1. THIS WORLD IN IT'S PRESENT FORM IS PASSING AWAY.  1 Corinthians 7:31 The ultimate reality is that the kingdom of this world will become the kingdom of our God and of His Christ. Revelation 11:15 Not maybe - WILL!!  How will this make a difference?  We can let go of this world, hold onto things loosely.    Robert Moffat was a missionary to South Africa in the early 1800's and father-in-law to David Livingston.  At his funeral it was said of him in regard to this world that he possessed a "perfect disinterestedness. As long as he had just enough to sustain him, he never seemed to covet anything more."  Our jobs and work takes on a new perspective. We see church differently, we see family differently, relationships differently, accumulation differently.  Making a mark on this world is not the driving passion anymore.
   
2. ALL THE WORLD WILL ULTIMATELY BOW AT JESUS' FEET.  Philippians 2:10,11 Welcome to the purposes of God.  Again, this is where everything is headed, no ifs, ands, or buts, or maybes.  With this understanding, we see beyond the natural attractiveness or uniqueness of people (did you see that double reverse layup???  Unbelievable!!)  and become aware of their spiritual condition.  We see people as souls, and pray with real heart concern for their conversion.  Also, with this mindset, the ground is prepared for us to become ambassadors of the good news.  And even though we are clay pots, we are excited that God will use us, however imperfectly, to advance his kingdom.
   
3. ALL CREATION IS CURRENTLY GROANING, BUT THAT WILL NOT ALWAYS BE.  Romans 8:20-23  Our life lived here is a moment in time, and our difficulties and trials and sufferings are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  2 Corinthians 4:17 Persevering down here takes on meaning, for we are being watched, every tear is kept in a bottle, and something eternal is being created even now as we sit in this room that will make everything we endure down here more than worth it.  So Adoniram Judson, the missionary to Burma who buried two wives and four children while planting a witness to Christ, who was captured and tortured for two years, sleeping at night suspended from a rope with his feet in the air, and only his shoulders touching the ground, so this tested saint was enabled to say.....
    "our happiness in Jesus will never come to an end.  Nor will our happiness be eternally stationary.  It will be eternally increasing, and not merely at the same ratio, but eternally increasing on an eternally accelerated rate.  There will unquestionably be a moment in the ages of eternity when the additional, superadded happiness already being enjoyed by each glorified spirit will infinitely outweigh the whole sum of human happiness enjoyed in this world."
   
4.  I AM BEING CHANGED.  2 Corinthians 3:18;Romans 12:2 Change is not optional, it is the point if we are disciples of Christ.  We are not our own any more.  We were purchased at the price of the blood of Jesus.  We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us.  And the idea is to become like Christ.  It glorifies God, and is what we were made for. 
   
Even now, though imperfectly, we reflect the Lord's glory.  We are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory.  God and you, God and I, partner in the process of sanctification, of becoming more like Christ.  As we continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, we can rest in the knowledge that works in us to will and to do his good pleasure.  Philippians 2:12-13 The Lord is fashioning us, and the Holy Spirit is the artist at work.  What effect does this have?  We am not what we will be.  God is not done with us yet.  We are a work in progress. The purposes of God are being worked out in us, so we can relax, knowing that what we are is not what we will be.  We can be confident that he who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 1:6 
   
5. MY PERSPECTIVE WILL NOT BE HIGH-DEFINITION IN THIS LIFE. 1 Corinthians 13:12 Everything I see is as a poor reflection in a mirror.  Result?  Hopefully, humility.  I need to have a realistic view of myself, with what Paul calls sober judgment.  Romans 12:3 I need to involve others in my life, to consult, to get other opinions, to not be an island to myself.  Someday I will see Jesus face to face, and there will be no more fuzziness.
   
6. HOW I LIVE MY LIFE COUNTS FOREVER.  Romans 14:10-12  I will someday stand before God's judgment seat, and give an account of myself to God.  Result?  This attitude guards against trivializing life.  It leads to intentionality, purpose, substance. In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.          2 Timothy 2:20-21
   
7. THE TIME IS SHORT.  1 Corinthians 7:29 We can't just assume on the future.  We do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is our life?  We are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14 No one knows the day or the hour of the coming of the Son of Man.  We are to keep watch, because we don't know on what day our Lord will return.  Matthew 24:36-42 Watching means living in a way that is appropriate were Jesus to return and catch us by surprise.

And understanding the present time keeps us fully awake, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in riotous living and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, let's clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and stop being so concerned about how we can gratify the desires of the flesh.  Romans 13:11-14