“Later on today,
we will go to Mackey’s for ice cream,” I promised the grandkids. Adelina, who is 4, held onto my words and
every 30 minutes asked, “Papa, is it time?”
When a thunderstorm blew in with pouring rain around 6 PM, she insisted
she would still like ice cream, even in the rain. Thankfully the sun reappeared in an hour and
the day was saved! The anticipation of
such a small treat was a grandfather’s delight.
That she would be so excited about a cup of sweetness is a credit to a
child’s simplicity. There was no question
if I could or would provide. It was just when it would happen.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in
God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so,
I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go
and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that
you also may be where I am." (John 14:1-3, NIV) Jesus gave
us this promise! Do we live in anticipation of living in that amazing,
beautiful, peaceful, prepared home?
The promise of an
eternal home is the driving force in
a life of true holiness and devotion! That is why the Word tells to keep our eyes focused
beyond the horizon of time. “Friends,
this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t
indulge your ego at the expense of your soul.” (1 Peter 2:11 Message) No matter how hard we try, we cannot hang
onto ‘the good life’ here forever. Troubles will come. Solomon poetically reminds us that aging will
gradually steal our ability to enjoy the pleasures of this world. "Don’t let the excitement of youth
cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old
and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore… Yes,
remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life
snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed
at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. For then the dust will
return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it."
(Ecclesiastes 12:1, 6-7, NLT)
Some of you are
thinking, “Jerry is so morbid. He thinks about death all the time.” No, I don’t,
but Heaven is always on my mind! I love
life but given His promises, being at home with Abba is what I anticipate!
There is much about life that delights me.
The Lord has blessed me in many ways. I’ve known love, prosperity,
success, and lived in joy – but what I have known is nothing compared to what I will know when He welcomes me to His
glorious heaven. Do you believe this?
Those who live the
Christian life in all the fullness that Jesus offers are not those who are
desperately in love with this present world.
Nothing can unsettle the saint who knows to Whom he belongs and that He
is able to keep that which is committed to Him for that Day.
Are you living in
anticipation?
Is your faith
anchored in eternity, knowing that the Lord who promised is faithful?
"Dear friends, build yourselves up in your
most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as
you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. …
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." (Jude 19-25, NIV)
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." (Jude 19-25, NIV)
____________
Soon And Very Soon
Soon and very soon,
We are going to see the King!
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
We're going to see the King.
No more dying there,
We are going to see the King!
Should there be any rivers we must cross,
Should there be any mountains we must climb.
God will supply all the strength that we need,
Give us grace till we reach the other side.
We have come from every nation,
God knows each of us by name.
Jesus took His blood and He washed our sins,
And He washed them all away.
Yes, there are some of us
Who have laid down our lives,
But we all shall live again,
On the other side.
Soon and very soon,
We are going to see the King!
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
We're going to see the King.
Andraé Crouch
© 1971 Bud John
Songs, Inc. (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Crouch Music Corp.
(Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
CCLI License # 810055
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