There is a conflict between our nature as eternal beings and the nature of creation which is temporal, that is, it has a beginning and an end. We do not.
Our Hearts Exceed our Earthly Capacities
Our imaginations can take us into space and through time but our bodies cannot yet follow us there. Our desires can give us every benefit and luxury that the earth can provide but the earth itself cannot deliver such opulence to so many of us without breaking down into chaos, famine, drought and war.
To live as responsible and just citizens of the earth we need to adapt to this conflict within ourselves. We need to learn how to control ourselves.
Sin is Outside of Earth’s Capacities
There is another way of looking at this conflict. We can call it Sin. Sin is essentially our refusal to see ourselves in the world as God has told us to – lovers of our neighbour.
We refuse to act in this world according to the directions given to us by God for living, in His Word – 10 commandments etc. .We refuse these limitations so our neighbours and the earth itself must bear the consequences of our selfishness and injustice.
Suspended Between 2 Worlds
In order to live justly and walk humbly we need to learn a new perspective on life. We need to consciously see ourselves as eternal beings living in a temporal (temporary) world.
Such a perspective requires that we hold these two different aspects of our life in tension – aware of both of them. This becomes clearer when we apply it to the interpretation of scripture.
Hope and Justice
There are some Christians who are described as Futurists. They interpret scripture with the end of the world in mind. The future is their area of focus. Some people say that they neglect the present.
There are other Christians who interpret scripture in such a way as to highlight the demands for justice, which God’s prophets voiced. Scripture, for them, is then focused on the command to love our neighbour and walk humbly in justice. Some say that they neglect the future.
Futurist interpretation is full of hope – even when circumstances are dire. God’s promises are sure, even though the trustworthiness of humans is not. It is said of them that they are so Heavenly minded that they do no earthly good. Sometimes that is true. It is much easier to hope for justice than to stand for it.
Interpretation focused on applying justice to contemporary reality acts its faith. It feeds the hungry, visits the sick and opposes the unjust. These are all ways in which Jesus acted out His faith. They face the same dire circumstances and untrustworthy people. Sometimes they turn to human institutions as the basis for their hope – government or military intervention.
Temporary Wholeness for Eternal Beings
What is needed is a synthesis of these two mindsets. Future and present, hope and action, love for God and love for neighbour.
Knowing our eternal nature is the key to maintaining this tension. We have hope and a future with Jesus. We are commanded to love our neighbour NOW.
Hope without loving service can be self-deceiving. We think we obey the Lord but fail with regards to our neighbours. Loving service that is not founded on hope in the Lord’s promises can be crushed along with the neighbour. It is too discouraging to face human selfishness, hatred and greed without the weapon of hope.
We need to live in the earth as though we were already in Heaven.
In Jesus, we are.
