Too many folk think Christianity is just for those who want to spend eternity in heaven.

Not a bad thought, of course, but there are some of us who see some pretty practical benefits as well.

Satisfaction, for instance. Try this sometime: Spend an entire day concerned about no one but yourself. Ignore everyone else and concentrate totally and completely on just you. At the end of the day see how you feel.

Invigorated? Inspired? Satisfied?

From what I witness, it will be the opposite. Over and over again, I discover how satisfying living for others can be. The folks whose lives have meaning and purpose, who have a real zest for living, spend little of their time worried about themselves and a great deal of time giving to others.

Forgiveness. See how happy people are who bear grudges. Observe their joy. Discover for yourself the pleasure people have in refusing to forgive.

As for me, I’ve seen enough unforgiving to be utterly convinced that it is about as destructive a thing as there can be. There is a kind of peace that is clearly observable among people who have the courage to forgive others and themselves. I like being around those folk. I’ll bet you do too.

Affection. I am drawn to all the images in the New Testament of Jesus showing affection for others. There is a power in literally reaching out to another human being. It’s hard to be angry with someone when you’re holding their hand or locked in a loving hug. When Jesus took children into his arms, maybe it was to show us just how much fun being a child of God can be.

Giving. All the sayings in the Bible that talk about giving things away are not there to make us miserable but merry! This is hard to believe until you try it and discover how simply wonderful it is to give. If ever you’re feeling blue and discouraged, stop and give something away. Money, time, love, whatever. Give something away and discover what you get in return. It’s simply heavenly.

Try turning the other cheek. This is one of the more difficult ones but it is just as practical as any of the others. I have yet to find anyone who has sought revenge come out the better for it. Loving your enemy can actually be fun...usually they don’t know what to make of it. I think of Martin Luther King or Mahatma Gandhi or Dietrich Bonhoeffer. They drove their enemies crazy with love!

They lost a few battles to be sure but take a look at how they managed the war.

There are other practical suggestions but I hope the point is made: Being a Christian isn’t a life of just waiting for heaven.

It’s also a life of heavenly waiting.