Wonder's Real Object

From Titus 2 – 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Sweet regard and wonder, says Dante in The Divine Comedy, were the cause of holy thoughts.

Just so, as Paul coaches Titus in the letter's second chapter what to deny and avoid, he doesn't stifle wonder, but feeds it. Look backward, Paul says in Titus 2:11, and focus your thoughts on the evidence of the grace of God you've already known. Look forward with the holy longing of Titus 2:13 to the blessed hope and glorious appearing of the eternal communion with Christ for which we were created.

Even in the narrow scope of our own lives as Christians, we can with a Titus 2 focus, feed wonder. Honest reflection reminds us that the grace of God isn't an abstract concept. It has appeared to us. As wearying as the fight to deny the present aspects of ungodliness which tempt or distract us is, we will admit, if honest, that this work already has a foothold in our lives. We aren't what we long to be, but we aren't what we were.

And so we walk by faith and not by sight right now, even our eyes, Paul relishes, will be gratified soon. He directs thoughts and aspirations not toward a perpetual vague, warm feeling about Christ but toward His glorious appearing. In my flesh, insists Job as that very flesh betrays him, I will see God. If today's sights are attractive enough to distract, He is more beautiful yet.

If today's sights are so ordinary that we wonder if we will ever wonder again, He has sanctified Earthly existence by breaking bread not so dissimilar to that which we eat with His own hands, and His own heels will touch this cursed ground again in that Glorious Appearing. If today's sights are discouraging, even then, we can look up, for our redemption draws near. These eyes which try to be satisfied with worldly lusts will be satisfied in Truth by beholding Christ.

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