When I was a young pastor, serving at my first church, I made a comment one Sunday that turned out to be incomplete at best and incorrect at worst. I said, “even if it weren’t for heaven, God would still be worth serving.” An older man sitting on the right side towards the front even gave me a hearty “amen!” That afternoon, as I was preparing for my Sunday evening service, I came across a verse, (one I had no doubt read before), in the book of I Corinthians. It simply states, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable,” (I Corinthians 15:19 KJV). I went back that evening and corrected myself before a very loving, and forgiving, congregation.
We are not promised that everything will be easy in this life as we serve God. We are not promised that there will not be sacrifices, that there will not be trials, that there will not be persecutions, or that there will not be difficult decisions to make. Yet, if we serve faithfully – our hope, our rest, and our prize has always been Christ in Heaven forevermore!
We often think of “holiness to the Lord” as a great sacrifice, and that following God robs us of so much of the “fun” of this world. Sin can “sound” like more “fun” or seem “easier.” It can feel like lying is easier than telling the truth if it keeps us out of trouble. Sex outside the bounds of marriage brings physical pleasure to its participants in the moment, as it has for generations. Stealing gives many people an adrenalin rush when they think they got something for free. Even harboring hatred, envy, and engaging in slander of another, can be gratifying, even if for a short time. Yet, the Bible reminds us in James 1:12-16 reminds us of a great truth – “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.” Truly, the pleasures of sin are only for a season!
This life is not all there is – and this world is not our home. Romans 6:23 reminds us all, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Holiness in the Lord brings us hope, peace, joy, and a testimony of the power of Christ – and that is better than any sin this world has to offer!
Pastor Chris
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