"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy,
the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."
- C.S. Lewis
I've run a few races, and I love running. In fact, it took me a while to realize my identity wasn't found in the actual physical exercise of running, but the running of the eternal race. The one with higher stakes.
So I speak from experience with the following illustration.
Supposing tomorrow I were to receive one of the many pamphlets that are mailed to me (ever since I ran my first race in 2000), and supposing I were to open it, expecting to see what I usually see (a date, a registration card, the details of the charity I'm running for, etc), and it were to look like this instead:
I don't know about you, but without a why and some idea of what cause I was forwarding, I wouldn't be too thrilled about participating in this race. The stakes are too high to make such a commitment without an accurate knowledge of what I would be running for.
When you registered for a life dedicated to running the Eternal Race, you made a commitment (according to scripture) to run today, every day, every moment of this life on earth... you know that, and I know that, but it is so easy to lose sight of the "why" isn't it?
Do you know why you are running, and what you are running towards?
Philippians 3:20-21 says,
"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."
The quote from Lewis at the beginning of this post is one of my favorites. But I think so often we don't realize that the longing for heaven IS within us.
When sorrows or sickness or grief or pain come; when a marriage falls apart or children are abused or we read about the death of more American troops; when evil, death, and misery fill the evening news; when buildings burn and floodwaters sweep away the lives and hopes of millions; when terrorists succeed or the legal system fails to bring order to this chaotic world...
or simply when things go wrong in our own little, personal, day-to-day lives... when you miss an appointment, receive a poor grade, injure yourself and can't participate in basketball for a season; when your computer crashes for unknown and inexplicable reasons; when an unsaved co-worker abuses you verbally for your faith; when finances are tight; when your health fails; when that sin pattern you thought you had conquered rears it's ugly head yet again...
do you, Christian, see that all of these things, and many more, not only direct us back to God's sovereignty, but more significantly, they are flashing signs that say:
"This is not your home!" "You were meant for more!"
This world has been corrupted by sin. Even good things that God created, like marriage, (between one man and one woman) have been twisted and warped until they are hardly recognizable. I read something the other day that pointed out that Satan does not have the capacity or ability to create... only to manipulate and destroy. Sin is a distortion of God's good gifts to mankind. And it is everywhere.
When you are overwhelmed with the political, economical, and social entropy of the world we live in, or when you simply find yourself burdened with the cares of your own life, do you take the opportunity to realize and remember what you were made for? And thank God for the reminder? All of this life's agony blesses us with the opportunity to recognize and acknowledge that our citizenship is in heaven, and to once again thank God for the mystery of our salvation.
"There are precious hours, blessed be God, when we forget the world - times and seasons when we get quite away from it, when our weary spirit wings its way far, far, from scenes of toil and strife. There are precious moments when the angel of contemplation gives us a vision. He comes and puts his finger on the lip of the noisy world; he bids the wheels that are continually rattling in our ears be still; and we sit down, and there is a solemn silence of the mind. We find our heaven and our God; we engage ourselves in contemplating the glories of Jesus, or mounting upwards towards the bliss of heaven - in going backward to the great secrets of electing love, in considering the immutability of the blessed covenant…in remembering our own participation of that life which cometh from God, in thinking of our blood-bought union with the Lamb, of the consummation of our marriage with him in realms of light and bliss, or any such kindred topics. Then it is that we know a little about heaven. "
- CHS
Do you desire heaven? Do you take the opportunity, when burdens overwhelm you and the world looks so grim and the future so hopeless, to acknowledge the "prize" you are running towards?
It's a race worth running, because the prize is infinitely sweeter than anything offered on the way. The longing in our hearts for peace, joy, happiness, and security... all that is unfulfilled in our hearts will be fully satisfied on the day we see our Savior face to face and enjoy His presence and fellowship forever.
Don't lose sight of the finish line!
While we wait for heaven, all our soul's efforts and strength to run must be bound up fully and only in Christ and the satisfaction that comes from him!
The amazing goodness of God will never cease to satisfy you and give you strength to finish the race marked out for you by your loving Father before the beginning of time.
What peace and joy must flow from that knowledge! Heaven IS our home, and while we "wait" (not passively... this is a race!) we may find full satisfaction in Jesus Christ!
Heaven by Paul Wright (www.myspace.com/paulwright)
Right around the corner
I want to know what it's like to be in heaven
Looking back on my life having answers to my questions
Cuz we don't belong here forever
No no we don't belong here
And we'll be dancing, singing, bringing our praise
By lifting our voices to Jesus
There'll be no more crying, lying or dying when you and I are in heaven
I want to know what it's like to live forever
Embraced by the light of knowing you better Lord
Cuz we don't belong here forever no no we don't belong here
We we we gonna be dancing, singing,
Lifting our voices to Jesus
Take me home
I want to go home
I want to be in heaven just singing and dancing and praising and living forever...
I've run a few races, and I love running. In fact, it took me a while to realize my identity wasn't found in the actual physical exercise of running, but the running of the eternal race. The one with higher stakes.
So I speak from experience with the following illustration.
Supposing tomorrow I were to receive one of the many pamphlets that are mailed to me (ever since I ran my first race in 2000), and supposing I were to open it, expecting to see what I usually see (a date, a registration card, the details of the charity I'm running for, etc), and it were to look like this instead:
I don't know about you, but without a why and some idea of what cause I was forwarding, I wouldn't be too thrilled about participating in this race. The stakes are too high to make such a commitment without an accurate knowledge of what I would be running for.
When you registered for a life dedicated to running the Eternal Race, you made a commitment (according to scripture) to run today, every day, every moment of this life on earth... you know that, and I know that, but it is so easy to lose sight of the "why" isn't it?
William Barkley said, "There are two great days in a person's life - the day we are born, and the day we discover why."
Do you know why you are running, and what you are running towards?
Philippians 3:20-21 says,
"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."
The quote from Lewis at the beginning of this post is one of my favorites. But I think so often we don't realize that the longing for heaven IS within us.
When sorrows or sickness or grief or pain come; when a marriage falls apart or children are abused or we read about the death of more American troops; when evil, death, and misery fill the evening news; when buildings burn and floodwaters sweep away the lives and hopes of millions; when terrorists succeed or the legal system fails to bring order to this chaotic world...
or simply when things go wrong in our own little, personal, day-to-day lives... when you miss an appointment, receive a poor grade, injure yourself and can't participate in basketball for a season; when your computer crashes for unknown and inexplicable reasons; when an unsaved co-worker abuses you verbally for your faith; when finances are tight; when your health fails; when that sin pattern you thought you had conquered rears it's ugly head yet again...
do you, Christian, see that all of these things, and many more, not only direct us back to God's sovereignty, but more significantly, they are flashing signs that say:
"This is not your home!" "You were meant for more!"
This world has been corrupted by sin. Even good things that God created, like marriage, (between one man and one woman) have been twisted and warped until they are hardly recognizable. I read something the other day that pointed out that Satan does not have the capacity or ability to create... only to manipulate and destroy. Sin is a distortion of God's good gifts to mankind. And it is everywhere.
When you are overwhelmed with the political, economical, and social entropy of the world we live in, or when you simply find yourself burdened with the cares of your own life, do you take the opportunity to realize and remember what you were made for? And thank God for the reminder? All of this life's agony blesses us with the opportunity to recognize and acknowledge that our citizenship is in heaven, and to once again thank God for the mystery of our salvation.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you,
who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation
that is ready to be revealed in the last time."
- 1 Peter 1:3-5
who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation
that is ready to be revealed in the last time."
- 1 Peter 1:3-5
- CHS
Do you desire heaven? Do you take the opportunity, when burdens overwhelm you and the world looks so grim and the future so hopeless, to acknowledge the "prize" you are running towards?
It's a race worth running, because the prize is infinitely sweeter than anything offered on the way. The longing in our hearts for peace, joy, happiness, and security... all that is unfulfilled in our hearts will be fully satisfied on the day we see our Savior face to face and enjoy His presence and fellowship forever.
Don't lose sight of the finish line!
The enjoyment of [God] is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun.
These are but streams. But God is the ocean.
- Jonathan Edwards
These are but streams. But God is the ocean.
- Jonathan Edwards
While we wait for heaven, all our soul's efforts and strength to run must be bound up fully and only in Christ and the satisfaction that comes from him!
The amazing goodness of God will never cease to satisfy you and give you strength to finish the race marked out for you by your loving Father before the beginning of time.
What peace and joy must flow from that knowledge! Heaven IS our home, and while we "wait" (not passively... this is a race!) we may find full satisfaction in Jesus Christ!
Heaven by Paul Wright (www.myspace.com/paulwright)
Right around the corner
I want to know what it's like to be in heaven
Looking back on my life having answers to my questions
Cuz we don't belong here forever
No no we don't belong here
And we'll be dancing, singing, bringing our praise
By lifting our voices to Jesus
There'll be no more crying, lying or dying when you and I are in heaven
I want to know what it's like to live forever
Embraced by the light of knowing you better Lord
Cuz we don't belong here forever no no we don't belong here
We we we gonna be dancing, singing,
Lifting our voices to Jesus
Take me home
I want to go home
I want to be in heaven just singing and dancing and praising and living forever...
1 comment:
I recently took up running, have run a few 5K races, and as of the first of the year will start training for a June marathon. All that to say your running analogy is more than appropriate to me right now. Thanks for the post and for the convicting and encouraging thoughts.
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