Mind on Jesus

Our church picnic was yesterday. The weather was cool and windy. The races were fun to watch, as were the children racing around trying to catch the “candyman” with a pail of goodies and chocolate bars stuck to his coveralls. The food was cold and the bathroom a good five-minute walk from our site. Today’s Scripture was a chuckle:

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:1–2)

It was not difficult to set my mind on things above yesterday. I wanted to go home and read my Bible — or was that setting my mind on getting warmed up? Piper’s devotional says this about summer: “flight from (Jesus) into Christ-less leisure makes the soul parched. At first it may feel like freedom and fun to skimp on prayer and neglect the Word, but then we pay: shallowness, powerlessness, vulnerability to sin, preoccupation with trifles, superficial relationships, and a frightening loss of interest in worship and the things of the Spirit.”

I didn’t want to flee Jesus and enjoy summer yesterday but a warning is good. Summer holds much that we miss in the dead of winter. I planted garden seeds last week and bedding plants, visited my next-door neighbor for two hours, and loafed more than usual. However, God has a way of reminding me of important things. One of our friends is having serious surgery today. His wife is worried sick. I’d prayed a bit, but when opening a search engine this morning, the photo on it was a place where these two had lived most of their early lives. God reminded me to pray fervently because our friend is in surgery right now.

Not only that, Piper reminds me that seeking things above means equating the delights of summer with the age to come. While God says, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9) He wants me to focus on what I do know. We have perfections here, some days, yet not one “sun-soaked, tree-green, flower-blooming, lake-glistening” day of summer can compare with being with Jesus in a perfect environment with: 

“. . . .  the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:1–5)

The short descriptions of that eternal place describe no more sorrow or tears. If our friend survives this surgery, he will be glad, yet if Jesus takes him home, his joy and delight cannot be described — only that one day we will be together in that indescribable place. In the meantime, we are to focus on the One who is there, and who takes care of all things here. Summer is a small glimpse, no doubt totally inadequate to show us our future hope. 

Even so, the tall trees, the thick undergrowth, blue sky and especially the camaraderie of our Christian family make it easier to think of the perfection that is promised. 

PRAY: Thank You Jesus for reminding me to pray for our friend and for many things that cry for Your attention in this world. It is not heaven here, nor heaven yet, but You do hear and answer prayer. You make thoughts of things above easier and far more important than taking a ‘time out’ from eternal matters. For that, I am grateful.  

My eternal home

Yesterday someone asked about our move, then said, “When all is in order, then it will feel like home.” I told her that the first time I saw it, even before we made an offer, this place seemed like home. However, today’s reading reminds me of something Jesus said:

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:1–3)

Years ago, I was grumbling about tedious housework. God used these verses to remind me that my Savior knew all about homemaking. He was building a most glorious place — a forever home with no sorrows, no bad memories, no troubles or tears. My task is not quite like that, but knowing He is doing this replaced my grumbling with a glad heart.

Today I read it again with joy, also realizing another parallel. For the past few weeks, our home has been upside-down, not just this one we are now working on to settle in, but the former one that went through a whirlwind of decluttering and downsizing. We are still doing that homemaking and even though I am an organized person, these rooms do not look like it — yet.

Apply that to the world around us. Contrary to many thoughts about ‘heaven’ and it being ‘out there somewhere’ the Bible says God’s people will experience eternal life in a restored new home here:

For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. (Isaiah 65:17)
For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the Lord, so shall your offspring and your name remain. (Isaiah 66:22)
But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:13)
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. (Revelation 21:1)

The NT also says this odd thing about where I live now:

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus… (Ephesians 2:4–6)

In a spiritual sense, I am already home, seated with Jesus in an eternal place. While the sense of this is hard to explain, it does describe the reality that this being at home with Him is experienced before actually getting there. I know where that home is, just like I knew this new address was my home before we actually purchased it and moved in. And it is perfect for us right now, even though there are boxes to empty, touch-ups needed, pictures to hang, and furniture that is not quite in the right place. It is still already home.

PRAY: Jesus, the sense of being home is lovely regarding this physical house, and much like the sense of knowing where my heavenly home is and what it will be like. I am so blessed to know that You, the perfect Homemaker, are preparing a place for me, a place perfect in its design and layout, but even more so because it is where You are — and I will be with You, perfection personified, for eternity.

I cannot imagine eternal glory . . .

I’ve tried to imagine heaven. It seems reasonable to suppose that everyone has done the same, yet we are not able to do it. The Bible gives very little to go on.

The Old Testament also says no one has seen God and lived. The NT echoes this about the glories of salvation by expanding something Isaiah wrote: “As it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him’ — these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)

Yet John was given a glimpse of the eternal city, representing both the people of God and their eternal dwelling place. His description does not answer all my questions (such as will there be things to do there, or pets, or what will we look like?) but it is a spectacular vision, almost that of a structure of jewels.

John describes a large structure, like a cube or pyramid with a wall made of jasper and the city made of pure gold, as pure as glass. This is a language of appearance since both jasper and the gold are not like these metals as we know them. The city’s foundations have the apostles’ names inscribed on them using 12 stones of different colors. The city’s jeweled beauty may have symbolic meaning yet the description gives no clues or precise interpretation. Since it is was described at first as the Bride of Christ, I can assume that God’s people will live there and that this is my future dwelling place along with others who believe, both the church and Israel. The church is represented by the apostles’ names on the foundations, and Israel by the names of their 12 tribes on the gates. This maintains a distinction between the two even though both are people of faith.

John also says this:

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21:22–27)

Revelation often describes Jesus as the Lamb, but this is the only place where the book of life is called the Lamb’s book, suggesting that this is the home of those who trusted His sacrifice for their sin. In other words, the description does not answer all my questions concerning eternity with God, just that this revelation to John describes a beautiful and glorious future for all who put their trust in Jesus who died for our sins.

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Jesus, I’ve seen You in all the pages and passages of this Revelation and each one of them refers to Your gracious saving power. I rejoice again in You. Our lives are filled with uncertainties and even threats and dangers, yet You are the anchor of my soul, the One in whom I can place my trust. You are my refuge and my strength and my hope for these troublesome days and for all eternity.

Today’s thankful list . . .

- the hope of glory forever with Jesus.

- today’s challenge to not let the world’s idea of a great life be mistake for Jesus’ promise of abundant life.

- resting in Jesus.

- answered prayer regarding a friend’s marriage.

- apple crisp with whipped cream

Restoration is not always about getting my stuff back

Already a grandmother, we moved to Saskatchewan because my husband had work there. The location was near a well-known Bible college so I decided to sign up. The work was challenging but in less than three years, I had a bachelor’s degree in religious studies.

Besides writing research papers, students were assigned to various service projects. One of mine involved speaking at a senior’s residence. I used the following Scripture passage:

“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.” (Joel 2:25–27)

People in Saskatchewan know the destructive power of grasshoppers. On one occasion, they were so thick that driving was almost impossible. What many of the folks in this nursing home didn’t know was how this promise of God in the OT applied to us today.

For Israel, the destruction may have been literal, but for those aging people, the years had robbed them of many things; health, family, meaningful work, and joy. They were a sad group, until they learned what the word “restore” means. It comes from a root word meaning completion and fulfillment — of entering a state of wholeness and unity, even a restored relationship — and is almost the same as ‘shalom’ — a very well-known Hebrew greeting of ‘peace be on you.’

I don’t remember exactly how I presented this promise, but I do remember seeing their faces relax into smiles. God was telling them that even though they suffered great losses, He would take care of them. Whatever they had gone through or were going through, they needed that reminder.

Today, this passage has another vivid illustration. My sister had a home, a business, did incredible art work, and became well-known in the city she lives in. In a few short years, she sold her business, her husband died, she sold her house, allowing her family to purge her belongings, including her well-stocked art studio and moved into a senior’s residence.

Is she happy? She has nothing of her life except 4-5 paintings and her clothing, but she is content, joyful, a blessing to those around her and a living example of God giving peace to His people even if all they once enjoyed is gone.

In my thinking, moving from here to heaven will be something like that. The past will be forgotten as I enter eternity with Jesus. All that I gained or lost here will not matter, even be forgotten. Like my sister, I will be content, happy and not even thinking about it.

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Jesus, this promise goes beyond the physical to what You do for Your people as we wait on You. Our lives suffer losses and enjoy gains, but when You put our focus on Your grace, mercy and power, the rest of it has no significance. For that, I am grateful!

Two funerals this week

Saturday’s funeral started at 1:30. We were there more than four hours. It was a celebration of life, but also a sorrow. The man who had gone to be with Jesus had been a pastor, but also a remarkable husband, father, and friend. He will be missed. His family and friends wept and will weep in their sorrow.

Tuesday’s funeral will honor another beloved man whose public service and winning personality built a great respect in our community. There will be tears there also, and tears in the weeks to come. He will also be missed.

A few important verses touch my heart as I think about death and funerals. How great are the promises of God and how timely He is in bringing them to His people when we need to read them . . .

“For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:17)

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

Another passage also impresses me. There isn’t space here for all of 2 Corinthians 4, but it is a reminder that the trials and sorrows of this life are nothing compared to the wonders that are to come. I personalize this section that blesses me today . . . 

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in my heart to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But I have this treasure in a jar of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to me. I am afflicted . . . but not destroyed . . . carrying in my body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in my body . . . given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in my mortal flesh . . . all for the sake of others . . . as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So I do not lose heart. Though my outer self is wasting away, my inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for me an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as I look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:1–18)

In this life on this earth, I weep over sin, loss, affliction, but after death and into eternity there will be no more tears. I could be deeply sorrowful over the regrets of life, but God will not allow any tears to dim my vision of His Son! He will remove all pain and grief and my reward will be perfectly satisfying. I will see Jesus!

Heaven is being with Christ and becoming like Him, loving Him perfectly, serving Him forever, worshiping Him without sin, enjoying Him and all that He is — and all that He is will be mine. No weeping, no sorrow, only eternal joy.

Jesus, what a comfort that even though some will not be there and no one deserves to be there, there will be a great multitude which no man can number. All who are washed in Your blood and clothed in Your righteousness will be there. All who trust You alone as Lord and Savior will be there — and none will ever be sad or shed tears again. You hugged me today!