If we spend all of our time, money, effort, and thoughts on the things of this world…well, maybe we are placing our hope in the wrong things. If we are so caught up in today that we cannot fathom anything beyond tomorrow, maybe we need to live for something bigger than ourselves. Because let’s be honest with one another…this world can be pretty STINKY!
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Cor 4:17-18
As I long to make this earthly place my dwelling place, the more I discover it is not my home. The places I find comfortable are no longer a source of comfort. The things of this world cannot completely satisfy. Not all of the time. Not to the deepest parts of me. And if I live my life expecting God to fulfill my dreams, my expectations, my whims, and even my smallest desires..am I truly living for Him?
Something needs to change…and that something is ME.
Although before my very own eyes the pieces of our previous home were being restored. Brick by brick. Nail by nail. It no longer was where I would place my security. God had opened my eyes to a world outside of the walls that had previously confined me. He opened my eyes to something more.
“Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” Romans 8:24-25
Although the devastation to our home from Hurricane ike was still readily visible, we decided it was time to move on. By faith. Take a step forward and move home. The sawdust and workers would become commonplace. And yet, we would hope for a complete restoration.
You see…you and I…we were created to long for something greater. Something better. Somewhere without pain and sorrow. A place where every tear will be wiped from our eyes.
Oh Dear Lord, may we live for something bigger than ourselves.
As our last suitcase was packed and we moved out of our hotel home…and then temporary hit me. THIS IS NOT MY HOME. This earthly place is not my forever. I will experience pain and suffering, unexpected circumstances, and difficult moments and yet, one day, I’m going home…
Home is my heavenly dwelling.
It started with mere tears in her eyes and then it became a ground swelling. Heartfelt emotions overwhelmed her little soul. Our eldest daughter had felt closeness. To family. In new ways and deeper levels. A sense of belonging swelled from within her inner being while captured in our smallness of space. And now…she didn’t want to go to the place we once called home. For the first time in her life, she realized that home is not a building. Not a street address. Not a zip code. Oh no, home is where you belong.
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Philippians 3:20-21
Unknowingly, she had felt a piece of heaven. A place where she would belong. Emotionally whole. Physically well. Spiritually content. She had a God-wink moment where she felt completed satisfied because she was able to live for something bigger than herself. She cried. We embraced. And then we said good-bye. Over the past few months we had touched intimacy not only with each other, but with someone bigger than ourselves.
Where do you find happiness? Do you live for something bigger than yourself?
NOTE: This blog is a continuation of #mystory, “What Do You Want?”