If we plan a vacation to somewhere beautiful we usually have a brochure or pictures we can look up on the internet… something tangible to hold on to, but with heaven we have only small descriptions given to us in the Bible.
Because this world is fallen, I don’t believe we can even begin to grasp the world that awaits us. Jesus says things like, “I am preparing a mansion for you,” or describes it as “paradise” but we don’t completely know what to imagine.
I just finished my study of Genesis and I was encouraged to see that every single promise God made in Genesis has come to pass thus far. And there are more to come…promises that we, as Christ followers, wait for.
Just as God kept every promise to Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He will keep His promises to us. Philippians 3 20-21 is one promise I have been reading almost daily for the past couple of weeks.
It says, “ But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.”
I need to be reminded of verses like this ever day, really. I am too easily fixated on this world, its problems and it’s joys.
Verse 20 uses the word “eagerly.” How “eagerly” am I waiting for Jesus to return? Most days it is only when I am in pain that I really have an “eager” expectation and hope for eternity with Jesus.
The last couple of weeks I have been doing something many would consider weird. I have been looking up into the sky, reminding myself that Jesus is coming. Thanking Him, praying for Him to come.
In verse 21, Paul describes how our bodies will change after Jesus comes. He says that our “weak mortal bodies” will be changed into “glorious bodies.” That means my back won’t hurt anymore from picking Jasper up. There will be no sickness or bruises, and I’m guessing no wrinkles.
It says “glorious.” I can’t wait to see exactly what that means. I know it is much better than what we could ever imagine.
Here is my point. When God told Abraham to go to a new land Abraham had no pictures, no idea of what it would look like. Some of God’s promises didn’t make sense to Abraham, but now we see that God kept them.
From the moment we wake to when we fall asleep naturally we all have “things” that fill our days, and it is easy to focus only on the temporary things of this world.
How refreshing is it to know that whatever country we are citizens of, whether we live in a good country or a bad, those who are in Christ have our first citizenship in heaven. That means we are foreigners here, just passing through.
No matter what you are going through right now, as a foreigner in this world, this life is going to be over in a blink of an eye and Jesus has something far greater waiting for us.
One thing is for sure, He will keep His promises to us. Look up in the sky, we don’t know when, but He promised He is coming.
How do you remember God’s promises in the midst of busy life?
If you are wanting an intimate relationship with God and a hope for eternity but don’t feel like you have that, click here . I love the simplicity of how this website helps us to begin a relationship with Jesus, and that anyone, no matter what our past, is invited into a relationship with Him!
Have a great rest of the week friends!
Good reminders Sarah! And inspired by your dedication to learning through the word. Love you!