Tuesday Toss Up - The One About Heavenly Thinking
It's Tuesday again, and this week I want you to look at this quote and give me your thoughts on it, short or long. Just tell me what comes to your heart when you read it!
“If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.”-C.S. Lewis
Looking forward to reading your thoughts!!
posted by Heather Smith @ Tuesday, June 20, 2006
13 Comments:
Guess old Clive never heard the saying, "He's so heavenly minded he's of no earthly good."
If we thought more of our Life after this one, we would do more to help others get there.
Good quote. My 1st thoughts are, I spend far too much time being ineffective.
I also thought about a quote I used to hear from a pulpit when a pastor said: "The greatness of this church will only be measured by what happens when I leave."
Aww thank you! I'm sure He gave you other talents though ;)! Happy Tuesday!
I think what C.S. was talking about was an attitude. A mindset of thinking of things in an eternal light. In this age, we're so bogged down with the everyday that we sometimes separate and compartmentalize our everyday life with our spiritual life. We don't look at all things with an eternal light shining on it. If we did we might approach our work life, our friendships, our home life, our decisions in a different way. I don't think he meant to hole ourselves up in a church or at home reading our bibles thinking of when we get to go to heaven.
Does this make sense?
We need to stop thinking of material things and the now and live for our next life. Live for Christ and not to be better than the Jones!
One thought that comes to mind that hasn't been mentioned yet is that when we're focused too much on this world then we hold too tightly to it's rewards and when we focus on heaven, well, this world's rewards pale in comparison so personal gain becomes meaningless in comparison so we're more able to hold things loosely and serve others...also the resulting hope and joy in our lives attracts others I believe:)
What that quote means, to me at least, is that we focus too much on wordly things. Instead of worrying about what's going on in this life, we should focus on the life once we leave this earth. If we focused on that more, we would want to help others reach an eternity in heaven as well. We wouldn't be so preoccupied with trivial little things that, in the end, don't really matter all that much. By focusing more on life in eternity we realize that it's not about us- it's about glorifying God and being able to do that all the time once we get to heaven. Why shouldn't we try to get others to the point where they can glorify God all the time too? ;) I know that I also spend too much time being ineffective, but I'm working on that :) it's a slow process but I'm getting there... haha. Good quote though :)! Afterall, our job here on earth is to spread the love of Christ and minister to others, so if we stop focusing so much on the here and now we might take a moment to realize this and do something about it...
Well, taking this personally, I think that as a present day Christian, I need to make sure that I think of my son, or future kids, and their knowledge of Biblical things, Christian Morals and values, as well as their personal relationship with Christ ... in doing so, I will be preparing him for the future, when he's older and begins to make an impact on the world he lives in.
Well, at least it made sense in my own head!
It may not be thinking about heaven which moves us here on earth. If may be the knowledge we already are seated in heavenly places and have the God of the Universe living within...that is the power here on earth to effect change! Jesus said "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven..." His will is already done in heaven, we just have to apply the heavenly here on earth
Honestly, the first think that popped in my head was Matthew 28:19-20: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
But I may be totally wrong. :-)
Well, it speaks to me of our propensity to take our eyes off Christ. We store up our treasures here on earth and get caught up in all this worldly stuff - possessions, troubles, entertainments, etc - that we lose sight of those things that have eternal value.
Okay, that may not even be quite two cent's worth, but there it is.
I agree with a lot of peoples comments that have been left. As Christians we do often tend to focus on this imperfect life and forget to focus on the a perfect world with God. I think the best two role models are Jesus and Paul. Jesus - well what can I say he was God on earth, and Paul - my favourite quote of his "to live is Christ to die is gain" he strived for heaven, but made the most of his life on earth by living for Christ.
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