Lost in a Moment

By: Joshuah Ellis

Have you ever noticed that we, as a society, are a bit obsessed with the here and now? If you really think about it, I think you will be able to see that we get a great deal of satisfaction from "moments." Many of us who are music lovers will reach for the volume control when our favorite part of the song is coming up so that we can turn it up. Maybe we try and silence a room full of conversation when a favorite line in a movie is approaching. Consider even the enjoyment we get from seeing an unsuspecting friend walk into his surprise birthday party. I do not think this is anything to be critical of. It is simply an observation that we like our moments.

Even in our relationships, the here and now seems to monopolize a great deal of our attention and focus. Consider the phone conversation with your close friend. Typically people ask, "How are you doing?" If it is a student, we are interested in how school is going. We also usually ask about a person's health, particularly if it has not been good in the recent past. In addition, the family is always a big topic of interest. Again, this is not a criticism, but we do have to realize that we are very concerned with what is going on right now. In fact, that is one of the most commonly used phrases at the beginning of a phone call or letter. "What are you doing?" While I can understand the desire to know more about the people we care about and take an interest in their lives, I have to ask, "Do we care too much about what is going on right here and now and not enough about the things that are more long term?"

Consider with me the longevity of a day. When you are in school and have just finished lunch, it seems as if it will never end. However, when you think about a single day that passed a year ago, it is nearly impossible to remember from beginning to end. Why then, do we tend to be more interested in these things which are so fleeting? James, in talking about a man's entire lifetime, compared in to a vapor that appears for a time and then vanishes away (James 4:14). I certainly do not think we are wrong by concerning ourselves with things of a temporary nature, but we shouldn't care more about them than we do the things of an eternal nature.

Paul said, "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2). Does that mean that we never think about anything temporal? I don't believe so. It does tell us, however, what we should care about most and that is certainly not the fleeting moments of this life. Even the Hebrew writer told his audience to be "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2) as we run the race of faith. Again, there is a certain necessity to keep an eye on the things of an earthly nature, but we should not be bound mentally to this earth which will also pass away (Mark 13:31; 2 Peter 3:10).

What reason do we have to let these fleeting moments and earthly cares take priority over the things of a spiritual and eternal nature? There isn't one! Therefore, while you are inquiring about the lives of the people you care for; ask them also about their faith. Ask them if they are discouraged or if they have a healthy prayer life. It has happened more than once in my limited experience that a brother comes forward in need of prayers and encouragement and many did not even know he was struggling. Though they may not admit it if they are having a hard time, make it your priority to ask your brethren how they are spiritually. After all, there is more to bearing one another's burdens than responding to a request for help (Galatians 6:2).