COMIC: Eternally-Minded

Note: This is an older comic, and also, here is a comment that I thought was a good addition to the commentary on this comic:

So true! The biggest problem with the world today is that we place too much emphasis on the physical and worship it as our god, which we shouldn’t! We worship what is created when we should be worshipping the creator (Romans 1:25)

But an important aspect of that eternal life focus is remembering the following as well:

Both Heaven AND Earth will be made new (Revelation 21), meaning that the physical is good and will continue to be regarded as so (after all, our bodies also be resurrected, and Jesus had a body too! If that were inherently sinful or bad then He wouldn’t have had a physical form (Hebrews 4:15))

• 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

• John 1

• Genesis 1

It’s also important to understand that Heaven isn’t a “place” - it’s God’s immediate presence, meaning that Heaven and Earth - when God renews it all - will be one because we’ll be in the direct presence of God with no sin or death to be found.

I’m sure you probably understand this. But I would proceed with caution when talking about the afterlife as if it’s an “escape” from this world (because that’s called Gnosticism and the church has recognized it as a heresy). God doesn’t want this world destroyed. He wants it renewed. That’s what separates the Christian faith from every other religion: is that God still has hope for His creation and the blood of Christ doesn’t merely save us, but it saves the entire cosmos."

Original commentary ( from March 28, 2021):

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭

This verse really just sums up this whole comic. All the things we are so afraid to do because we are so short-sighted. Leaving behind every weight, forsaking sin, and running the race with endurance. These things require sacrifice and pain on our parts, absolutely! But why can’t we have the same mind as Jesus? Why can’t we look at the eternal joy that is before us? Some shame and suffering can’t even COMPARE to an eternity in heaven, face to face with our savior, and enjoying His presence forever! Oh man, I’m choking up here.

Oftentimes I think about the things God might make me give up because I need to be occupied with His work. Adventures with friends, traveling, making money to enjoy a luxurious life... all of these things are on the bucket lists of so many people. And I’ll be honest, a lot of these things are not bad things, they are totally fair things to desire. When I think this way, I remind myself that I’m not actually missing out on anything, I’m 100% convinced that in Heaven, we will get to enjoy a lot of these things that we miss out on earth! God will not disappoint you with His Kingdom, it’s just, so much better than whatever the world has to offer.

No more pain, no more sadness, no more death, eternal peace, the lion lies down with the lamb, a city of gold, treasures, an incorruptible inheritance, a mansion Jesus prepared for you.... how much more can we ask for, yet heaven has so much more to offer than just that. With this hope in your heart, brothers, and sisters, I hope we can all work a lot harder for God, keeping our eyes on the crown!

To live is Christ, to die is gain!