Consider. We know -- most of us can quote word for word -- that "God works all things together for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose." (Rom 8:28) Yeah, we like that one. And we should. And, yet, when something unpleasant arises, we're pretty sure it's the end of the world, that nothing good can come out of this, and that God has forgotten us.
We do that. It's strange, if you think about it, but we do.
One that really baffles me -- and don't be misled ... it baffles me about me, too -- is this whole concept of "comfortable." This whole idea that God should make our lives comfortable, better, more peaceful here. It sounds nice. There are preachers who claim it's even biblical. But here's something we all know: we are "fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household." (Eph 2:19) Conversely, we are "strangers and exiles on the earth." (Heb 11:13) We have songs about it. "This world is not my home; I'm just a-passin' through ..." Jesus said we are "not of the world." (John 15:19) Paul tells us we are "ambassadors for Christ." (2 Cor 5:20) We know this. So why is it that we who know better spend so very much time getting as anchored, as comfortable, as dug in, as cozy as we can in this world when we know we're not staying? Why do we beat our chests and cry out to God, "Why don't you make me happier here on earth?" when we know this world is not our home? We are living in a brief and meager existence with eternity in view and all we can think about is ... this brief and meager existence. That's crazy!
Really, we don't need this. We get so caught up in the extraneous. We want so little when God has such big things in mind for us. We want "comfy" and "cozy" and "here and now" when God has an eternity waiting for us. We are working hard to build on a foundation of hay and straw rather than the foundation of Christ and, trust me, that will not end well (1 Cor 3:10-13).
Hebrews talks about the hardships believers have endured.
But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. (Heb 10:32-33)These people came to Christ ("enlightened") and endured suffering themselves and in sharing with others who were enduring suffering. They "endured a great conflict of sufferings." How? "Knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one." (Heb 10:34) If we could get our silly thinking out of the here and now and realize the reality that we are not home here, so much would be better for us. We would understand how it is that this world thinks so much different than those who know Christ. We would see that the pains and sufferings we endure are short-term problems with a long-term and wonderful outcome. We wouldn't work so hard at being "at home" here and wouldn't hurt so bad when the temporary suffering is so temporary and wouldn't miss out on the immense blessings available to those who despise the pain to gain God's glory. This world is not our home. Shouldn't we be working toward something better, something more eternal than a new car or to be better liked?
No comments:
Post a Comment