Facing the World with Heavenward Eyes

“We’re all in this together!”

I saw it again the other day. I’m sure you’ve seen it at some point during the pandemic, too—written in chalk on sidewalks, posted in lawns, painted on windows. A message reminding us that, although our individual experiences with the virus are different, we are all united in the struggle of its challenges.

But after the past few months of civil unrest, racial turmoil and cultural divisiveness in our nation, I can’t help wondering: if we’re all still in this together, then what exactly is “this”?

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

God’s word tells us that we will encounter troubles in this world. Death, sickness, calamity, war, infidelity, hatred, unhappiness… Some troubles are obvious, and others bubble under the surface.

Whether visible or not, however, one thing rings ever true: these troubles are the result of our sinful heart conditions. And the only antidote, of course, is Jesus Christ—the Prince of Peace, who has already achieved justice in the war against sin by his death and resurrection. For us.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. 2 Corinthians 5:17-19

But a world that refuses to recognize the sovereignty of Jesus will never understand things like perfect love, mercy, justice and forgiveness the way we do as Christians. A fallen world will never see Jesus as the fix to its problems because its eyes are not fixed on Jesus.

He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” Luke 11:28

As a result, we will never be on the same page as the world as a whole—and that’s okay, because we’re not supposed to be. This world is temporary, after all. “I’m but a stranger here, heaven is my home,” goes the famous hymn. But because we anticipate heaven, we must be especially mindful of all the ways in which earthly sin would thwart our efforts to lead godly lives and spread the good news of Jesus Christ.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9

Remember when Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness? Imagine how famished and physically exhausted he must have been after fasting forty days and forty nights. And what did the devil do to tempt our Lord in his weariness? No spectacular displays of power, no outward sleights of hand… Rather, the devil tried to sway the Lord through his rhetoric. He tried to lure Jesus into a trap by tempting him with exactly what the Son of God was probably craving at the time of his human weakness: food, rest and ease. Permission to let go of his Father’s plan for him in the desert.

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Matthew 4:5-6

That’s right. The devil was using words to tempt Jesus—even going so far as to quote God’s own Scripture to the Savior of the world! The evil one wanted Jesus to fix his eyes on himself, to seek satisfaction and identity from within his own human condition—instead of fixing his eyes on our Heavenly Father. Satan was trying to manipulate Jesus by twisting the meaning of Scripture to justify something evil and use it for his own sinful plans.

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41

Among his many other tricks, Satan does the same thing with us. He tries to convince us that godly things—like selflessness, prayer, sacrifice and forgiveness—are worthless. And he tries to convince us that evil things, things rooted in the self—like idolatry, revenge, infidelity and pride—are good things that will make our lives better and easier.

And to top it all off, the devil mixes this strategy with his strategy of…confusion.

We’ve got one scientist telling us masks are necessary and another saying we’re better off without them. One authority affirming the classroom as the safest place for kids during a pandemic, and another condemning that decision as a death sentence. One group demanding an eye for an eye following a nationally televised tragedy, and another arguing on behalf of those who are supposed to protect us from tragedy.

Mass. Confusion.

But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. 2 Corinthians 11:3-4

I remember getting separated from my parents once as a kid. We were at the zoo, I think, walking from one area to another. I let go of my dad’s hand for just a second, don’t even remember why—then grabbed it again and continued walking, not missing a beat. But when I looked up to ask him a question, I realized that the man whose hand I was holding was not, in fact, my dad. I had grabbed a stranger’s hand without thinking, simply because it was there and it was convenient. I heedlessly poured all my trust into the grip of someone who looked like my father and walked like my father—but was not my father.

Thankfully, this particular man was very kind and immediately helped me back to my parents. But what if he hadn’t? What if he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing? How long would I have walked with him? How far would I have gone astray after mistaking him for my father?

Similarly, how far astray would our faith go if we grabbed the wrong hand?

How far astray would we go if we were to mistake yard signs and hash tags as true unity? How far from our heavenly path would we stray if we misunderstood protests, riots and anger as means of true justice? How lost would we become if we misread abortion as an exertion of true freedom, or a sexually immoral relationship as a display of true love?

How deeply into the pit of sin would we fall if, whether by peer pressure or by choice, we began to accept the world’s definitions of words like love, fairness, freedom, mercy and identity?

(You know God created all of that stuff, right? Ok, just checking.)

Ladies, this has been an exceptionally difficult post to write. If you’re cringing right now, good. I am, too. This is a tough topic. But it’s one that should make us uncomfortable. Because, again—this world is not our home. Heaven is. And the moment we become comfortable with anything that isn’t looking heavenward is the moment we willingly loosen our grip from the loving, life-saving hand of our almighty Savior.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” Matthew 16:24-28

Now, I’m not saying that we should board up our windows and unfriend every person whose way of life disagrees with Christianity. That would be a really good way to neglect our responsibility to be salt and light in this world.

And I’m certainly not saying that we should turn a blind eye in the face of blatant wrongdoing. Any death is a tragedy. Any sickness—be it a virus in the lungs or racism in the heart—is wretched and devastating. These things were never part of God’s original plan for his children. Then again, neither was sin. Even still, he tells us to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves (Proverbs 31:8).

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Romans 8:22

But what I am saying is that, even under threat of death and sickness and mockery and peer pressure, we need to be bold in our faith in order to endure the temptations of this sinful earth—temptations that would lead us away from God’s path to eternal life in heaven.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:1-2

Dear Sister, as conversations continue and definitions seem to evolve, keep your feet firmly planted on the Rock of Jesus Christ. As you minister to friends and acquaintances, be mindful of the difference between common ground and solid ground. Walk on this earth and understand God’s plan for you according to the “holy dictionary” of his word instead of the rhetoric and latest hashtags of this world. Continue to examine your hearts, but do so through a biblical lens. Repent for sinful thoughts. Give thanks. Stay open to tough conversations and opportunities to share the gospel. When faced with anger and confusion, respond in the manner of Christ’s love. Teach your children to do the same. Pray for your unbelieving friends. Pray for your enemies. Pray for our nation and its leaders, no matter how much you agree or disagree with them.

Face the world, but keep your eyes fixed on heaven.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17

Friend, know that I am praying for you. I pray that you will remember Jesus in every day, every hour and every moment of your life. No matter how uncomfortable the conversations become, no matter how alone or downtrodden you might feel when it seems like the entire world is against you—I pray you remember that Jesus is for you.

Jesus—the Creator of the world, the King of love, the Author of truth, the Judge of impartiality, the Friend of sinners, the Giver of life and second chances. The perfect Lamb who was slain once and for all. For every nation, every tribe, every people and every language. Because God is love.

And when the world pressures you into choosing sides, I pray you remember that Jesus has already chosen you as his dearly loved child. When you feel lost or confused, give his hand a squeeze and he’ll squeeze right back. Look up to him, and he’ll always be there to guide you. Because he loves you, and because he loves me. And in that gospel truth, dear Sister, we really are in this together.

Teach me your way, Lord;     
lead me in a straight path     
because of my oppressors.
Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,     
for false witnesses rise up against me,     
spouting malicious accusations. I remain confident of this:     
I will see the goodness of the Lord     
in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord;     
be strong and take heart     
and wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:11-14