Someone’s Confused
Very recently I turned on a news program on TV and, of course, most of the news had to do with the war in Israel. The video, the comments, the sad faces, the rubble, and the commentary on this war were hard to watch and listen to. I did hear one commentator make some statements that caused me to stop and think for a few moments.
Now before I tell you what he said (to the best of my memory), I want to tell you that this post has nothing to do with me taking sides in this war. It has nothing to do with the leaders of these nations and what they may or may not be doing. It has nothing to do with the rioting and huge gatherings of college students to protest one side or the other. It has to do with something said that opened my eyes to how many people feel in our world today.
The commentator drew a comparison between something Hamas felt about dying in battle, and what he felt that others (including us) might feel about fighting this war.
His words were similar to this: “Hamas and those fighting with them are looking to their reward in the next life. They aren’t afraid to die. Israel and the rest of us are thinking about this world and what we have in it. Silly us!” It seemed as if he just threw in that last little phrase to support his point that we all should be thinking about what we have in this life.
Does that strike anyone else who calls themselves a Christian to give pause and think about what is being said there? Now, granted, the reward that Hamas has in mind in the next world is far removed from what the Bible teaches about rewards in Heaven. However, to focus all of our attention to what we have in this world is also a wrong concept for a Christian. Should our focus not be on living a faithful life and working to save the souls of people, and NOT on what we can accumulate in this world.
Often we spend our energy and money on accumulating things – houses, cars, boats, clothing, jewelry, luxurious vacations, and lots of other fine belongings to enjoy here on earth. May I say, “silly us?”
I seem to remember singing these words many times: “This world is not my home. I’m just passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue…”
The vision Hamas has of their reward is very wrong. But we can rest assured of what God has in store for us as a reward in Heaven. Our focus should not be on the things of this world, but on living in a way that leads to a true reward.
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above,
where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
(Colossians 3:1,2)
AUTHOR: Donna Faughn
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