Throughout Scripture we are counseled to live at all times with the understanding that life on this earth is very brief and is followed by an eternal existence of either indescribable bliss in God's presence or unbearable agony in separation from Him. Peter declares that the knowledge that "the heavens shall pass away with a great noise... and] the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (2 Peter 3:10) causes us to live godly lives. And John adds that the hope of being transformed into His likeness when He shall appear causes us to purify ourselves (1 John 3:2,3). Many would have us believe that self-love is the answer to the world's ills. Both Christian leaders and the unsaved are teaching and preaching this lie. In fact, it is self-love that has wrought the ills of the world: greed, lust, envy, and strife. What we actually need is a passionate love for God and His Word, turning us from earthly ambitions to heavenly hope. Not even a kingdom ruled by Christ on this earth is our hope, but heaven itself is.
