The Beauty of Present Days

The day brings its own special beauty

This post is part two of three in the Beauty of Time series. This article will specifically address the beauty of the present. The beauty of the present, I believe ties strongly into the idea of contentment. Our days are numbered and we do not know what that number is. This often time creates a temptation to begin investing in "treasures on earth" rather than laying up treasures in Heaven. We begin to live for the moment and slowly start desiring a perspective of getting good experiences rather than cultivating an eternal mindset. Living life in Christ starts looking like an unfavorable trade-off as we turn our gaze downwards and shorten our gaze to only what we can see.

As Christians, we see our short time on earth and we long for a better country, Heaven, and ultimately the New Earth where we will dwell with God forever. So, this presents us with a question, how do we see beauty in the day-in and day-out living that all mankind experiences? How does going to work five days a week, playing ultimate frisbee, or even paying bills even remotely look beautiful? Our days are a gift that God has given us to use for a specific purpose, namely, to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. Every day that I wake up is full of opportunities to love and glorify God. When I do all things for the glory of His son Jesus Christ, then my life will look beautiful. Beautiful in a sense that matters, "where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew 6.21) A beautiful life is a simple life, simple in that it has a few basic components; we are to love God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Just like a sunset is simple because all it needs is a sun, sky, and maybe some clouds, so our lives only need a few things. But when we begin to study what makes these things a reality we begin to see the intricate beauty that God has created.

First, one starts to see the glory that is apparent in the mere fact of living. This joy-filled perspective overflows to others and then they too have the opportunity to have joy from God. Once we see the day as the gift that it is, to be lived thoroughly for Christ, then we can truly be content in whatever kind of day that is faced. If you get the call that a loved one died, there is grief and sorrow, but God can be honored in that. You can still love others in and through pain. It is a unique opportunity to be loved by others in the midst of it as well as love others in their pain. So contentment is not circumstantial, but it is a realization of who God is. Paul says in Philippians 4.11b "for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content." This is a beautiful and worthy belief to have, but it is difficult to live out. Paul had to learn it, so it is not an inherent skill. We are constantly bombarded with thoughts that our days could have been better, or that we missed the good ole days of long ago. We are tempted to take our eyes off the glorious Gospel and all that Christ did for us. When we do that suddenly our days do not look beautiful anymore, we just end up thinking they could be… better.

So, the beauty that we see comes from living contented lives eager to love and glorify God. Always looking for opportunities in which He can be glorified and honored in the day-in and day-out mundane decisions that we make. Good days and bad days are all God’s. When we believe that the Ancient of Days is present and active in our very days, then our lives will begin to take on a peculiar shine. How does going to the grocery store look different if we know that that very act is a gift? How does living in light of the Gospel change our days? Christians should strive to build monuments to God in the everyday nature of things. I do not say or suggest that it is easy, we are a people at war. Some days will be dark and desolate but we should not fear. God has a place prepared for us where his light will shine forever. But we do not lose heart, God has overcome the world. The beauty of ultimate victory is that our days will end with the greatest victory ever known to mankind, Jesus Christ's victory over sin and death and eternal glorification of God by his people forever.

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