I more fully realized the joy of being Heaven’s ambassador when I saw how life was woefully bereft of offering anything of value to the born-again believer.
It’s like my Pastor used to say (Do you find yourself quoting your pastor a lot? I think it’s gotta be a sign of maturity :) ), he’d say, “Now that I’ve traveled the globe, been to some of the finest restaurants and met some famous people, I’ve come to the conclusion that life is a 6.” And I don’t remember if the scale was 1 to 10, or perhaps 6 being the number of man and 7 the perfect number of God…but here’s the point--If you’ve been asking yourself, “Is this as good as it gets?” if you’re a Christian, please stop wondering…the answer is yes…life doesn’t get any better than this. And if that answer depresses you, then you’re being presented with the grand opportunity to switch systems, from one that plays for racking up points in this life “where moth and rust destroy” and one that “stores up treasure in heaven.” (Matthew 6:19-20)
For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. Romans 8:22-23
But wait…there’s more…James says to “count it all joy when [not if] we fall into diverse trials” (James 1:2); Jesus promised us “persecution” along with the hundred fold return in Mark 10:30, and I’m just getting started!
What is this selective memory that we Christians fall into? There are a lot of verses about the pain of being a Christian and the pain of being in this world in general that either we forget or worse yet, perhaps haven’t read at all. We must remember, the promise box may not give us all the daily information we need to make it as a Christian.
And I can personally vouch for this. From growing up in an economically-depressed area to graduating from one of the finest Universities in the country; having been as poor as a church mouse to making a good penny (hey, $800/week is a lot of money for a 19-year old with no responsibilities!); I’ve been lonely and desperate and madly in love (yeah, Tony it was YOU); and I feel like Ione Skye in “Say Anything” (ok, I also quote movies a lot too) “I’ve been to the mountain top and all I can say is…Go back!”
When life is handing you rose-colored glasses, leading you to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and putting on its best behavior like you’re on a first date…life is a 6...and that’s being nice. The high of it all becomes so fleeting, that you realize it’s just not worth pursuing.
Switching systems is a focus issue, for what you focus on, pursue, dream about and speak about, you will eventually bring forth in your life. Here’s the rest of that passage in Romans 8...
We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)
(v. 23-25)
And now that the Word has answered your question, Jesus has a question for you, (Thank you to my friend‘s pastor John Hannah) “Do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15-17) More than these disappointments and failings, more than these trials and tribulations, more than the six-ness of life? Then, “[f]eed my sheep,” Jesus says. Move on with the Lord…serve Him with all your heart…there are people that need you today! And the ultimate reward you receive will await you in a more seven-ly place.
