Do you feel broken by recent events? I hear you. It’s hard to live in the here and now when here is untenable and now is rife with violence, greed and anger. Perspective helps, so let’s go back to the Sermon on the Mount. You know what Jesus said: “Blessed are the peacemakers, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice,” etcetera. Notice what he didn’t say? “…for they will inherit the earth — in twenty minutes!” Nope. All of those rewards Jesus talks about? Those are things that will happen in heaven, in the hereafter — “next life” stuff.
So how do you make it through this life when real justice will only occur in the next? Think long-term. Even the king of the fruit flies only lives 24 hours. Sure, he can buzz as loud as he likes, even assemble a fruit fly army…in the end, he is a nothing in a sea of nothingness. He is a grain of sand. He is a mote, a distraction, a flicker, an afterthought. This life is brief. The next life is eternal. Why waste time on negativity, selfishness or anger when there is so much joy to look forward to?
I’m not asking you to ignore life or to ignore the inequalities and injustice that surround us. Just the opposite. Keep working on it. Don’t give up because of “this world” distractions. Those are just fruit flies. Swat them away. Keep plugging away at justice, mercy, love and hope. Because that’s what will matter in the next life. And next life stuff is awesome. I want to be there for it. Don’t you?
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November 8, 2018 at 7:18 pm
Visionariekind
yes I want to be alive and kicking, not allowing none of it to eat away at me, loved it 😊💕
November 9, 2018 at 9:58 am
CareSA
Your post brings to mind this quote I heard, not sure the original author.
“Are you going to curse the darkness or are you going to light a candle” – dovetails with your ‘next life stuff’ – and I want in too !
November 11, 2018 at 5:38 am
calensariel
I also think it’s important to remember that we can’t just put ourselves on the shelf and wait for the dust to settle in that hereafter because Jesus said in Mark 1:15:
“The [appointed period of] time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life] and believe [with a deep, abiding trust] in the good news [regarding salvation].” (Amplified Bible)
You’re so right. The Kingdom of God is here and now. Now is the time for us to find our joy and purpose in life. That means loving our neighbors as we love ourselves and hoping that our presence in their lives makes this world a better place for them.