Paris Can Wait

The Bible tells us this life is not all there is. If the Scriptures are true, there is a resurrection from the dead, whereby people are "glorified". We will be given new bodies which are not subject to decay, disease, and sin. Our thoughts about this glorification should have a significant impact on our lives now. According to 1 Corinthians 15, there is only one of two lives to live - a life that believes in the resurrection and a life that doesn't.

The resurrection is both spiritual and physical. Because the Lord has created both "realms" both are very important. Neither one is to be neglected. In other words, in eternity, we will probably not be floating around like ghosts; but will more than likely walk around as people (kind of like now but better).

Along with the resurrection comes the recreation. Our bodies will be new (1Cor 15), and so will the heavens and the earth (2Pet 3:11-13). The creation presently groans for this (Rom 8). It will be a creation without decay, disease, and the effects of sin. Revelation 21 gives ample descriptions of what the new heaven and earth will look like. I struggle with believing it will be that good.

The thought and reality of the new heavens and the new earth should also cause us to live differently. We should shape our lives around the fact that this world will one day not be like it is now. Holiness and godliness are a few words to describe how we should be as we long for the coming day of the Lord, when the transition will begin.

The new earth will be more real to us than the old one. There will be one day, in a million years or so, when we look back on this present "breath of life" and shake our heads. We will wonder why we loved it too much. We will wonder why we labored too hard to see all of it, as if we would not have an eternity to do so.

In other words, Paris can wait. The pyramids can wait. The trip to Australia can wait (note for all you travelers out there - notice I did not say Australia should wait. I could not possibly lay that upon your conscience).

The common saying, "I must see [said geographical location] before I die", has no place in the Christian experience. Sure, we may travel as resources permit; albeit in a way that brings glory to God (1Cor10:31). But, there is absolutely no temporal pressure to do so.

For some reason, we have allowed eschatology to fall from its rightful place as the reason for our soteriology (cf. Col 1:3-5).

Given this theological shift, our desire to travel overshadows our obligation to disciple; and our excitement for Europe has eclipsed the expediency to evangelize. And so we are of all people most pitiful. But we are only so if the resurrection and recreation are true. If they are not true, we are pretty smart. We should make every effort to see every speck of geography before we die.

If we never die, however, imagine the possibilities. Imagine the new places. Imagine the glory of a recreated Paris, Egypt, and Australia. And imagine having no less days to visit those places than when we had first begun. O, glorious day! It makes all the sense in the world to labor with all our might storing up treasures in this heaven - living sacrificially now, that we may enjoy our eternal reward then.