Dear Ones:
Paul Gerhardt wrote the following (“Till He Come”):
“Midst the darkness, storm and sorrow,
One bright gleam I see;
Well I know the blessed morrow
Christ will come for me.
‘Midst the light, and peace, and glory
Of the Father’s home,
Christ for me is waiting, watching,
Waiting till I come.”
Jesus said that where our treasure is, that is where our hearts will be. (Matthew 6:21). Of Christ Himself we read: “For the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross.” (Hebrews 12:2) When we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8), and the Holy Spirit has witnessed to our spirits that this earth is not our true and everlasting home, then the words of the Apostle Paul take on new significance: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man, the things that God hath prepared for them that love him.” (I Corinthians 2:9)
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17,18)
How can we go about our daily lives carrying in our hearts such elevated expectations of eternity? How can we be heavenly minded and yet be of earthly good?
God is sovereign. We have come to a knowledge of Him, not by our own design or efforts, but because the One who declares Himself to be the Beginning, has called us, drawn us to Himself. He has given us the most extraordinary, and exceptional opportunity and responsibility, of becoming His means of declaring His glory, His nature, His saving grace to a lost and dying world. He has given us all gifts, and a calling, a purpose, and every means of realizing that purpose.
We are called sons of God, heirs with Christ, bond slaves of Christ. We have been placed in union with Him, that out of this union, in fellowship with Him, He might accomplish through us all His blessed will, for His glory.
So, is it possible to look towards heaven and be effective on this earth? Yes. Indeed, it is only by doing so that we shall have a right perspective concerning our existence here. Only by looking unto Jesus shall we be able to receive from Him by faith all that is necessary to do the will of God, and to live rejoicing in His presence, even in the midst of “darkness, storm, and sorrow.”
Jesus’ ultimate objective was to again enter His Father’s presence, and to enjoy the fullness of His love, peace and joy. He would once again enter into that unfettered communion with His Father that He had enjoyed before the world was.
Listen to what Gerhardt writes:
“O the blessed joy of meeting,
All the desert past!
O the wondrous words of greeting
He shall speak at last!
He and I together ent’ring
Those bright courts above;
He and I together sharing,
All the Father’s love.”
Have a wonderful day looking unto Jesus, walking filled with confidence in Him who alone does wondrous things.
Love,
Dad