Sacrifice And What Should Be

I've always had a problem with the term "sacrifice."  I don't think that sacrificing decisions are sustainable.  You can only hurt yourself for so long.  Eventually there has to be a pay-off.

From one perspective, being a Christian requires sacrifice today for eternal rewards.  Pain in this world for an eternity in heaven.  I would think this is the predominant perspective among Christians.

But another way to look at it (I think) is from a "what is?" versus "what should be?" perspective.  Sin is 'what is.'  It exists.  Sin feels good in a 'what is,' worldly sense.  Righteousness feels bad in a 'what is,' worldly sense, but it feels so good in a 'what should be' sense.  And sin feels so bad in a 'what should be' sense.  Righteousness is 'what should be.'

If we confine ourselves to thinking about things in a 'what is' sense, my sustainability question is very relevant.  I don't think you can keep telling 'what is' people that the rewards are heavenly.  In the Lord's prayer, Jesus says "...your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10)."  We need to emulate God's will so earth will be more like heaven.  God's will is the ultimate 'what should be.'