How do we make sense of a world that is full of darkness? A world full of anger, lust, hate? Where life is never fair, our ideals are constantly smashed to pieces, our hopes disappointed, our hearts constantly broken? Where do we find hope in all of this?
I guess it starts by realizing that WE are the cause of all this. It all started the day Man chose to eat the forbidden fruit, disobeying the only commandment God had given him, choosing to follow the way of his own lust instead of obeying the God who would have given him a perfect life, a perfect world.
This world is never going to be perfect; those who hope for it to be so, or those who try to make it so, will end up sorely disappointed. For it was never meant to be. But one day, when "the grey curtain of this world rolls back", and our faith turns to sight, then we will behold the world that is and will always be perfect. And we will dwell with the One who is perfect. And that day all griefs and woes and sorrows would have passed away, leaving nothing but eternal bliss and joy. That is our hope. We are pilgrims and sojourners on this earth, travelling on a rough journey to our final glorious destination.
So in the meantime what do we do? We live our lives as Christ has taught and directed us. Our lives are never going to be ideal or perfect, but instead of complaining or moaning about it, we get a grip on ourselves and live our lives in a way pleasing to God, difficult as it may be. In our workplaces, our relationships, our endeavours, in everything. And in the process our lives, and many many other lives as well, are transformed for the better. In doing so it is almost like bringing a tiny tiny bit of heaven onto this earth. In doing so we shine the light of Christ into the dark corners of this world, and the more lights that shine, the brighter this world becomes. There is no hope for this world, and one day it will be utterly destroyed; but as long as the light of Christ is shone bright and clear for all to see, there is hope for Man.
"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life..." Philippians 2:14-16
I guess it starts by realizing that WE are the cause of all this. It all started the day Man chose to eat the forbidden fruit, disobeying the only commandment God had given him, choosing to follow the way of his own lust instead of obeying the God who would have given him a perfect life, a perfect world.
This world is never going to be perfect; those who hope for it to be so, or those who try to make it so, will end up sorely disappointed. For it was never meant to be. But one day, when "the grey curtain of this world rolls back", and our faith turns to sight, then we will behold the world that is and will always be perfect. And we will dwell with the One who is perfect. And that day all griefs and woes and sorrows would have passed away, leaving nothing but eternal bliss and joy. That is our hope. We are pilgrims and sojourners on this earth, travelling on a rough journey to our final glorious destination.
So in the meantime what do we do? We live our lives as Christ has taught and directed us. Our lives are never going to be ideal or perfect, but instead of complaining or moaning about it, we get a grip on ourselves and live our lives in a way pleasing to God, difficult as it may be. In our workplaces, our relationships, our endeavours, in everything. And in the process our lives, and many many other lives as well, are transformed for the better. In doing so it is almost like bringing a tiny tiny bit of heaven onto this earth. In doing so we shine the light of Christ into the dark corners of this world, and the more lights that shine, the brighter this world becomes. There is no hope for this world, and one day it will be utterly destroyed; but as long as the light of Christ is shone bright and clear for all to see, there is hope for Man.
"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life..." Philippians 2:14-16
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home