities involves a conscious effort to direct one's attention. The Psalmist prays, "Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things. Revive me in your ways" ^[3]. This sentiment is echoed in 2 Corinthians 4:18, which instructs believers to "fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" ^[4]. Colossians 3:2 further commands, "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" ^[5]. Matthew Henry interprets this call as an exhortation to "sobriety and holiness," urging believers to "gird up the loins of your mind" because they have a "journey to go, a race to run, a warfare to accomplish, and a great work to do" ^[15]. This imagery suggests readiness and focused effort, akin to a traveler preparing for a long journey ^[15].

The "newness of life" that believers receive from Christ (Romans 6:4) is intrinsically linked to this eternal perspective ^[7]. John Gill notes that Christ and His Gospel are "life unto thy soul," providing a better life than one naturally possesses, and serving as a means of reviving and quickening believers in their duties ^[13]. This spiritual life is not merely a future prospect but begins in the present, influencing daily decisions and attitudes. The commitment to loving God and others serves as an antidote to spiritual dullness, requiring both faith and endurance, as exemplified by figures in the faith (Hebrews 6:10-12) ^[10]. This ongoing process of spiritual growth and focus on the eternal shapes the Christian's understanding of purpose and value in the world.

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Life, Eternal — Christ is -- 1Jo 1:2; 5:20. Revealed by Christ -- Joh 6:68; 2Ti 1:10. To know God and Christ is -- Joh 17:3. Given By God. -- Ps 133:3; Ro 6:23. By Christ. -- Joh 6:27; 10:28. In Christ. -- 1Jo 5:11. Through Christ. -- Ro 5:21; 6:23. To all given to Christ. -- Joh 17:2. To those who believe in God. -- Joh 5:24. To those who believe in Christ. -- Joh 3:15,16; 6:40,47. To those who hate life for Christ. -- Joh 12:25. In answer to prayer. -- Ps 21:4. Revealed in the Scriptures -- Joh 5:39. Results from Drinking the water of life. -- Joh 4:14. Eating the ”
Hebrews “Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, -- Hebrews 6:1”
Psalms “Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things. Revive me in your ways. -- Psalms 119:37”
II Corinthians “II Corinthians 4:18 (BSB) — So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Colossians “Colossians 3:2 (BSB) — Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Hope — One of the three main elements of Christian character (1 Cor. 13:13). It is joined to faith and love, and is opposed to seeing or possessing (Rom. 8:24; 1 John 3:2). "Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity (1 Pet. 3:15; Heb. 10:23). In it the whole glory of the Christian vocation is centred (Eph. 1:18; 4:4)." Unbelievers are without this hope (Eph. 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:13). Christ is the actual object of the believer's hope, because it is in”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Eternal life — This expression occurs in the Old Testament only in Dan. 12:2 (R.V., "everlasting life"). It occurs frequently in the New Testament (Matt. 7:14; 18:8, 9; Luke 10:28; comp. 18:18). It comprises the whole future of the redeemed (Luke 16:9), and is opposed to "eternal punishment" (Matt. 19:29; 25:46). It is the final reward and glory into which the children of God enter (1 Tim. 6:12, 19; Rom. 6:22; Gal. 6:8; 1 Tim. 1:16; Rom. 5:21); their Sabbath of rest (Heb. 4:9; comp. 12:22). The newness of life which the believer derives from Christ (Rom. 6:4) is the ”
Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:13: 4:13 The goal of ministry is for the whole Christian community to understand and experience the Christian faith more deeply and gain a deeper knowledge of God’s Son. In this way, believers will be mature in the Lord (see 1 Cor 2:6; 14:20; Phil 3:15; Col 1:28; 4:12; cp. Heb 5:14; Jas 1:4; 3:2). The standard of maturity is Christ himself; the Spirit’s transforming work is to make people fully like Christ (Rom 8:29).”
Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 3:13: I--whatever others count as to themselves. He who counts himself perfect, must deceive himself by calling sin infirmity (Jo1 1:8); at the same time, each must aim at perfection, to be a Christian at all (Mat 5:48). forgetting those things . . . behind--Looking back is sure to end in going back (Luk 9:62): So Lot's wife (Luk 17:32). If in stemming a current we cease pulling the oar against it, we are carried back. God's word to us is as it was to Israel, "Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward" (Exo 14:15). The Bible is our landma”
Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 6:12: 6:12 A focused commitment (6:10-11) is the antidote to being spiritually dull (5:11-12). By loving God and others, we follow the example of great people of the faith. The author puts a great deal of emphasis on both faith and endurance as normal requirements for God’s people (see 11:4-38).”
John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 12:50: I know that this commandment is life everlasting - These words of our Lord are similar to that saying in St. John's first epistle, Jo1 5:11, Jo1 5:12. This is the record, that God hath given unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life. God's commandment or commission is, Preach salvation to a lost world, and give thyself a ransom for all; and whosoever believeth on thee shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Every word of Christ, properly credited, and carefully applied, leads to peace and happiness here, and to glory herea”
Titus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Titus 1:2: In hope of eternal life,.... Or "for the hope of eternal life"; in order to bring souls to the hope of it. This is another end of the Gospel ministry, as to bring God's elect to faith in Christ, and to the knowledge and acknowledgement of the truth, as it is in Jesus, so to the hope of eternal glory and happiness: in a state of nature, they are without the grace of hope, or any true ground and foundation of it; and though it is the gift of God's grace, and is implanted on the soul by the Spirit of God in regeneration; yet the Gospel is the means of producing it at first”
Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 3:22: So shall they be life unto thy soul,.... Give it a better life than it naturally has, though immortal; Christ is both the spiritual and eternal life of the souls of those that look unto him by faith; and his Gospel, and the doctrines of it, are the means of reviving drooping saints, and of quickening them to the discharge of their duty; wherefore both he and they should be kept in continual view, and held fast; and grace to thy neck; an ornament to that and to the whole man; how ornamental is Christ and his righteousness to a believer! how lovely is the person tha”
Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 6:22: But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God,.... In what sense regenerate persons are free from sin, and are become the servants of God, has been observed already; the consequence of which is, that such have their fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life: holiness is a fruit of freedom from the bondage of sin, and of serving God; holiness begun in regeneration, calling, and conversion, is a fruit of the Spirit; a course of living righteously is a fruit of holiness, as a principle implanted; a gradual increase in holiness is carried on by th”
1 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Peter 1:13: Here the apostle begins his exhortations to those whose glorious state he had before described, thereby instructing us that Christianity is a doctrine according to godliness, designed to make us not only wiser, but better. I. He exhorts them to sobriety and holiness. 1. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, etc., Pe1 1:13. As if he had said, "Wherefore, since you are so honoured and distinguished, as above, Gird up the loins of your mind. You have a journey to go, a race to run, a warfare to accomplish, and a great work to do; as the traveller, the racer, the”

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