a good thing...

back in the day, when we were doing a Bible study through the book of Hebrews, we had a standard comment in reference to Hebrews 11:6 (which says that "without faith it is impossible to please Him") which would pop up again and again in ensuing studies: "pleasing God is a good thing."

well, today as i was reading 2 Corinthians 5:9 the phrase "we make it our aim to please Him" really jumped out at me. i found it especially intriguing that there are "why's" going in both directions from the phrase:

first, the verse begins with the word "so" - "so whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him." why the "so"? - well, looking back in the preceding verses, Paul is talking about our hope of eternity - our eternal dwelling with God - that here and now we are in a "tent" away from the Lord, living by faith rather than by sight... SO the first "why" of aiming to please Him is that we are looking ahead to BEING WITH HIM.

second, verse 10 begins with the word "for" - another "why" looking back to verse 9: "for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." the second "why" is that although the here and now may be temporary, there is a judgment for it.

so there you have it - two reasons to aim to please the Lord, one positive (eternity with Him), one potentially negative (judgment) - and the reminder, "pleasing God is a good thing... and the alternative is wrath." best to make it our aim to please Him! (and praise God that in our failures - our righteousness is found in Christ!!! 2 Corinthians 5:17)