For many of us, mind renewal consists of reading, listening to and, hopefully, memorizing the Word of God. This is good. I remember when I was newly born again. I struggled to give up my victim mindset and begin to participate in changing my surface thinking by consciously meditating on God’s Word. It was a very real spiritual war.

    But there is another aspect of mind renewal that is equally important. And that is developing an eternal mindset. This is an actual shift from our soul’s focus on natural time to our spirit’s understanding of eternity.

    Learning to live from an eternal perspective makes everything we suffer in “this present evil age” well worth it. (Galatians 1:4)

    It appears that our souls come into existence when our spirits, drawn from the essence of God, are placed into the womb. Because the soul is created in linear time, this natural life is all that it understands. My soul, for example, can plan my funeral, but has little understanding beyond that. This is why when we consider cremation, our souls will cringe. The soul knows nothing beyond the body. It cannot imagine being free from the body, so it cannot imagine being burned without experiencing pain.

    Because the spirit came from the essence of God and is eternal, it can instruct the soul in eternal things.

    But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 1 Corinthians 2:14  

    There is an age to come. In order to participate in that age, we must pass through the fire of this age. See 1 Peter. Jesus referred to the age to come in Mark 10:30. We are to live our lives here during this age on this earth with our eyes firmly fixed on the age to come. In this way we will not be devoured by our suffering.

    Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 1 Peter 4:1

    Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

    Here are some of the things I think we are here to overcome and accomplish.
        A. We are here to gain a soul for ourselves. 1 Peter 1:9; Matthew 16:23-27
        B. We are here to refine our faith. 1 Peter 1: 7
        C. We are here to obtain an imperishable and undefiled inheritance. 1 Peter 1:4
        D. We are to prepare for the coming age:
            1. To learn to overcome evil with good. Acts 10:38; Romans 12:21
            2. To learn to put God’s interests ahead of our own. Matthew 16:23
            3. To be done with sin. 1 Peter 4:1; Romans 6:7
            4. To learn obedience. Hebrews 5:8
            5. To be groomed to rule and reign with Christ in the coming age. Philippians 3:10-11; Luke 20:34-36

    Begin to ask God to teach you to think eternally. It will help you suffer well, restore your purpose, and fill your heart with courage to face this present evil age.