After three years of not wanting to quit pharmacy school, I've finally received my mom's blessing to do so. I love her to death. I know she loves me and wants what is best for me. But it kills me that after all these years she doesn't get it.
A few years ago, she tried to get me to read Joel Osteen's Your Best Life Now. I refused. Finally out of curiosity I downloaded the audiobook and gave it a chance. As I listened, I couldn't help but recall the very astute words of CS Lewis [emphasis added]:
Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not to strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when INFINITE JOY is offered to us, like an ignorant child, who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased.
Mr. Osteen's techniques and perspective shifts promise to propel you to a life of happiness and wealth. But whatever his book promises is so much less than what God actually promises. The best is not to come in this life. In fact, 1 Timothy 3:12 tells us that everyone who wants to live a godly life will be persecuted. But 2 Cor. 4:17 promises us that "this light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison." Let that sink in my friends. The eternal weight of glory. Far beyond all comparison. There are so many other verses you could quote. But there is one common thread. Our treasure is not in this world. We do not live for the pleasures of this life. Because one day it will pass. Our treasure is Christ. He is better. And he will reign
Parents, please let this be what you encourage your kids to pursue. Do not keep pushing them to live for this world. Because if they come to realize their best life now, they may miss out on the infinitely better eternal life that is to come.
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