“Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail.“
Jeremiah 7:8
Context.
As a culture, we seem to have forgotten not only the meaning but also the importance of this seven-letter word – CONTEXT. Whether it’s a statement taken from a sermon, a comment on a social media post, a conversation overheard or repeated, a breaking news story, a political speech, or even a Scripture verse, when taken out of context, misunderstanding, confusion, hurt, and anger can result.
“You took my words out of context!”
“That photo is a total misrepresentation of the situation!”
“That edited video completely ignored the reality of the encounter!”
Totally out of context.
Context reveals truth and provides clarity.
Context gives a clearer, more complete picture – it tells a fuller story. Context describes the situational circumstances or setting, provides clarification, and allows the listener, reader, or viewer to better interpret and understand what has been said, heard, read, or seen.
Words or actions taken out of context can be easily misunderstood and often completely misrepresent the original intention of the words or actions. Intentionally ignoring the context is foolish at best and downright sinister at its worst.
Context keeps us honest and true to God’s Word.
We should not take Scripture verses out of context to illustrate or prove a point that isn’t being taught when the entire context is considered. We stay true to God’s Word and honest in our teaching and conversation when we keep our interpretation and application aligned with what God has said in His Word.
Context expands our understanding and appreciation of God’s Word.
Students of God’s Word learn that cultural, geographic, political, economic, demographic, and sociographic factors specific to the period in which a Scriptural passage has been written offer added dimension and context for the passage. Context expands our understanding and deepens our appreciation of Scripture when read in light of the period in which it was written.
Context provides perspective.
Living in the Context of Temporary keeps us focused on the short-term results and consequences of all that we say and do. If we believe that all there is to life is the allotted 76.4 years average* then that defines the timeframe of our context.
If we believe that all of the joy, peace, love, happiness, success, fulfillment, and satisfaction that we will ever experience must happen during that short 76-plus-year window of opportunity, we will be driven to achieve it all as fast as we possibly can. When it doesn’t happen quickly enough or in sufficient quantity, we become stressed out, bitter, despondent, and even desperate.
The world would have us believe that is all there is to it – on average 76 years (give or take a few). I recall the words that were posted online after the death of a famous fashion designer, “He is no more.” He’s done. Gone. Over.
Those words for someone famous whose name I can’t remember and who I knew nothing about were incredibly tragic to me. Heart-wrenching, hopeless words: “He is no more.”
Those words were not true.
And even though the words weren’t and aren’t true, this is the perspective of those who view life in the Context of Temporary.
Friend, that is not the context of our lives. We had a beginning but, as believers in Christ Jesus, we have no end!
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life.” John 5:24 ESV
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.” John 6:47 ESV
Life without end. Everlasting life.
Our context is Eternity.
Eternity is the timeframe of our existence. Maybe our time on earth is 76 years – maybe it’s 50 years, or even 90. Whatever the number, it is our beginning, it is not our end.
Our perspective, goals, desires, and pursuits begin to change when we recognize that we are living in the context of eternity; we will turn our pursuits to things with eternal value.
Context offers hope.
For those who view life as limited to a time-bound context here on Earth, there is
- no abiding joy,
- no peace that calms heart and mind in times of trials,
- no certainty of an everlasting divine love, and
- no confident hope in an everlasting existence with God and the saints of all time.
Abiding joy, abundant peace, love divine, and hope everlasting belong to us – to all who have said, “Yes,” to Jesus and His offer of salvation.
This is the hope offered to all through Jesus Christ. When we live in the context of the eternal, we will want to share the message of Jesus and His hope with all we meet.
What is your Context?
Are you living in the Context of Temporary having never chosen to follow Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
Have you given in to the demands of the Context of Temporary forgetting who you are in Christ and that you belong to the Context of Eternity?
Or, are you joyfully, hopefully, and confidently living day by day intentionally investing your time and energy into things eternal?
Live in the Context of the Eternity.
* cdc.gov (2021)