For the difference between a man and a boy is the willingness to do a man’s work and take a man’s responsibility.”
–Louis L’Amour (Killoe)
“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.”
–James 1:5 (HCSB)
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I read a book a few years back by Phil Robertson, titled: “Happy, Happy, Happy.” But look around you, how many Christians look like they’re happy? They have to go to “celebration” service, hop around a little, do a jig, or through the rest of the week they head to their local trough to get a drink like the rest of the world to say they’re “happy.” One reason they chase after false-happiness is that they have not focused on real happiness.
I truly believe that Ted Dekker had it right when he said, “This life is powerless to satisfy our dreams of great happiness and pleasure. These dreams can be satisfied only in a mind-bending reality that awaits us in the next life.” The church has lost sight of heaven. Oh, there may be a song, now and then for they are rare in the modern church genre, that speaks of heaven, but overall, Christians don’t look upward; they tend to look outward. Dekker goes on to say, “Christianity has become preoccupied with finding true pleasure and happiness and purpose on earth rather than in the age to come.”
The claims of a Christian do not match up with their life and actions. Their lives are very much the same as the lives of those without the church. When people look at them they wonder why they should want to change their life–it is the same as the so-called Christian. There is nothing to distinguish the Christian except their talk as they do the same things as unbelievers. Where is the holiness? Where is the separation? Where is the fight against the world? C.S. Lewis said that, “We are far too easily pleased.”
Now, of course, you realize that I am speaking of generalities–there are those who are fighting the good fight of faith. There are those who “dare to be a Daniel” in a vile, evil world. But the norm seems to be an emotional, rushed filled sense of happiness that only lasts as long as the rush continues. How often to you think of the beauty of heaven? Of meeting with Christ and loved ones who have gone before?
Ted Dekker states that, “Most Christians are asleep to the bliss of the afterlife.” The pleasures of this life are dependent on the passion of the next life. Dekker continues, “Unless we become desperate for the bliss of the next life, we will never enjoy this life.” This life must be bathed in an obsession for eternity.
Maybe one of the things that we all should do as a resolution is to get a glimpse of eternity again. To long to be with Jesus. Maybe sing some of the songs of old that speak of heaven for “how beautiful heaven must be…”.
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Notice: If you go to Amazon you will find that my first book has a new title, “The Journals of Elias Butler,” along with a new cover.