November 21, 2014 (Friday)
Those who believe in Heaven have been criticized for being “other worldly,” ignoring the needs of our world while thinking only of a world to come. The old saying is, “Pie in the sky when you die bye and bye.” Another quotation often heard is, “Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.”
The truth of the matter is that people throughout history have been motivated to do good and great things because of their faith.
At the close of 1860 there were 246 institutions of higher learning in America. Seventeen of those were state institutions; most of the others had been founded by Christian denominations or by those who avowed a religious purpose. Many of our most prestigious universities today were originally established as religious. “Heavenly-minded people did earthly good.”
What about our children’s homes? Who stepped forward to provide for the thousands of children whose homes have been torn asunder by divorce, death of parents, or any one of a myriad of causes in our fractured culture? We have seen and heard those who were raised in such homes as they related their success in life because of the love of those who loved God. “Heavenly-minded people did earthly good.”
And the hospitals? One after another these houses of healing were established by Christians. The compassion of Christ was clearly seen in the motives of people who had the mind of Christ in reaching out to the suffering masses. “Heavenly-minded people did earthly good.”
There is a vast army of Believers out there in the world today who perform deeds of kindness every day because of their faith. No records exist, except in Heaven, of their deeds, but we can rest assured that they will someday be rewarded, even though that is definitely not their motivation today. What is it, then? The love of Christ. Christ living in them and reaching others through them. Thousands were blessed today because of those who showed them mercy. “Heavenly-minded people did earthly good.”
We Believers are not perfect. We make mistakes. Yes, we commit sins. But a fair estimate of the value of faith in today’s world requires a balanced view. We who believe in Heaven also believe in serving the Lord in the here and now. In our hearts we want to please God with our deeds. We want to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, with all our souls, with all our minds, and with all our strength.
In spite of the militant anti-religious fervor that seems to be gaining ground in today’s world, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:16).