What if you experienced your favorite things at all times, in all places, in every situation? What would your life be like. Mine would be pretty cool, at least for a couple days.
To start out with, I'd probably be in Oregon, at Ecola State Park (pictured below) on the Pacific edge of the state. It's quite chilly there, so I'd be wearing some nice Nike stuff to keep me warm.
There I would find myself quite thirsty, and I would quickly resort to drinking unhealthy amounts of Arnold Palmer Tea inside Bonefish Grill, where I would eat Diablo Shrimp Fettucine.
Keep in mind all of my favorite people are with me (family, friends, kelly). The more, the merrier, right?
Back in Portland, Oregon (where we happen to be staying/living) MuteMath would play a show that we attend, front row. Obsessed with their music (particularly that which they haven't released), I would listen to their song Work of Art constantly.
Later, I end up watching Burn Notice and Burn Notice only during my TV time. Still drinking Arnie, eating DSF, listening to MuteMath, in Oregon, wearing only Nike, with tons of people, petting a cat.
Looking at my life from this point, I think I would love this for all of 10 minutes. It's clear to me that I would grow tired of such an experience very quickly. The more I experience my favorite things, the less I enjoy them. What's the problem? There are a few.
1. There are too many other things we enjoy that we miss out on when we are doing only our favorite things.
2. Constant repetition strips away meaning from our favorite things.
3. The enjoyment never lasts; we are never fulfilled by the meaningless, fleshly things we love in life.
The world of our favorite things is inherently unsatisfying and imperfect. Nothing we produce on our own can ever last in and of our own power. When we lack variety, we lack vitality. When we lack the Divine, we lose eternal pleasure.
This is why the things God has given us last and provide the eternal pleasure, satisfaction, and perfection that we so desire. He is perfect, and everything He has made. The earthly institutions of His Kingdom (marriage, worship, etc.) sustain us because only they bear life.
I don't know exactly what Heaven will be like. But this I do know; it is the perfect, favorite place of my soul, where I will live with my Creator.
i am bias. but that was all really good. go brett go!
ReplyDeletethats really good! Reminds me of the A.W. Tozer quote:
ReplyDelete"The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One. Many ordinary treasures may be denied him, or if he is allowed to have them, the enjoyment of them will be so tempered that they will never be necessary to his happiness. Or if he must see them go, one after one, he will scarcely feel a sense of loss, for having the Source of all things he has in One all satisfaction, all pleasure, all delight. Whatever he may lose he has actually lost nothing, for he now has it all in One, and he has it purely, legitimately and forever."