Hotel or Prison?

We American believers have been unconsciously and profoundly affected by what this nation's early leaders put in the Declaration of Independence. It has shaped our mindset to such a point that we assume that what is written there is biblical. There are parts that have some biblical truth to them but not all; and even those parts that may have biblical overtones to them, are mixed with the mind of the world, the flesh and the devil.

One idea in the Declaration of Independence is that all men have the "inalienable right" to pursue happiness. I believe this has set us up to think the opposite of what Scripture tells us about our life in this age. And while we who follow Jesus would say that we agree with Jesus and the apostles, we are not aware that the impact of our national beginnings is deeply embedded in us so that in spite of all the promises in the New Testament of suffering and persecution, we still have a subconscious belief that we have a right to be happy, and therefore, when things are difficult, we are confused or offended.

This doesn't mean that we are meant to like suffering or that we intentionally go out looking to suffer; but our mindset related to what we expect in this age will greatly impact our response to suffering when it does come (and it will). God has a future prepared for us of utter joy and peace and satisfaction that will last forever, so He's not ashamed to put us through a thorough preparation now so that we will be fit for the age to come. Because of the fall and the entrance of sin into humanity's story, one of the primary ways of being prepared comes through suffering.

C.S. Lewis puts it like this: "If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you find it quite intolerable: think of it as a place of training and correction and it's not so bad. Imagine a set of people all living in the same building. Half of them think it is a hotel, the other half think it is a prison. Those who think it a hotel might regard it as quite intolerable, and those who thought it was a prison might decide that it was really surprisingly comfortable. So that what seems the ugly doctrine is one that comforts and strengthens you in the end. The people who try to hold an optimistic view of this world would become pessimists; the people who hold a pretty stern view of it become optimistic."

Many of us (myself included) need a renewing of our minds concerning how we view this age. The Declaration of Independence tells us we should see this age as a "hotel" while the Scripture indicates that we should view it as a "prison". With the scriptural mindset, the kindnesses and goodness of the Lord shines more brightly in this "prison" and our hearts are empowered to bear the suffering with hope and understanding.

Some Scriptures to meditate on along these lines are: Matt. 5:11,12; 5:43-48; John 15:20; Acts 5:41; Rom. 8:17; II Cor. 1:6; II Cor. 4:17,18; I Thes. 3:4; I Pet. 2:20; 3:14; 3:17; 4:13; 4:19; 4:1; 5:10; Rom. 5:3; II Tim. 1:8; Rom. 8:18; 8:35; Phil. 3:10; Col. 1:24; II Tim. 3:11,12...