While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
We no longer build upon the concept of eternity. Everything is now earthly and temporal. Whether it be economics or politics or even our lives themselves, everything is measured by the finite and fleeting as opposed to the eternal. And what could possibly be the reason for such thinking? Simply, unbelief. In reality the church by and large only believes doctrinally in eternity but as a practice most western believers live as though eternity did not exist or at least they are not willing to place their entire life within the framework of eternity. And against that unbelief what becomes the focal point of our lives? We do.
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
So many saints have gladly given their lives for the sake of Christ, and in so doing, they manifested a faith that not only believed in eternity, but substantiated that belief with the greatest of all manifestations. And today we hear precious little about eternity and its rewards and punishments. Christianity has evolved into a set of rules and morals and even a political force with which the culture can be manipulated without altering anyone’s eternal destination or transforming anyone’s heart. Many call it a “culture war” which is nothing more than a self righteous attempt to politically engineer society with a strategy void of redemption and at opposition to the gospel itself.
Eternity has fallen out of vogue even in the church. Hardly anyone even pauses to feel any fear or apprehension anymore. Everyone will die one day and everyone will spend a conscious eternity somewhere. But if that be true then what could possibly be more important? And if that is indeed true than why do we live as if eternity was a myth? Simply, unbelief. Before the Industrial Revolution, and in an overwhelmingly agricultural society, the church did not have much to lose materially. But now we have come into wealth and prosperity and a lifestyle that affords us much entertainment, vacation, and the enjoyments of this western, hedonistic culture. We now have something to both enjoy and protect, and so eternity must be moved to the display case in the Museum of Doctrinal History. Oh we still profess to believe in it, but it has lost its luster and it no longer affects our lives here and now.
In the western church eternity has become an aside which everyone espouses with their doctrinal lips but it no longer has any significant impact. And what is the main reason for this shift? We now have acquired many things which we enjoy here and now and wish to protect and increase. From hedonism to materialism to nationalism and intellectualism, the church is content to wallow in the mire of mediocrity and be known as one of many rather than a startling revelation of something much different than any other. We are willing to kill to avoid being killed. We are willing to fight rather than surrender. We are willing to return evil for evil rather than endure the glories of persecution. We are willing to argue over the moral decay of a nation rather than invading the spiritual decay with a fresh illumination of gospel light.
The pulpit has become a source for utilitarian knowledge concerning being successful in all areas of our western lives. Finances, child rearing, marriage, sexual relations, and cultural interaction are the mainstream “how to” preaching diets. Preaching Jesus has long since fallen out of vogue, unless it a caricature of a Jesus that is at odds with the Scriptures but fits in nicely with our spiritually mundane existences. And any mention of a coming judgment is downplayed if not altogether ignored. And the thirst for new in an affluent and many times bored culture has now suggested that the end times are surely not upon us. Again, when you have wealth and enjoyment here and now, who desires it to end prematurely? The eschatology that many of us learned many years ago is being replaced by an earthly narrative that treats the coming of Christ as an esoteric and ethereal abstract that really does not have any impact on our lives here and now. Only a liar would claim that the second coming of Jesus Christ is actually believed with evidence by the western church.
The Patriarch David was once pinned down by the Philistines. He wished he could drink from the well at Bethlehem's gate. Three brave men broke through and brought their leader the water he wished to drink. But having wished in the temporal, David now poured it out before the Lord because he saw the sacrifice his men made and he could not bring himself to dishonor their bravery by succombing to his temporal need.
And so we now say goodbye to eternity. We enjoyed our relationship not so long ago, but your services are no longer needed and the sirens of now are all we really need. We can take it from here and our temporal existence requires our attention. Heaven will hopefully await us when and if this present world comes to an end, but we cannot risk the sacrifice required to authenticate an actual wholehearted embracing of eternity. What if we are wrong, then we have lost a lot. We are satisfied with knowing Jesus and being involved with a group of professing believers in a limited and unobtrusive way. Anyway, anything that negatively affects, alters, or even inconveniences our lives in a material way is always of the evil one. That we know for sure and are willing to live as though we actually believe that. Anything positive is a praise report and anything negative is a prayer request. But please keep those martyrdom stories coming; they make us feel all tingly inside.
Eternity has just been removed from the endangered doctrinal species list.
It is now extinct.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment