Sometimes we lose sight of the fact that it is not so bad to leave this world. I am reminded of my brother after his five-year-old son had just died at the age of five, lamenting the fact that his little boy did not even have an opportunity to attend school. Life was cut short for him.
I gently tried to persuade my brother that yes he would not attend school here in this world, but God had wonderful things in store for his son in heaven. Additionally his little son would never have to endure the agony that my brother went through as he watched his son slowly succumb to the ravages of a brain tumor. His son’s life would be delightful, forever, without the pain, suffering, and evil of this world.
The Bible teaches that we should not love this world. We should anxiously and eagerly await the return of our Lord to remove us from this evil world and become reconciled with God forever. The Bible teaches, “Eye has not seen or ear heard ” the wonderful things god has prepared for us in heaven. It is paradise. Paradise ruled by Jesus Christ Himself. No tears, suffering, wars, depravity, jealousy, bitterness, lying, murder, thieves, not even one sin.
God instructs us not to love this world in which we live. We should heed this advice. I can think of one instance where it was not heeded. When the angels of destruction came to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot and his family were instructed to leave and not to look back. As fire rained down from heaven and the cities and its evil inhabitants were being utterly destroyed, Lot’s wife could not resist looking back. She turned into a block of salt for her disobedience and desire for the former.
It is my belief that we live in the last days. I look forward to Christ returning to remove us from this depraved world. I look forward to being with Him. I think the next life will be far better than this one. This is not to say that I am going to take it upon myself to speed up the process by taking my own life. We have work to do and we need to fulfill God’s plan for our lives. There are so many people that I know, who I am convinced do not know the Lord, but could come to know Him through continued efforts to show them God’s plan. The Bible teaches that God strongly desires, in fact commands, those of us who are Christians to spread the gospel to the poor lost souls of this world. Indeed this may be the very reason He has delayed His return, not wanting to see anyone who would have otherwise come to know Him, perish.
I may be wrong. Perhaps God will have mercy on the world and delay coming back for another 6000 years, in order that many more people can join us in heaven. If He comes today it is not soon enough for me; however if he delays, I will continue trying to accomplish His will for my life. When the time comes, leave it, don’t love it.
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday!
1 John 2:15
Do not love the world or the
things in the world. If anyone loves
the world, the love of the Father is
not in him.