Week of Sept. 8

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” Philippians 3:20-21

Augustine helpfully distinguishes between the City of God and the City of Man. He writes, “Love of self, even to the point of contempt for God, made the earthly city; and love of God, even to the point of contempt for self, made the heavenly city.” As Christians, we are citizens of the Kingdom of God, and yet we live in this world, in the City of Man. This past week people across this nation and the world were reminded of the results of love of self. Graphic depictions of tragedy overwhelmed their social media feed. The information overload and inundation with content tempts us to move past the event and begin political arguments. We must pause, breathe, and confront our own humanity in the lives of others. The murder of Charlie Kirk, the murder of Iryna Zarutska, several tragic school shootings, and other acts of political violence far too numerous to recount here must make us mourn the results of sin. We must strive to live in the City of Man in a way that honors the Lord despite the suffering we face. We must recognize that all people are made in God’s image, have dignity, and deserve love and respect. We must condemn any act of evil like we saw this week. We must not allow ourselves to resort to violence when we disagree with others. We must insist on working for the good of our neighbors. There is evil around us, and it is our duty to push against it. We must also humble ourselves and confront the evils in our own heart. Even as believers, we see the vestiges of our old self with its self-centered heart when we lash out in anger at family or friends, when we idolize our own comfort instead of serving others, when we do not treat others as we would have them treat us. While we strive for peace and love in the City of Man, the only lasting relief and change comes from a different city.

Christians have comfort and hope beyond this life that stretches into eternity. God will one day right every wrong, judge every evil act, and rid this world of sin. We long for the fullness of this “great city” that shines “with the glory of God” (Revelation 21:10-12). This final restoration is still in the future yet, Christians have a glimpse, a taste of this New Creation even in the present. Paul reminds us “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). God does not promise that we will escape all suffering. He does promise that the suffering of the present moment cannot compare to the eternal kingdom of God (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). I am confident that Charlie Kirk would point all of us to the only true place of lasting hope, Jesus Christ. As you hold your kids tightly this week, pray for them. Point them to the eternal hope of the City of God. It is a present reality for all who place their faith in Jesus Christ, and he will not cast out any who come to him (John 6:37). I am praying for the families affected by these tragedies, our families at Telos, our state, and our nation. Know that you are not alone. We mourn with you, and celebrate Christ’s victory over the grave. May God be merciful to us as we await the glorious day of his coming.

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

2 Corinthians 4:16-18