All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others

What are you longing for?

Listen along here: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/abaf158b/what-are-you-l...

Longings are often ascribed to schoolgirls,

the heroines of love stories or weepy women.

But if we are honest, we all have em.

Could it be that our longings come from God?

I believe so.

So did Clive Staples Lewis.

“If you find yourself with a desire that no experience in this world can satisfy, then the most probable explanation is that you were made for another world.”

C.S. Lewis. Brilliant.

I submit to you that our longings are way pointers. When I get alone with myself, I recognize my longings are real, and once again, I wonder. . . to what my longings point me.

Looking up at the night sky, I suddenly remember . . . this world is not my home.

Encouraged by those who were commended for their great faith in Hebrews 11, our heroes in the faith were 'longing for a better country—a heavenly one.' Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.1

Yes, that’s just it! We were made for a better country, and made to be with God. How good and how right it is to recognize this and keep it in mind. Paul wrote to the Philippians who he loved, ‘We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.’2 While we have glimpses of Glory to be sure, true joy and longings fulfilled will only come when we are in the eternal presence of God.

John wrote about “a new heaven and a new earth,” where God’s dwelling place is among the people, when we will be his people, and he will be our God. ‘He will wipe every tear from our eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”3

In the meantime, Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end,4 and until we enter our eternal glory, live fully for the Lord.

Several years ago, I attended a conference with several speakers on the lineup I highly esteemed. But as I think back on that weekend, the figure of one man looms large and etches a smile on my face. While others used different tech elements to augment their talks, this guy walked out with one item only--his Bible. Quite.a.loud.statement. And interestingly, he was the youngest of the crew. “We each have one life, but this life has eternal significance. What we do in this one life has infinite implications, and beyond that, our stories are bigger than history. Our stories don’t end when we do. They are only the beginning of much greater stories, the content of which we are completely unaware… most of us underestimate how much God actually wants to do in our lives and through our lives.”5 Same guy. Erwin McManus.

There it is again - eternity. Life is so day to day, and yet, you and I ought live with one eye cast on eternity, and the things that last.

Which makes me think of what Jesus said to his disciples in the Upper Room on that very big Thursday night: "I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”6 Jesus Christ is coming again to take us to Heaven to be with him forever.

Most people, religious or not, believe in Heaven. Revelation chapter 21 has some great details about our eternal home: there are 12 gates—each one, an individual pearl, which is why I always wear pearls in some fashion or another. Pearls remind me daily that I am living for another world.

Heaven is laid out as a square – 12,000 furlongs, which in today’s language means it is a cube 1500 miles square. This is interesting, because it is as large as the area from Canada to Mexico and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Rockies. It can easily accommodate 20 billion residents, each having his or her 75-acre plot.7 Heaven is a great big place, and it is real.8

The walls of Heaven have 12 foundations, which are adorned with precious stones, including sapphires, onyx, emeralds, amethysts, and more! Okay, so marry the opulent color with the glorious light—because there is no night in Heaven—indeed, the prophet Isaiah said, "The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.9 Heaven is full of light, and it is a beautiful, magnificent real place.

Walking with Jesus in this life is life at its best,

and when we take our last breath here, eternity with him awaits.

And yes, it is true. Our longings point us home,

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;

then we shall see face to face.

Now I know in part; then I shall know fully,

even as I am fully known.10

And then, Friends, we shall be satisfied . . . our longings fulfilled.

We will be home.

Amen.

Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPLDMAswKf8&list=RDmPLDMAswKf8&a...

Christine