Yesterday I was whiling away the hours on a restful Sunday afternoon by trolling Facebook. I came across a picture my brother-in-law posted that he had taken of a beautiful mountain landscape while on a hiking trip in Colorado. Oh! the memories that flooded back! How many times have I too gotten to enjoy the magnificent beauty of God’s creation during the years that I lived there? Whenever I reflect on that time of my life I am filled with a longing for the natural riches that Colorado has: mountains, favorite hangouts, and definitely family & friends that I don’t have here where I live in Beatrice, Nebraska. If it was up to me and money was no object, I’d move back to Colorado immediately. It isn’t up to me though, and money is very much an object that limits my choices in life right now, not to mention the fact that I have a family, a wife, and two amazing kids with another on the way (yep, you heard right!), and I love them immensely. My current residence is greatly effected by them. Still, in my most selfish moments I yearn for Colorado and all it represents: the closeness of my family and friends, the joy and beauty of the mountains that fill my heart. Since I cannot get these, I feel empty. If I dwell on this for too long, I despair.
There is hope though. The Holy Spirit, very much God, and very much a person, feels my hurt and reminds me that this Earth, of which Colorado is just a small part, is not my home. I have Heaven to look forward to, and it will be greater than anything we can fathom. It is the dwelling place of all that the Apostle Paul shouts in praise to God in Romans 11:33, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” (NKJV). The wisdom of God issues forth from His throne in Heaven; The knowledge of God leads us to find Him in Heaven. He judges the Earth from Heaven, and all His ways begin and end in Heaven. Before the creation of the earth, God was in Heaven. When all this time has come to an end there will be a new Heaven and a new Earth for us to dwell in. The riches of Christ’s sacrificial love has opened the gates of Heaven to all who accept Him, and when we shuffle off this mortal coil, Jesus will be waiting in paradise with open arms to usher us into His majestic city. While my flesh may long for Colorado, my soul, stirred up by The Spirit, cries, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (Psalm 34:8, NKJV). If I trust in my flesh and my ability to satisfy it, I am finished. However, If I trust in The Lord Jesus Christ and look to eternity, I am bound for a Heaven filled with His presence forever! Amen!
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (Psalm 34:8, NKJV). If I trust in my flesh and my ability to satisfy it, I am finished. However, If I trust in The Lord Jesus Christ and look to eternity, I am bound for a Heaven filled with His presence forever! Amen!
Which one do you trust?
