All over the place we glance, our tradition is shouting YOLO (“You solely reside as soon as”). YOLO, so hire an RV and journey to each nationwide park. YOLO, so combat these encroaching wrinkles with particular lotions. YOLO, so go forward and binge-watch that TV sequence at the price of sleep.

Curiously, Scripture agrees with the premise of YOLO, but it surely leads us to a really completely different set of purposes.

The Bible affirms we solely reside as soon as on this damaged globe within the already-but-not-yet kingdom of God. However as an alternative of pointing us towards experiences of non-public indulgence, Scripture exhibits us how we will uniquely expertise God on this aspect of eternity.

Consolation Requires Discomfort

Our time on earth is the one time we’ll be capable of expertise the consolation of God and subsequently provide consolation to others. Being comforted assumes discomfort, the presence of ache, or an absence of ease. Within the presence of the triune God, we’ll by no means lack safety.

Within the presence of the triune God, we’ll by no means lack safety.

Throughout our time on earth, we’re uniquely poised to obtain consolation from the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation (2 Cor. 1:3). The sigh of reduction once we proverbially crawl into the lap of the Father who holds us and quiets us together with his love is birthed out of the momentary discomforts of being away from his presence (Heb. 4:14–16; Zeph. 3:17; Ps. 131:2). And having acquired such consolation in all our afflictions, we’re entrusted with one other limited-time-opportunity: to consolation each other with the consolation we’ve acquired (2 Cor. 1:4–5).

Hope Has an Expiration Date

The human propensity to hope is astonishing even amongst these exterior the Christian religion. Accounts of survivors from focus camps repeatedly acknowledge the facility of hope amid atrocious evil and horrendous circumstances. As Emily Dickinson so fantastically writes,

“Hope” is the factor with feathers –
That perches within the soul –
And sings the tune with out the phrases –
And by no means stops – in any respect –

I’d add, “On this life.” Within the new heavens and the brand new earth, there’ll be no want for hope as a result of the seed of religion will come to full fruition in sight. As Paul defined to the Romans, “Hope that’s seen is just not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But when we hope for what we don’t see, we look ahead to it with endurance” (Rom. 8:24–25).

Our time right here on earth is our solely likelihood to observe lifting our eyes to search for assist from the Lord (Ps. 121:1). Once we turn out to be like Christ, seeing him as he’s, we’ll haven’t any want for hope (1 John 3:2).

Sin Offers an Alternative

On this earthly life, we’re saved from the penalty and energy of sin, however not from its presence. Solely within the new heavens and the brand new earth will we lastly and totally be saved from even the presence of sin. This implies our days of exile listed below are our solely alternative to indicate Christ we want him over sin and the fleeting pleasures of this life.

Christ should be current in our lives to allow us to want him, since other than him, we will do no good (John 15:5). Even so, I lengthy to reside a life worthy of the calling I’ve acquired. I lengthy to string collectively days and moments that present Christ’s surpassing price, even over the best choices of this world (Phil. 3:8).

Struggling Reveals the Savior

Our days on this damaged earth are our solely likelihood to share within the struggling nature of our Savior. As paradoxical because it sounds to our flesh, God grants us the reward of partaking in Christ’s struggling (Phil. 1:29). Once we endure for doing what’s proper, we share in his likeness and present our resemblance to our Savior (1 Pet. 4:16–19).

I lengthy to string collectively days and moments that present Christ’s surpassing price.

Within the e book Struggling Is By no means for Nothing, revealed after her loss of life, Elisabeth Elliot writes in depth concerning the mysterious items of struggling. On the lack of her first husband, she says, “Jim’s absence thrust me, compelled me, hurried me to God, my hope and my solely refuge. And I realized in that have who God is. . . . And so I can say to you that struggling is an irreplaceable medium by which I realized an indispensable reality.”

Countless days of wholeness and satisfaction within the presence of our Savior await those that are in Christ. However there are solely restricted days to know his consolation, to expertise hope, to indicate choice to him over sin, and to fulfill him in his struggling.

YOLO, my pal. Lean into the experiences of God solely supplied on this earth.