It’s raining again. Thick grey clouds have shut out the Summer sun. And the world continues to feel like a very troubled place…… Covid 19. Racial prejudice…… Financial worries…… This is one of those days when I’m tempted to go and hide inside a dark cupboard!
I guess that most of us have days like that. They tend to come along when we get stuck inside “the present.” A negative present. Humans have a great knack of making one another feel depressed, especially through their media and news stories. And sometimes it seems as though the world has forgotten how to laugh and smile.
And when those thundery grey clouds bear down on us, we all need to look beyond the present to the future. And then beyond the future towards eternity. Because believing in eternity changes everything in the “present”…...
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
And yet, that word “eternity” seems to scare so many souls. Because it represents the unknown. Everything that we know here on Earth has a finite life. Everything that we touch, see, smell or enjoy. Everything from a single-celled amoeba to a giant elephant; everything from a flower to a parrot like me, or a human. Everything from a single day to a single season. Life is always partnered by death, and “the beginning” by “the end”. How can there be anything that exists forever? ………Especially ourselves?!
And this is something we need to think through as we live out our worldly lives. Because Life here on Earth should be so much more than simply “existing.” More than simply going through the motions of growing up, getting a job, starting a family, earning money, and then finally dying…….. No, our lives are meant to be a journey of discovery; a journey of searching for what exists beyond the limitations of our imagination. For we can only learn how to live “in the present” after catching a tiny glimpse of our future lives with God. Otherwise, we’ll all find ourselves stepping into a deep, dark cupboard every time our “present” lets us down.
Covid 19 has forced so many humans to step away from the relentless daily drudge of human systems, values and structures. It’s allowed them to stop, reflect and re-assess what life’s all about, and to understand what really matters. And let’s forget about our status, wealth, colour or creed. Instead, we need to start living and breathing the faith, hope, love and humility that comes from God. The same faith, hope, love and humility that will ultimately lead us into Heaven. Sometimes, it’s only when our “present” starts to fall apart that we stop to look up and see the incredible future that awaits us. The eternal life that Jesus talks about, time and time again throughout the Gospels………….
“Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and |I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35)
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)
So, no dark cupboards for me today! Grey clouds, or not, - there’s a bright light shining, and it’s shining there for us!
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