Longing is part of our human DNA. What do we long for? If we are honest I think we all long for significance, authenticity, peace…. Yes we want the ‘Beauty Pageant’ answer ‘world peace,’ but what we really want is inner peace. I think we long to go back to the Garden where unity was the norm and division had not yet entered our natures.
To me, this picture captures a small taste of our longing for a heavenly home. The word of God begins in a garden and ends in a city, the New Jerusalem. Does our creator leave us to fend for ourselves as we seek to reunite with Him? NO! Hebrews 11 communicates this well.
“6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Yes he rewards us.
We just have to believe God exists and begin the journey to seek Him. Yes, there are days when we face opposition. John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress is the most read book after the Bible. This story of the journey to the heavenly city is only one clue showing the universal sense of longing to understand where we are going, how to get there and it reminds us we are not alone.
Hebrews 11 again: v13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”
We are not made for true contentment here. Our creator knows it. He provides for us, comforts us, instructs us and encourages us with the whisperings of the Holy Spirit through the word of God. He also gives us human friends to encourage us on the long journey and His personal presence whether we detect it or not.
Abba, I have only a general sense of where I am going. I have the head knowledge of your promises and I ask for more heart and faith to allow your promises to direct me. I long for more of You every day, because You are the only thing truly certain in life.
Thank you for this life. Thank you for the twists and turns that throw me into Your arms. Thank you for the freedom to walk with you, or not. Thank You for seeking me out…always, and never giving up!
