Finding an Attraction to True Beauty
Part 5
The previous
words have, I hope, served in some degree to provide practical help to
those who are desperate “not [to] love the world,” but who feel that their
fleshly desires and tendencies are too strong.
There is no
other way to keep the love of the world out of our hearts than to “keep
[ourselves] in the love of God” (Jude 21). And there is no way to keep
ourselves in the love of God other than by “building [ourselves] up on [our]
most holy faith” (Jude 20). The denial of the world is impossible to those who
reject the gospel. But not loving the world is possible, even as all things are
possible, to the one who believes the gospel.
In closing, let
us consider one more illustration. Picture a man who could stand on the edge of
the world and observe its abundance: rich produce and culinary delights,
luxurious homes, the joys of human companionship, and all the other blessings
the earth can offer.
If he turned
around after taking in this attractive scene, he would be confronted with the
dark expanse of space. Do you think he would willingly say goodbye to the earth
and wander through endless emptiness? Would he even be tempted to reject the cheerful attraction of the earth and leave it
behind?
Certainly not!
Rather, he would cling to the world and shrink away from the desolation of
space. His satisfaction would be found in keeping his feet firmly planted on
the earth.
However, what
if he turned from the world to look into outer space and found himself peering
into heaven itself? His senses would be overwhelmed with superior glories,
sweeter sounds, and greater beauties. He would see a heartfelt joy spread among
all its inhabitants. He would discern peace, piety, and love to a degree higher
than he had ever known. Every heart would be filled with gladness and every
person would be united in goodwill toward each other and toward their generous
God. He would look in vain to see even a hint of pain, decay, or death, and he
would soon realize that no other place in the universe was as inviting and
welcoming as this place was.
In this
situation, wouldn’t his perspective change? Would not the expanse of space
(once a wilderness) become a land of enchantment, and the world (once a land of
enchantment) become a wilderness? Where empty space could not lure him, a land
with beautiful scenes and society most definitely could.
That is how it
is for all of us. The best
way—indeed, the only way—to cast out an impure affection is to accept a pure
one in its place.
And so, let us
not try to change the existing tendencies of the human heart. We may very well
be tempted to attach ourselves to the things of this world, as if this world is
what matters most. But let us comprehend the superior attraction of that world
which is to come. Only then will we avoid doing violence to our human nature.
And only then will we be able to die to this present world and live to the more
lovely world offered to us through the gospel of the kingdom of God.
photo credit: h.koppdelaney via photopin cc
photo credit: h.koppdelaney via photopin cc