"Lower your expectations of earth. This isn't heaven, so don't expect it to be."
~ Max Lucado~
Are our views of heaven so skewed that we think that it may be anything like the most perfect day here? We all have been guilty of saying ..... just heavenly..... a little piece of heaven..... or other sayings to describe something here on earth.....we want to compare something that is so vastly different that nothing could ever compare......The world we live in is full of disappointment.... this is just not the same place that God designed in the beginning..... man's sin has brought all sorts of calamities upon this world. It has been made desolate and has been laid to waste by God's judgments. Period. Trials, heartache, pain, suffering, weeping, death...... the list could go on..... all exist because of sin. So why do we (even as Christians) want to expect this world to be “ a little piece of heaven”? The answer...... we desire heaven so desperately we want it in the here and now.
Speaking to my father-in-law about this .... he said that he felt that C.S. Lewis put it best when he spoke of joy being the economy of heaven..... that heaven will be nothing but pure joy. And we as Christians know a piece of that joy through Christ. And in knowing even just a faint reflection of that pure joy from heaven through Christ in us, we want to have the full experience of it here and now.
Oh how like little children we are....... have you ever heard of the marshmallow test? I saw it several years ago..... some study on how children related or some such..... a child was sat in a room at a table.... it had a large marshmallow in the middle of it and an adult was speaking with the child..... then the adult left telling the child they could eat the marshmallow but if they would wait until they got back that the child could have 2 large marshmallows instead of just the one..... well and overwhelming amount of the children ate the marshmallow before the adult got back in the room..... they needed that joy right then.... sound familiar?
Let us not get so wrapped up in this world (and wanting that “ little piece of heaven” here and now) that we forget to keep our eyes on the prize......
Php 3:14 I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.
10 comments:
I enjoyed this post, bless you.
Pure joy- great description of being in Christ presence. We won't lack anything basking in His light.
Sorry to say I too many times I have chosen the marshmallow. God help me.
I recently moved my blog and lost a lot of comments. Hope you get a chance to browse and comment on a few entries (if you have time) I'd appreciate it.
Thanks,
Robin
Well there you are! Sorry I missed you the other night. I was so tired I just fell asleep while everyone else was watching tv. I didn't find your message till morning.
Hope to see you today....
Me :-)
You are so right that there is nothing on earth than can compare with what Heaven will truly be like, but I am thankful for the glimpses He allows us!!
I loved reading this! Thank you for sharing.
We are certainly a "want it now" society - but our wait for heaven will be worth it all when we see Jesus.
Thank you for sharing. Blessings ~ Loni
The economy of heaven... joy. I am so grateful for the love of my heavenly Father that does sometimes give me a little taste of what heaven is like. But you're right, I can't wait to get the whole serving ~ I am afraid, I would choose the marshmellow (but can I make it chocolate anything instead?)
C.S. Lewis was a smart man :) - Yes, I have been guilty of saying "a little piece of heaven" when we were at our favorite place this side of heaven. We do know a little slice of heaven through the joy in Christ.
I love the marshmallow test :)
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on this week's IOW quote.
Be blessed today and always.
Thank you all for stopping by.... I've not had very much time to read more from others so far with the move and getting settled but I promise to soon!!!
Blessings to all!
Excellent choice of verse to go with the quote! I enjoyed your plays on the word "heaven." Very creative.
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