SEEING LIFE FROM GOD’S VIEW

• The way you view life

Shapes Your Life

• How you define life determines your destiny.

• Your perspective will influence how you invest your time, spend your money, use your talents and value you relationships!

People View Life in
Many Different Ways

* A CIRCUS * A JOURNEY

* A MINEFIELD * A DANCE

* A ROLLER COASTER * A CAROUSEL

* A PUZZLE * A GAME OF CARDS

* A SYMPHONY * A BOX OF CHOCOLATES

• If I asked how you picture life, what image would come to your mind?

• To fulfill God’s purpose for your life, you will have to challenge conventional wisdom and replace it with a biblical mindset

Romans 12:2

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern

of this world, but be transformed by the

renewing of your mind. Then you will be

able to test and approve what God's will

is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

• The Bible offers many metaphors that teach us

GOD’S VIEW OF LIFE, …today we examine Three of those views

1. Life is a TEST

2. Life is a TRUST

3. Life is a TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT

I. LIFE ON EARTH

IS A TEST

• Throughout the Bible, God continually tests people’s Character, Faith, Obedience, Love, Integrity, and Loyalty.

• Words like Trials, Temptations, Refining, and Testing occur over 200 times in the Bible.

I. LIFE ON EARTH

IS A TEST

• The good news is that

GOD WANTS

YOU TO PASS the test of life.

• 1 Corinthians 10:13

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

• Character is both developed and revealed by tests, and all of life is a test.

James 1:12

“ Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

I. LIFE ON EARTH

IS A TEST

II. LIFE ON EARTH

IS A TRUST

• Our time on earth and our

energy, intelligence,

opportunities and resources

are all gifts from God, that He has entrusted to our care and management… we are stewards of what God gives us!

Psalms24:1

“The earth is the LORD’S, and

everything in it, the world, and all

who live in it;”

Genesis 1:28

God blessed them and said to

them, "Be fruitful and increase in

number; fill the earth and subdue

it. Rule over the fish of the sea and

the birds of the air and over every

living creature that moves on the

ground."

• Our culture says, “ If you don’t

own it, you won’t take care of it”

• But Christians live by a higher standard, “Because God owns it, I must take the best care of it.”

I Corinthians 4:2

“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful”

• In the story of the talents, (Matt.25) a businessman entrusts his wealth to the care of his servants while he was away,

…when he returns, he evaluates each servants responsibility and rewards them accordingly.

Matthew 25:21

"His master replied, `Well done, good

and faithful servant! You have been

faithful with a few things; I will put you

in charge of many things. Come and

share your master's happiness!”

• This parable clearly shows that everything you do with what God has entrusted to you will be Evaluated and Rewarded,

…Everything has Eternal Implications!

I. LIFE ON EARTH

IS A TEST

II. LIFE ON EARTH

IS A TRUST

III. LIFE IS A TEMPORARY

ASSIGNMENT

PSALMS 39:4

"Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life.”

Psalms 119:19

“I am a stranger on earth;

do not hide your commands from me.”

James 4:14

“ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes..”

• We must never forget two truths

1. Compared with eternity, life is

extremely brief.

2. Earth is only a Temporary

Residence,… don’t get too

attached.

• Repeatedly the Bible compares

life on earth to temporary living

in a foreign country.

• 1 Peter 1:17

“Since you call on a Father who

judges each man's work

impartially, live your lives as

strangers here in reverent fear.”

1 Peter 2:11

“ Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.”

1 Corinthians 7:31

“…For this world in its present form is passing away.”

I. LIFE ON EARTH IS A TEST

II. LIFE ON EARTH IS A TRUST

III. LIFE IS A TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT