there's something about looking horizontal that makes my heart grow cold and bitter. whether it's towards starvation in the Sudan that seems unnecessary with the world's wealth, or the game of politics that splashes the news night after night.... maybe it's the sickening fame that everyone seems to running after these days. ...or the false sense of "bliss" that comes with the holidays.... where the world tries to pretend through the media and advertisements, and a forced "spirit of giving" etc, etc ... that the world is alright after all.
...sorry not trying to dampen your spirit, just trying to be real.
not just looking at the world ... but at the Church ... at our friends, at our lives ... it's easy to get down.
...when we focus on the horizontal ... we focus on the temporary bliss, the temporary hurt, we get angry about little things, and depressed because things aren't going like the fairy tales promised they would. We judge, we compare, we obsess, and we digress into the black hole of self-absorption. It's no secret that this world is fading away... it's no secret that things are getting worse, ...and it's no secret that you and i don't look half as good as some of those made up chicks who's body parts are only half real.... ha. sorry. i just had to throw that in there to lighten things up some.
but friends. as a reminder to myself and to you.
...we do not belong here. it is not our home. may we not get fixated on the things that are temporal, for it will only bring sadness, dissatisfaction, frustration, and bitterness.
...but when we look to our Lord, not only do we have hope for a future, but we will know how to live today in His purpose, with joy and satisfaction, with peace, and graciousness, with sincerity in our love towards others, and a heart that is not afraid of being seen as "less than" or "foolish" by the world, because our God is great, and His promise is sure.
...and to make things even better... He promised that He would carry out what He began. So let us let go, and trust, that even in this crazy world, God is doing a mighty work.
May we look up and submit to His leading that we might walk in the peace and purpose that the Holy Spirit brings. :)
Amen! :) Love this post, it was encouraging, since I was feeling a bit down today. But when we focus on the eternal, not just the temporal, life has a purpose and is put back into perspective!
ReplyDelete