LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Not To Make the World Our Home
"For we have no permanent city here, but seek the city to come" (Hebrews 13:14).
"The Christian doctrine of suffering explains, in my judgment", writes C.S. Lewis, "an extremely curious fact about the world in which we live: God does not, by the very nature of the world, give us the stable happiness and security we all desire. He has, however, amply distributed joys, pleasures, and joys. We are never completely safe, but we do have a lot of fun, and sometimes we reach ecstasy".
"It is not difficult to see the cause. The security we crave would teach us to set our hearts on this world and place obstacles in the way of our return to God: a few moments of blissful love, a landscape, a symphony, a joyful meeting with friends, a bath or a soccer game, do not lead us to that. Our Father encourages us on our journey with some pleasant inns, but does not encourage us to confuse them with home".
Home, true home awaits us without shadows or tears. No more trials or terrible surprises. As we pass now through the valley of the shadow of death, we may well glimpse, with legitimate hope, the splendorous light beyond.
The author adds: "The Scriptures frequently place in the balance the bliss of heaven against the sufferings of earth, and no solution to the problem of sorrow that does not do the same can be called Christian".
"At present we are very reluctant even to mention heaven. We fear ridicule for the "heavenly city" and being told that instead of doing our duty to build a happy world here and now, we are "escaping" into the fantasy of a happy world somewhere else. But either there is a "heavenly city", or there is not. If there is not, Christianity would be false, for this doctrine is woven into the whole fabric of Christianity.
"We fear that heaven is a bribe, and that, if we make it our goal, we will no longer be disinterested. Not so. Heaven offers nothing that a mercenary soul could desire. There is no danger in telling the pure in heart that they will see God, for only the pure in heart desire it. There are rewards that do not tarnish motives. A man's love for a woman is not mercenary because he wants to marry her, nor is his love of poetry mercenary because he wants to read it, nor is his love of exercise less selfless because he wants to run and jump and walk. By definition, love seeks to enjoy its object".
Countless generations of Christians have consoled themselves with the beauties and joys of heaven, with its colorful hues, and above all with the chief Dweller of that ineffable summit, in the midst of the most dreadful misery and pain. The trials and sorrows have been sweetened by the warm aromas of heaven. Had their hope been illusory, had God let their yearnings be mocked, had God disappointed His little suffering ones?