\n<\/p>\n
\n\u201cBut this I say, brethren, the time is short\u2026 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not\u2026 for the fashion of this world passeth away.\u201d \u2014 1 Corinthians 7:29, 30, 31<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
We have all experienced that moment in conversation. You cheerfully wave goodbye and say, \u201cI\u2019ll see you on Wednesday!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
From one person, you get a bright, optimistic, \u201cYeah, see you then!\u201d<\/em> It feels good, though we secretly know tomorrow is never technically guaranteed. From another person, however, you might get a heavy, ominous sigh: \u201cSure\u2026 if something doesn\u2019t happen.\u201d<\/em> Suddenly, a simple goodbye feels clouded by a looming sense of dread<\/a>, as if tragedy is just waiting around the corner.<\/p>\n
It leaves us stuck between two extremes: a naive optimism that forgets our human frailty, and a deficit-based pessimism that robs us of today\u2019s joy.<\/p>\n
But God\u2019s grace offers us a beautiful, happy medium. The Apostle Paul teaches us a different way to live\u2014fully present in the moment, but with Heaven firmly in view.<\/p>\n
Paul was a realist. He knew hardship intimately. Yet, his letters never carry that heavy, ominous dread. Look at how he instructs the Corinthian church:<\/p>\n
\n\u201cFor our light affliction, which is for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things that are seen are temporal; but the things that are changed are eternal.\u201d \u2014 2 Corinthians 4:17-18<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
When we live with an eternal<\/em> perspective, we don\u2019t have to live in fear of \u201csomething happening.\u201d Why? Because we already know what the ultimate \u201csomething\u201d is: Glory.<\/p>\n
If Wednesday comes and we meet as planned, praise God for His earthly fellowship. If \u201csomething happens\u201d and our plans are disrupted, or even if our time on earth is cut short, we are still held securely in His grip.<\/p>\n
We don\u2019t need to live in a deficit mindset, braced for impact. We also don\u2019t need to pretend we are in control of tomorrow. Instead, we can rest in the middle.<\/p>\n
The next time we look ahead to the future, we don\u2019t have to say \u201cif nothing bad happens\u201d<\/em> with a shudder. We can say, as Paul modeled, \u201cIf the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that\u201d<\/em> (James 4:15<\/a> context, echoed in Paul\u2019s own frequent caveat, \u201cif the Lord permit\u201d<\/em> in 1 Cor 16:7<\/a>).<\/p>\n
It isn\u2019t a statement of fear; it\u2019s a statement of trust. It means: I am going to enjoy this present moment, plan for Wednesday with a smile, and rest easy knowing that whatever happens, Heaven is my ultimate destination<\/em>.<\/p>\n
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