This past week has reminded me in so many ways of where "home" is and where it is not. Difficult situations, difficult relationships, saying goodbye to loved ones and losing heart over the loss of a dream.... all of these point to sin in this world in some form or other. In this world, there is so much that we fear, cling to, and desire in an attempt to satisfy, fulfill, or bring security. I'm sure if in our human minds we could truly grasp the brevity of life, we would not struggle. I've heard it said if we understood how short our lives were, we would live differently. I believe that, but not in the way most might think. I wouldn't necessarily do different things or say different things because "understanding" alone cannot take away my humanity. No, I believe it would result in less conflict between my spirit and my flesh.
To understand the reality of an 85 year life-span in light of eternity has to change anyone's perspective. I remember when I was facing giving birth for the 1st time and the terror I felt thinking about it. I would comfort myself with the thought... "it's ONE day, just one day. I can do anything for one day!"(yes, I understand some of you faced longer labor than 24hrs. but hang with me here, just using an average). I can't help but think our lives, defined in the Bible as a "vapor", could be compared to giving birth. In fact, I did not come up with anything new, the Bible describes waiting for the day of the Lord as labor pains.
There are so many people near and dear to me facing extreme trials testing their faith, endurance, and hope in Christ. My heart aches for them. Their suffering is real and it is awful and it can only be blamed by a fallen world. I pray for faith that "understands" in a godly way our "light and momentary" troubles. I pray for those suffering to have that faith too. That we would all hold one another up and march through this life with the joy set before us, awaiting the redemption of Christ in ALL it's fullness. Even creation groans for this coming day.
As always, the Lord teaches my innermost being in times of vulnerability and times of helplessness watching loved ones hurt. Amidst a study I'm doing on the last kings of Judah, I found myself in Romans 8. A favorite chapter for me personally on being adopted by the Father. The passage right after "receiving a spirit of adoption" kindled my heart. It is so good, I must share it with you.
"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
May we fear, cling to, and desire God Almighty instead of the temporal and lies this world offers. I don't know about you but I can't wait for the day when we all are finally HOME... forever!
( I like my sister because she is crazy and she plays games.)
