When "The End" Isn't Enough...

Have you ever been in the midst of a storm, and someone tried to comfort you with the fact that in the end, Jesus wins, and the devil loses, and none of this earth-stuff will matter eventually?

Probably, at some point.

Did it help?

Probably not.

Because no matter how strong we are in our faith, when we're in the midst of a personal storm or trial or hurt, all of that "The End" stuff doesn't really help much. We believe it, of course. We look forward to it as a Christ-follower. But it feels too far away to bring comfort to the here and now. Too surreal. Too unknown.

Sure, we're ready for the "no more tears". We're ready for the constant Presence of God. We're ready for no more night, no more darkness, no more fear or anything evil. Of course!

Yet we're still very much human. We still want a resolution to our problems on THIS earth. We still want hope that there is good for us on THIS earth. We still want to see redemption and restoration and renewal on THIS earth.

I think Jesus understands this, and that's why He prayed that heartbreaking prayer in the Garden before He was arrested.

He was human too, remember.

So I don't think we should feel guilty for feeling this way. It's understandable. But it's not life-giving or freeing...so we definitely shouldn't stay there.

What if...what IF we could live as if that far away, unknown, surreal, "one day" promise of Heaven and God's constant Presence was as certain as next week? Tomorrow?

Today?

What if we could somehow embrace it as the most certain thing we know, the most real, the most concrete, even more guaranteed than our lunch plans? What if we could actually live out that belief daily?

Would it help?

Absolutely.

I think that's the problem. We believe in eternity and what God's Word says about it. But we don't focus on it. We focus on today and this world and the struggles of right now.

(again, understandably)

But what if...

Think about it today.

If "The End" isn't enough for you as a believer, I think that's a sign of a much bigger problem than the one you currently face. (and the one I currently face)

It's about perspective, focus, and where we're looking. At Jesus and things eternal? Or the temporary worries of this world?

Please hear me. I'm not downplaying those worries. AT ALL. After all, my heart breaks daily.

But I don't want to stay in that.

Do you?