I often quoted Lewis’s helpful maxim. “Aim at Heaven, get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and get neither.”
It’s helpful in a couple of ways. First, it’s a good reminder to have God’s perspective (a perspective that emerges as time is invested in him). Second, it’s a motivator to look to him not at man.
Consider this contrast:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV)
And.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”” (Jeremiah 17:9-10 ESV)
Confession: I struggle in conversations with friends who think humans are inherently good. Call me what you will, but my experience, observation and those texts up above (as well as the rest of Scripture) point me to an understanding that humanity is simply broken from the get go. We are deeply, deeply flawed and in need of redemption. And God through the work of Jesus desires to make that redemption happen.
A friend and colleague in Croatia has posted about that redemption. Her words are well worth your energy to click and time to read. So, go ahead, CLICK AND READ.
kingdom travelin' 