Romans 5:2

Romans 5:2

We live in this world so thoroughly that the thought of God's future glory and our part in that sounds very dry. It's hard to remember sometimes just how wonderful it will be and to build up our anticipation for it. Maybe it would help to think of a time when you really looked forward to an event: maybe an outing with someone important to you, or a really large purchase you had decided to make, or a gift you felt would be just right for someone. As I think about the things I've anticipated with the level of rejoicing mentioned in this passage, their common theme is not only in the pleasure I knew I'd experience but also in the sacrifice. Each one cost something significant: money, time, effort to make it happen. We can get distracted in looking at the Christian life by focusing only on the cost. It does cost a great deal, both in significant one-time sacrifices and in ongoing life-long sacrifices. If we were to focus only on the challenges, it would of course not be worth the effort. We need to focus ourselves instead on the goal, on the prize, on the reason for the sacrifices. We need to build up our anticipation for something 1000 times greater than the greatest event we've anticipated in our lives here on this earth.