How many times have you purchased something believing it would bring you happiness? You thought, I must have this to be happy, and, if I don’t get it, I’ll be devastated forever! Our carnal flesh is a strange animal, isn’t it? It’s so absorbed with using and consuming that it simultaneously believes the possession of some random object can elevate us into unparalleled joy or drag us down into a deep depression if we don’t acquire it.
My carnal nature tries to convince me there is some magical experience out there that will transcend all my other earthly experiences and usher me into a state of satisfaction. What will that belief and pursuit get me? The result of crossing a crocodile with bologna–a crocabologna.
Our flesh lies to us and says, “If only, if only, if only…” The truth is, our joy cannot come from things, or a world, that wasn’t designed to provide it.
Jesus did not create this world for the sole purpose of making His creatures happy. GOD created this world and made everything good but then man chose to disobey GOD and the consequence was sin contaminating and infecting the world with pain, death and decay. But, GOD in His infinite love and grace, provided a remedy and a plan to redeem His people and His creation.
In the meantime, this world is similar to a test and a challenge. This world is the best place for created beings to exercise their freewill in choosing whom or what they will serve. This world only offers us limited free will in a limited set of circumstances. At its best, this world can only offer us part-time happiness, rest, comfort, and contentment. Why? Because this world has; evil, pain, death, sorrow, failure, confusion, disappointment, and decay.
But can’t Jesus make us happy? During this lifetime, a close walk with Jesus can bring us some joy and some healing. But alongside the joy is a holy discontent—we still want more of Him—we’re not totally satisfied and at rest. As we draw closer to GOD, our soul pants for a relationship with Him with every barrier removed. David said In Psalm 42:
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.
No matter our level of happiness and contentment, deep down, we will still feel like something is missing. Why? Because the best is yet to come–it’s a core longing. This longing comes from GOD. He placed eternity into the heart of man. Ecclesiastes 3:11
The next world is the best world by design. The next world has no pain, sorrow, death, decay, or disappointment for those persons who put their faith in Jesus Christ. We will enjoy the presence of GOD with all barriers removed unto a glorious, satisfying relationship. The immediate presence of Jesus Christ with all fear and doubt removed will satisfy the ultimate longing in our souls—He is enough.
Have you seen the beer commercials where a man is fishing in a beautiful mountain stream with a six pack of beer and the narrator says, “It doesn’t get any better than this!” He’s partially right. This is true of people who have no relationship with Jesus Christ. For these people, this Earth and all of its beauty and all of its good times are the closest they will ever get to Heaven.
For those people who choose to follow Jesus Christ, this life with suffering, pain and toil will be the closest they will ever get to Hell.
The Bible says in Revelation 21:3-5
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.’ He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away. And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.”…
GOD designed the next world to be a place of joy, rest, comfort, and fulfillment—nothing is missing. Faith and hope will not be necessary when we’re past the grave and liberated in the immediate presence of Jesus Christ.
The best world is where GOD himself will live alongside his people and they will see His face. That world is the New Heavens and the New Earth inside the never-ending age of Eternity.
The next time your flesh tries to feed you a croc, forget about where you are and think about where you’re going.
Reflection Questions
The Bible says in Romans 8:2;1;
the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. NIV
What type of liberation are you most looking forward to?