LONGING FOR MY HEAVENLY HOME
“There
will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of
the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and
ever.” (Rev. 22:5, NIV)
Do
you ever long to leave this earth and go to be with Jesus forever? I have, many
times. It’s not that I don’t enjoy life; I just get very tired of
always feeling exhausted, and struggling with the many frustrations and limitations that are part of daily life with a chronic
illness. I am convinced that one of the main reasons God allows trials to come
our way is to take our minds off this temporal earthly life, and to put our focus on God and eternity.
What do we have to look forward to in Heaven? Revelation 21:3-4 gives
us a clue. There will be no more tears, death, sickness, pain or sorrow. God Himself will wipe away every tear from our eyes.
We will have perfect, glorified bodies, free from the weaknesses and imperfections of this life (2 Cor. 5:1-5). There will be a new Jerusalem, its foundations adorned with precious stones (Rev.
21:19), and we will have intimate, unbroken fellowship with God and other Christians for eternity (Ps. 23:6).
Carl Cartee, in a song he wrote called “Heaven”,
imagines it this way:
Secrets and
mysteries, talking with history,
Hello’s to loved ones I’ve
lost.
No more aimlessly wondering, hopelessly
pondering
The fullness of what your love cost.
When I finally arrive, there will
be dance,
There will be songs,
A great celebration to welcome me
home.
A magnificent feast to honor the
Lamb,
The bride and the groom are together
again.
How long will I have to wait for
Heaven?
No more tears to cry, oh, what a
joyous sight!
The King of Kings calling my name,
When all of the Heaven’s sing,
The Song of Salvation rings,
The Lord God Almighty He reigns!
Now, doesn’t that make you long for your
Heavenly home?
Dear
Jesus: Help us to remember, as we struggle daily, that the troubles we endure
in this life are insignificant compared to the glory we will enjoy for eternity.
