Samuel Rutherford had a lot of time to think while under house arrest and away from his beloved parish. (If you haven’t followed along in my Sunday series on this man, go here and here to read more.) He wrote often of heaven and lingered over the contrast between our glorious hope above and the empty pleasures of this perishing world. While reading his letters you may suspect him of taking no pleasure in the world. He compares the pleasures here on earth to mere feathers that children chase.

There is a familiar accusation that some are so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly good. I don’t think we’re in danger of being charged guilty. More likely, we are so earthly minded that we take little thought of heaven, except maybe at funerals. Which is worse?

Perhaps a more heavenly mindset would make us of greater value to our neighbors and our community if we seriously pondered the weight of eternal glory that is being prepared for us. Only then can we properly consider and enjoy the pleasures of this world. Only then will our hearts be properly burdened for our lost family, neighbors and friends who are chasing feathers but headed to destruction. Anything good and true here is but a foretaste of the all surpassing beauty that awaits us in the New Jerusalem. Should we not prepare our souls more for the transition into this high definition world of glory? Truly, we should examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. Additionally, we should daily seek opportunities to show those around us, by our words and deeds and lives, what they will miss if they refuse to come to Jesus.

Nay, I think that this world, at its prime and perfection, when it is come to the top of its excellency and to the bloom, might be bought with an halfpenny; and that it would scarce weigh the worth of a drink of water.

If we saw our Father’s house, and that great and fair city, the New Jerusalem, which is up above sun and moon, we would cry to be over the water, and to be carried in Christ’s arms out of this borrowed prison.

Samuel Rutherford, 1637