Lately, it seems, according to my social media accounts, there are A LOT of people who are very passionate about A LOT of topics. I’ve never in my life seen so many people so angry and vocal about their anger, so intensely upset with those who don’t agree with them. Whether it’s politics, public health, masks, schooling…people are speaking up and speaking out.
As I’ve read and listened to the various opinions, I’ve been conflicted. Of course, there are very important issues that I need to consider. The world is in chaos, and we all want that chaos to recede. However, it seems that the focus is not where it should be. We are looking for salvation, redemption, and freedom. But we are looking in the wrong places. Those won’t come through an election or through congress or through a vaccine.
What we are looking for is what we have: Jesus! I’m not saying the simplistic Sunday school answer kids give. I mean that deep in the core of who we are as humans, what we long for is what He offers: salvation, redemption, and freedom.
And yet, how many of us are proclaiming that on our social media sites? Or in conversations with friends? Where are we expending our energies? Our passions? Is there really any benefit from all this name-calling and shaming and screaming? We can have opinions – and those opinions can be different – but we can still be kind. We can still seek the best for one another. And we can still keep our priorities where they should be.
This world, friends, has a expiration date. The perfection we long for – the place with no war or violence or poverty or hate – will not be found here. God has given us a longing for our true home – Heaven! And He tells us that our focus should be there, our treasure should be there, our eyes should be there. We have a responsibility here, of course, to love others, to care for His creation, to seek to be at peace with all men. But we do that best when our eyes are on Him.
Too many of us are looking for heaven on earth. When we do that, we are disappointed at best, angry at worst. Let’s keep our eyes on what is promised, what is true, and what is good. This is a difficult time, no doubt. But let’s allow this time to make us long for our true Home.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-4
