The Day-To-Day in the Light of Eternity
Mark Greene reviews The Heavenly Good of Earthly Work by Darrell Cosden
This is the most stimulating book on work that I've read in the last ten years. And it makes a genuinely original contribution to our understanding of the significance of daily work in time and eternity. Darrell Cosden takes issue with the familiar theological arguments for 'secular' vocations, showing that they have largely failed to adequately address the central issue: If the result of most work does not last into eternity, how can what most of us do day by day be as significant to God as involvement in work which does last into eternity?
After all, if being a mechanical engineer is not as significant as being a preacher, then a preacher's work is more significant than the mechanical engineer's. And whilst we may still do whatever we do to the glory of God, we will be doing so, knowing that there are other things we could be doing that are more significant, and of ultimate eternal value. Cosden shows the falseness of that conclusion, carefully exploring several key biblical texts, particularly Genesis 1-11, 1 Corinthians 15, Colossians 1, and Revelation 21 and 22. Like Chris Wright in this issue, Cosden demonstrates that Christ's sacrifice on the cross has encompassed the redemption of all things, visible and invisible, and that the future 'salvation' of creation is clearly part of God's intentions, and therefore of ultimate value. He takes this further by looking at the implications of what we know about the resurrection appearance of Christ's body. Here he points out that there is physical continuity in eternity as well as discontinuity. Christ's body is still recognisably his body; it bears the scars of the crucifixion. And yet it is also a body that can walk through walls. Christ has a new body, as indeed there will be a new heaven and a new earth, but the impacts of mortal life on that body are not entirely removed. It carries on in a new form. How earthly life has 'affected' Christ's body is not entirely lost.
In sum, the comprehensive scope of salvation shows us that 'creation' is of ultimate value to God. Work, all work, has an impact on the created, material world that will be 'saved.' Work's impact on people will be carried through into eternity as well. Therefore, what we do through our daily work has eternal significance. That's both liberating and sobering. Cosden's book does require careful, close reading, but it certainly merits it. Bravo.
The Heavenly Good of Earthly Work is published by Paternoster, £8.99
Mark Greene
Mark Greene is Executive Director of LICC and the author of a number of books and resources on work.
Comments
There are currently no comments for this article.
