Eternal Perspective
Matthew West’s Wisdom on Climbing the Ladder of Life
Does your life’s ladder lean against the right wall? This metaphorical question about the trajectory of our lives can be a deep source of anxiety for Christ followers striving to walk in God’s path. Christian artist, singer, songwriter and author, Matthew West, during an insightful conversation with Family Life Radio, uses this powerful imagery to highlight the importance of perspective. His reflections offer a compelling look at how a biblically rooted perspective can shape our faith journey and lead us in the right direction.
From Proverbs, the book of wisdom, it says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV). Without the right perspective, you can believe you are on the right path, only to find yourself headed in the wrong direction.
Matthew shared, “I always had this image like, I put a ladder up against the building. And I spend my whole life climbing that ladder. What scares me is to get to the top of that ladder, look around and realize that I had it up against the wrong building.”
The picture just drawn in our minds reflect what life looks like when we’re driven by worldly values and blinded by immediate gains, rather than God’s purpose for us. Proverbs 14:12 warns, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death” (NIV).
A grounded perspective, rooted in God’s Word, can steer us clear of such mistaken paths.
“You’ll hear [the importance of perspective] in my lyrics a lot. Like, in my song, ‘What If’ it says:
‘My biggest fear is waking up to find what matters
Is miles away from what I spent my life chasing after
Is my story gonna have the same two words in every chapter?
What if?’”
Songs as Reminders of Perspective
Matthew uses his music to work out and express his perspective. His songs act as reminders for him and his listeners about life’s priorities and what truly matters. This shows the power of art as a tool for spiritual reflection and growth.
“A lot of my songs are working out perspective,” he said. “And then they return to me and remind me of perspective, remind me of priorities, remind me of what matters because I’m on stage singing these songs and going, ‘Lord was my perspective in the right way?’”
Eternity’s Lens
Matthew believes the ultimate perspective should be a game changer in our lives. “The last couple years, hopefully have reminded us all that it’s through the lens of eternity that we have to look at this troubled world we live in.”
It’s so important to consider our eternal destiny when navigating life’s challenges.
It can inspire hope amidst trials. “I have a friend right now,” Matthew shared, “really battling for his life. And I think about, what hope would we have in that? What hope would his wife and children have? What hope does any of us have, when we see so much pain around us. Heaven is the only perspective that gives us hope, knowing that we’re going somewhere. We can get really comfortable down here. I know I do, but I’ve got to remember and keep the perspective that this is not the final destination.”
Like a compass guiding a traveler, right perspective helps us navigate the terrain of our lives, ensuring we’re aligned with God’s purpose. As we continue to grapple with the complexities of our earthly existence, may we, like Matthew, strive to view our lives through the lens of eternity. With this perspective, we can courageously face life’s challenges, firm in the conviction that our earthly trials are but a stopover before we reach our eternal home.
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