"I say this, brothers: the time that remains is short, so those who have wives should live as if they do not have them, and those who mourn as if they do not mourn, those who rejoice as if they do not rejoice, and those who buy as if they do not possess, and those who use this world as if they do not use it, because this world is transient." (First Epistle to the Corinthians, Chapter 7, Verses 29-31*)
It is not difficult to lose hope if you just glance at what is happening in the world and also in our own country. Our small "supports", "crutches", plans, and emergency exits seem to be falling apart before our eyes. Have you ever asked yourself, what can you lose? Are you afraid for someone or something that could be taken away from you? Would you like to live with the freedom of a person who has nothing to lose? Ancient Stoic philosophers taught that you should imagine the worst-case scenario, accept that it might happen, endure it, to nullify the power of fear of the future over you. If we read the above verses from the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians, we might get the impression that St. Paul thinks like the Stoics, but that is not the case.
In the three verses above, he emphasizes the transience of the physical world, which we know about. We are aware that we are mortal, that everything ages, wears out, breaks, is consumed, leaves us. Does the apostle want to simply tell us to hold on to nothing, so that nothing can hold us in fear of loss? Rather, he talks about what we focus our energies and attention on. The time that remains is short, so do not put all your efforts and attention on seemingly good but transient things. What is the right focus then?
"But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him." (Epistle to the Philippians, Chapter 3, Verses 7-9a*, bold is ours)
The correct focus is not on the things we have or do not have, but on the One who gives or takes them away.
Christian theologian and author John Piper asks the following question in his book "God is the Gospel": "The main question for our, and indeed every, generation is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflicts or natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?". Perhaps sometimes we think that only if we receive, achieve, buy, win, deserve, reach something, we will finally be happy. We will finally believe in God's love and existence in an unwavering way. In fact, this is a delusion; none of the good things we think will make us happy can give us complete satisfaction. Our true happiness lies in knowing and communicating with the One who gives the best gifts.
Some of us believe that God is real and good only while we receive from Him the things we prayed and hoped for. But what would happen if we lost these things? Do we have any guarantee that everything we have or do not have today will remain the same in the next year of 2022? If our focus is God's hand, what would we think when we see it pierced and bleeding on the cross? What do the apostles think about Christ when they see Him crucified on the cross? Their hope dies, they hide and lock themselves together in a secret room because everything they expect to receive from Christ as liberation from Roman tyranny and maybe even royal power along with Him in Judea is now lost and dead. What restores their hope? The resurrection. The resurrection is a symbol that the death of the flesh and everything in our physical world is conquered by a more perfect life that is beyond time and space, beyond the end of life here. Therefore, St. Paul says: "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied." (First Epistle to the Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verse 13*)
What are the eternal things we should focus on: knowing God and loving Him and our neighbors. If we know the Lord, His character, His voice, and guidance, we cannot but love Him. If we love the Lord, we cannot but love our neighbors. Love for God and neighbors is something we will never lose and the only thing that will carry over from earth to eternity.
"Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be still; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears." (First Epistle to the Corinthians, Chapter 13, Verses 8-10*)
Challenge of the week: Make a list of the things you consider valuable in your life. Put an asterisk next to each one that you believe will stay with you for eternity. Focus on the things marked with an asterisk this week.
*Biblical quotes are according to the text of the Bible, new translation from the original languages © Bulgarian Bible Society 2013.
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