15 For it is all for your sake, so that as
grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory
of God.
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer
self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this
light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory
beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but
to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but
the things that are unseen are eternal. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:15-18 ESV
I just got home from a trip that I
affectionately call my grandbaby tour. Although I love my children and
grandchildren and enjoy visiting them and spending time with them, it is always
good to get home. How many of us after a long trip, whether it is for work or
vacation feel or say, it is good to be home? Whether it is a vacation in the
Bahamas, Europe or the most beautiful places in the world, or a work trip to
Detroit, L.A., Chicago, Dallas or Cincinnati. Why do you think that most of us feel that way?
Is it the familiar surroundings,
comfortable bed, close to friends and family, etc., etc. These are all good
reasons, but I wonder if maybe we are perhaps seeking something? Maybe a level
of comfortableness that helps to feel safe and secure. Safe and secure from
what? The unknown, the uncontrollable, the unseen, secure from the outside
world of the unknown. Maybe seeking financial security, known and familiar
relationships, I do not know. But, as I pondered these things I was drawn to
Jesus words:
“But seek first the kingdom of
God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” ~
Matthew 6:33 ESV
“But seek first the kingdom of God” I see
this as His personal invitation to us to set our hearts and desires on our
home. No not the place we call home here in this world, but the home He has
gone to prepare for us:
“In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were
not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” ~
John 14:2 ESV
Understand that in God’s plan it is all
about the King and His kingdom. God wrote the script, He built the sets,
directs the actors, and knows the final act! An everlasting kingdom! We can see
that this is God’s plan:
7 In him we
have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in
all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his
will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in
Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all
things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. ~ Ephesians 1:7-10 ESV
At the right time He will bring
everything together under the authority of Christ — everything in heaven and on
earth.
So what should we do? We reach for it!
As with my trip to visit the grandkids, the trip was very nice, but the
destination of getting to see the grandkids was the goal and the purpose for
the trip. The same is with our earthly journey to our kingdom home. The journey
is nice, we get to hang out with fellow believers and we get to do God’s work
here and now. We are blessed to raise families, enjoy God’s creation, along
with many, many others blessings on this journey, along with some hardships and
sorrows, however the journey is not the destination.
Those of us who are content with nothing
more than joy in the journey are settling for too little satisfaction. Our
hearts tell us there is more to this life than this life. Who remembers the
movie E.T.? Remember when he raised his bent finger to the sky and so feebly
said, phone home… He was on a journey but knew that he wanted to reach the
final destination, HOME. Well we may not know where to point, but we know not
to call this world our home.
He has made everything beautiful in
its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he
cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. ~ Ecclesiastes
3:11 ESV
God has planted eternity in our hearts.
—
In the Creator’s narrative, life on earth is but the beginning: the first
letter of the first sentence in the first chapter of the great story God is
writing with your life. – God’s Story, Your Story.
Now it is your turn to set your sights on
your Home. Your eternal Home. Today, let us remember that this world is not
where we belong and not where we will be forever. Heaven awaits us! If
that be on a recreated earth, in glorious heaven, who knows, but we do know
that we were not created to die and we are not created to live in this
imperfect world for eternity, but to be with Christ Jesus in paradise forever!
Father in Heaven, we are so blessed to
have a life that You have so graciously give to us. We ask Father that You
instill in us the desire to set our sight on the home that You have go to prepare
for us. We know Lord that as long as we are alive here and now that we have the
blessing of serving You and Your people. You have blessed us with so much and
have no idea where our home will be or what it will be like, but we know that
nothing here could ever compare to what You have in store for us in our
eternity home. Abba, Father that you for
loving us, taking care of us, protecting us and for creating us to be forever
with You in Paradise! In the name of our Lord and Savior, Your Son the King of
all things, Jesus Christ… Amen! <><
