We like what we know, don't we? The familiar, the comfortable...the known. Last night a group of women started a Bible study using Anne Graham Lotz's book, The Magnificent Obsession. In this book, Anne shares the story of Abraham and how he became known as God's friend. That's the goal set before us in this study...to come to truly know God and have that kind of personal relationship with Him.
Did this come easy for Abraham? Not at all. God told him to leave his home and his family for a place Abraham and never seen. Abraham's willingness to do that is what led him into such an intimate relationship with God.
Does that scenario strike a chord with you? When we talk of a new heaven and a new earth, and the first heaven and first earth passing away, is there a part of you that wants to cry out, "But I like it here!" I think that emotion rings true in all of us...this old earth is what we know, this is where we have lived and where our friends and family are.
But just like Abraham of old, God calls us away, and asks us to trust Him that the new heaven and new earth, even though we haven't seen them, are infinitely better for our eternal life. Like Abraham, our promised land lies ahead, sight unseen, and we have to be willing to let go of the known to take hold of the promises of God.
Did God's promises hold true for Abraham? Every one of them. Will they hold true for us? Absolutely. God proves Himself over and over in the Scriptures as being completely trustworthy. I love when Jesus tells His disciples, "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you", when relaying to them the wonders of their eternal destination. It sounds like Jesus is saying to them, "I'm telling you the truth...you can trust me on this one."
As much as we may love our earthly lives with all of their trials and troubles, we should be confident enough in God to let go....to know that the new heaven and the new earth will make what we now know look ghastly pale in comparison.
It's been said, "Everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to go right now." But we should. We should have such an anticipation for our new home that we can't wait to get there. Not taking away from the fact that God has purpose in every day that He gives us here on earth, and we praise Him for those days as well, when we can proclaim Him to others and live under His direction, going where He calls us to go now as well...but our eyes should be on eternity, and all the new things God has in store for us there.
This is what we know...but that is what we are promised. Abraham saw God's promises to him fulfilled...one day we will too.
Come Lord Jesus!
Did this come easy for Abraham? Not at all. God told him to leave his home and his family for a place Abraham and never seen. Abraham's willingness to do that is what led him into such an intimate relationship with God.
Does that scenario strike a chord with you? When we talk of a new heaven and a new earth, and the first heaven and first earth passing away, is there a part of you that wants to cry out, "But I like it here!" I think that emotion rings true in all of us...this old earth is what we know, this is where we have lived and where our friends and family are.
But just like Abraham of old, God calls us away, and asks us to trust Him that the new heaven and new earth, even though we haven't seen them, are infinitely better for our eternal life. Like Abraham, our promised land lies ahead, sight unseen, and we have to be willing to let go of the known to take hold of the promises of God.
Did God's promises hold true for Abraham? Every one of them. Will they hold true for us? Absolutely. God proves Himself over and over in the Scriptures as being completely trustworthy. I love when Jesus tells His disciples, "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you", when relaying to them the wonders of their eternal destination. It sounds like Jesus is saying to them, "I'm telling you the truth...you can trust me on this one." As much as we may love our earthly lives with all of their trials and troubles, we should be confident enough in God to let go....to know that the new heaven and the new earth will make what we now know look ghastly pale in comparison.
It's been said, "Everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to go right now." But we should. We should have such an anticipation for our new home that we can't wait to get there. Not taking away from the fact that God has purpose in every day that He gives us here on earth, and we praise Him for those days as well, when we can proclaim Him to others and live under His direction, going where He calls us to go now as well...but our eyes should be on eternity, and all the new things God has in store for us there.
This is what we know...but that is what we are promised. Abraham saw God's promises to him fulfilled...one day we will too.
Come Lord Jesus!
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