Post by dan on Dec 27, 2006 0:08:12 GMT -5
dragonofheavon said:
Why if this place [heaven] is so beautiful and its God so wonderful doesn't every person flock to be with him for an eternity? Because we're human, and it's natural for us to give in to immediate pleasures rather than hold out for long-term benefits. This happens all the time. Consider someone who wants to do well in school, but would just rather play video games or hang out with friends. Sinful pleasures are so familiar and appealing to us, whereas heaven seems distant and far-off because we've never experienced it. So if you're not strong in your faith and walking close to God, it's hard to deny yourself those pleasures. Another unappealing aspect of "flocking to be with God" is the fact that you must "lay down our arms," that is, recognize that there is a right and wrong and submit to God's moral commands.
I do want to add something here. Although the Christian life on earth before heaven is a life of sacrifice, it isn't supposed to be a denial of pleasure in and of itself. The Bible says that "God gives us richly all things to enjoy" (I Timothy 6:17). We are also to "delight in the Lord" and "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 37:4; 34:8), so there is an aspect of the Christian life in which we derive satisfaction from our relationship with God. The Christian only needs to "deny ungodliness and worldy lusts" (Titus 2:12), and to obey God's commands even if it goes against his/her wishes. So although the Christian life is indeed a life of self-denial, it should not be a miserable life by any means:
"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say it: rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4).
"How happy is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!" (Psalm 128:1).