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short term vs long term

I’ve been playing a game with myself on the train in the morning.

Each day, I think of three things I’m looking forward to in the day. They’re often really small things - seemingly mundane events that just make the day bright. Yesterday it was eating my very tasty sandwich, starting interviews for a story I’m feeling a bit daunted by and going to dance class with Christine. Today it’s getting my hair cut, giving my brother Nic a tasty sandwich (he’s currently doing his design internship at my company and has been buying KFC for lunch every day - yuck) and reading Grazia on the way home.

If this revelation makes my life sound depressing at the moment, I assure you it’s not. But sometimes you hit that point in the year where work is a grind, routine is tiring and the sweet scent of holidays beckon. I am dying for a break - not for the relaxation factor, but for the break from the tyranny of routine.

However, as I was reading Don Carson’s How Long Oh Lord this morning, I realised there may be a better way than looking to the very (very) short term.

“Christians ought to be developing a kind of homesickness for heaven. Some want to warn us against being so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good. I suppose that is possible, but I haven’t found anyone like that yet. Puffed up piety and sentimental religion can make one think much of heaven and love no one down here, but those who are genuinely heavenly minded have the highest incentive to serve well here: they are laying up treasure in heaven.

Preaching and teaching that do not constantly make heaven the Christian’s hope and goal are not only unfaithful to the Scriptures, but rob believers of one of the most important perspectives for helping them to cope with pressure here and now…if they displace a robust Christian faith that deals with guilt, suffering, values, faith , fidelity, hope, mercy, truth, righteousness, justice, forgiveness and much more on biblical grounds, we have squandered our birthright for a mess of pottage.

Read 1 Peter and ask yourself if they accurately reflect your own values. Does Peter summarise what you really think and feel?”

 

 

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