Like Sarah, what “earthly inconvenience†are you experiencing, and how is it “mitigated by the promise of eternal blessing�
Chapter 2 – Sarah: Hoping Against Hope
Due: August 17, 2006
It seems like all of those “earthly inconveniences†happen all at once…or at least within close proximity to each other. Just a few weeks ago we had a major power outage, leaving our entire community in the dark for 2 days. Since then, in order to fix the problem, we have experienced on-and-off power. Not long after that, our air conditioner (or so we thought) began acting up. It began to make horrid, high-pitched noises (think an off-balance washing machine, or squeaky hamster wheel). Of course, these noises would only begin around bedtime, or early in the morning… We’re still waiting for the fix on this one. (It turned out not to be the A/C unit after all, but an attic exhaust fan – unfortunately not covered by our home warranty.) And as if that wasn’t enough, the window on one of our cars broke. Now, I don’t mean the shattered, broken glass everywhere broke, I mean, mechanical failure broke. I rolled the window down, and as I was rolling it back up, there was a loud popping noise. The window refused to move any higher…and then started slipping back down! By the next morning, it had slipped completely inside the door. We had to take it into the shop (twice!) to get it repaired.
I’m sure the list could go on, and probably will. But, God is still in control…He knew that each incident was going to take place. And, when I look at it listed out together like that, it makes me want to laugh. They all seem kind of silly. (Ask me how I am feeling when the weather returns to triple-digit heat, and the A/C still doesn’t work!) It is sometimes hard to think of how these “earthly inconveniences†– and they truly are inconvenient! – could be “mitigated by the promise of eternal blessing.†But, that is the perspective that we should have. And, remembering that should give me reasons to be thankful (we are told to give thanks in everything!). So, one night, after being (rudely!) awakened by the A/C, I began listing out things that I was thankful for. The “stuff†that makes up the inconveniences (no power, no A/C, broken windows) is just temporary. Matthew 6:19-21 tell us:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.â€
The “stuff†here on earth will be broken down, rusted, destroyed – if not now, eventually. But, the promise of eternal blessing? My treasure is not here on earth! It is in heaven. Someday, I won’t have to deal with all of these little “earthly inconveniences!â€