Hope shapes behavior

I started writing this on Easter Sunday - thus the, “Today is Easter Sunday” sentence that you will soon be reading.  I wasn’t able to finish writing until now, so don’t be thrown off by the post date and think that I celebrated Easter on the wrong day.  I didn’t.   Here we go:

Today is Easter Sunday.  I went to my parents’ church today, the church I grew up in, expecting to hear the typical Easter message.  I don’t know why, because Pastor Tim never gives the “typical message”, which I am glad of.  He began with an illustration of himself growing up in Venezuela as a missionary kid.  He went to a boarding school there and one day the children were told that, if they behaved, they would go on a trip to the city and stay in a big hotel and – this was the kicker- go swimming in a swimming pool!  Now, that may not seem very exciting to you and me, but keep in mind that these kids lived in a third world country.  They had never seen a swimming pool in person and the only water they had actually been in was from natural sources -rivers, creeks, swimming holes, etc.  Needless to say, these kids were so excited about swimming in a pool that it consumed their thoughts.  It transformed their behavior.  They had their eyes on the prize and nothing was going to keep them from cannonballs and belly-flops off the high dive.  This hope shaped the way they acted.  It completely rearranged their thought process and redirected their path.  No longer was it worth it to misbehave.  The hope of future bliss far outweighed the satisfaction of acting up and causing mischief in the present. 

There was one boy, though, that did not change his ways.  Brian was a troublemaker and continued causing problems despite the constant reminder of the possibility of swimming in a pool.  The other boys did not understand why he wouldn’t just behave himself.  They began to feel sorry for Brian because it was becoming increasingly clear that he would not be joining them on that eagerly anticipated day.  Brian’s own pride and selfishness was obstructing his view of what was coming.  He did not have hope. 

The day eventually came and all the boys were having the time of their lives swimming and splashing and jumping in the pool.  Everyone except for Brian.  Brian stood by himself, in the corner of the pool deck, fully dressed.  He was not allowed to swim because the free gift that was offered to him had no effect on his life.  How foolish! 

We’re being offered a free gift of spending eternity in paradise with God.  If we accept it, then we should live our lives with that in mind.   The hope of future bliss should far outweigh the satisfaction of sinning in the present.  I realize it’s extremely hard to not get caught up in all the seemingly desirable garbage that this life has to offer.  I struggle with it daily.  I’m pretty sure everyone does, but if you’re out chasing the wind, looking for the next worldly pleasure to satisfy your selfishness and greed, where does your hope lie?  What is at the end of your journey?  To die living a comfortable life with lots of toys because you did what you wanted? How empty.  Don’t be like Brian.  Don’t be blinded to future glory by putting your desires before anything else.  When all is said and done, you don’t want to be standing on the outside looking in, because then it will be too late.  What are you filling your life with?  What are you doing with your time?  Will it matter in the end?  Does your life reflect a hope of glorious things to come?

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