Life is good. The last few months in my life have been excellent. I have been enjoying new learning experiences at school and a steady work schedule. New friendships have been formed and they are very encouraging to me. I began a relationship with a wonderful girl. Basically life is going very well for me. I admit there have been ups and downs, good and bad days, but overall a great few months. It is easy when things are going well on this earth to loose sight of heaven. When times are rough and we are in the valley of the shadow of death it is easy to long for heaven. But how about when things are going our way? Do we still long for heaven or do we become satisfied with the lesser things of earth?
A few months ago I posted the prayer of Sir Francis Drake. Whenever I read it I am convicted and challenged all over again. I have it hanging up on my desk as a constant reminder. About half way through Sir Francis Drake prays, “Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess we have lost our thirst for the waters of life; Having fallen in love with life, We have ceased to dream of eternity and in our efforts to build a new earth, we have allowed our vision of the new Heaven to dim.”
Ceased to dream of eternity....
The other day I was reading through Revelation 21. As I read I began to dream again about eternity. Revelation 21:1-7 says, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”
There are so many great truths in this passage. It says that God will dwell with man. We will dwell with God! There will no longer be separation from the King of Kings. We will be in His presence worshipping Him in His Holiness. It goes on to say that He will wipe away tears and death will be no more. We will not experience hurt, anger, sadness, frustration, or fear because there will be no more sin. No more living on an earth that is groaning as in the pains of childbirth. (Romans 8:22) But it does not stop there. The King says He is making all things new! There will be a new heaven and new earth. The creator God who spoke and created this world. The creator God who made man in his image. The creator God who put the planets in orbit and stretched out the universe. This creator God is making all things new! It is beyond on our comprehension. The Alpha and the Omega who was before time and will forever reign calls us His children. He invites us to be with Him for all of eternity. Do we really grasp that?
We hear phrases like “Preach the gospel to yourself daily.” The gospel is not just Christ’s work on the cross, but it is also His future kingdom. Because of imputation (Christ’s righteousness for our sin) we stand holy before God. Oh what a glorious day that will be. Paul understood what awaited him when he died. In Philippians 1:20-24 he says, “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” Paul went through life with the end goal in sight.
Are we torn like Paul or are we content with our life on earth?
I want to live everyday of my life with the end goal in sight. When everything is going my way, I am eagerly awaiting Christ’s second coming. During life’s toughest times I am eagerly awaiting Christ’s second coming. May we never cease to dream of eternity.
