The 5 Best Moments of your life are your Beacon of Hope

The patience God has for us is astounding. He offers us eternal bliss and happiness yet we prefer the finite goods of the world. Sinners we are when we renounce the state of grace in exchange for momentary pleasures of sin. In the moment, we are victims of our ignorance, weakness, and malice. However, if we put things into perspective, then resisting sin becomes not just reasonable but desirable.

The Average Catholic will always struggle with sin. God willing, we grow in our ability to resist sin, but the constant fight to resist sin will remain on this side of Heaven. Be it gambling, pornography, alcohol, drugs, screens, or whatever addictions; all of these things distract us from loving God and loving neighbor if we indulge excessively in these vices. Every day, we may fight temptation or give into it. Every day, we declare that never again will we fall, but eventually we may again and again fall. This is not to discourage us but humble us. We must recognize we are dependent creatures and that we are design to depend on God not on whatever our vices may be.

What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

Matthew 16:26a

Here is the exercise that will put things into perspective: What are the top five moments are your life? Since you were born to now, what are the moments that you were most content, most at peace, most happy to be alive. Think carefully about these moments. Mine is as followed:

1. Late night talks with family/friends
2. Grilling with my dad
3. Spending a lazy Sunday with my sister
4. Finding God in the Eucharist
5. Chanting the mass with 160 other men

Limiting it to just five is difficult and I ranked them in no particular order. Truly, make these moments manifest in your mind’s eye. Relive the joy and love felt in these moments. For my list, and hopefully with yours, pay attention to how simple and wholesome the moments are. These moments may not be the most exciting or the most impactful, but they’re far better. These moments are sustainable. I would be perfectly happy reliving these moments on the daily. If life in heaven would be comprised of similar moments, then I can see myself enjoying having in perpetuity.

The most important part, and I hope this applies to your list, is the lack of vices. I don’t have times I partied, or was promiscuous, or sinned. In fact, reliving those moments would be Hell. I feel exhausted just thinking about sinning for a week let alone for all of eternity. God alone can give us Rest. True rest which allows us to fully embrace our identity as creatures made in the image and likeness of the One True God.

Your list should be a beacon of hope in your battle against addictions. Find comfort in knowing that you could take away the vices, the sins, the dependence on worldly things, and still be happy. So what If you gave up your vice and never do it again? What did you lose? Just specks of dust in the scales of eternity. The beauty of heaven awaits those who are willing to renounce the world. You too can reach for the heights in heaven. Believe in yourself. God loves you!

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21