One of the many reasons people love books is that they feel they are much more long-lasting than other forms of media. The fact that many avid readers have large collections and love authors who died decades or even centuries ago supports this.

But books are still an example of a temporal and perishable form of communication. Apart from the Bible, nothing man-created is truly eternal. Everything from the hand of a human will pass away, even your favorite book and author.

When considering Christian writing with an eternal perspective, we need to identify the elements in the process that are not perishable from a human perspective.

What does it mean to write with an eternal perspective?

As usual, Scripture provides a framework. Romans 8 has so many great themes. For some, it is their favorite chapter in the Bible. For purposes of this topic, I’ll focus on verses 18-25. In it, Paul reminds the Christians in Rome: (text from NLT)

“Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.”(vs 18-19)

“Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.”(vs 20-21)

“For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering.” (vs 22-23a)

“We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently. (23b-25)

So, writing with an eternal perspective is a Christian “groaning” with words. We look at the world around us and yearn for that “glorious freedom.”

As a Christian writes anything, underlying every message should be a reminder that while everything is broken and not what it was intended to be, it won’t be forever. We “eagerly hope” with patience and confidence, giving our readers a foretaste of future glory. The hymn Great Is Thy Faithfulness contains a perfect line about this: “Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.”

Practically speaking, to write with an eternal perspective:

• Look to Scripture for themes rather than using the Bible to prooftext by quoting a verse here and there to support your thoughts.
• Treat your readers with the Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5.
• Give hope. It is a core message.
• Know your “credit limit.” All good gifts are from the hand of God.

God is always accomplishing things far beyond what we could ever imagine or manufacture on our own. Just keep planting seeds, and God will handle the fruit.

Do these things, and you will find yourself writing from an eternal perspective.

Today is my final day working for the Agency. It has been an honor and a privilege.