Longing to see Jesus.
Matthew 6:18 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 19 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 20 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
It seems to me that we have piled up worldly things so much in this country we have forgotten where we are from. I believe there is a danger that we become so comfortable in this life that we forget we are but strangers and pilgrims in this world. If you are a Christian, heaven is your future home for all of eternity.
When Jesus said in Matthew 6 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: His point is not that He wants our treasures, but that He wants our hearts. He was teaching us to fix our hearts on heaven, to long for the glory of heaven, and above all, If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1
Ever notice how the songs about heaven are mostly hymns or other oldies? “This World Is Not My Home”; “Until that Day”; “Heaven Is a Wonderful Place.” Almost no one writes songs about heaven these days. Most simply don’t long for it like our ancestors did. We would rather be here.
You can also see today that most books are written on “how to.” How to be a better Christian, how to build your faith, how to be a Christian parent and so on. I don’t think it was meant to be that way but, it almost seems to put our Lord as a great sales pitch. We strive to be better here without a longing for our heavenly home. I believe another reason we don’t have a longing like we should. It’s not that we don’t believe in heaven but, it’s hard to comprehend or even imagine just how glorious it will be.
I Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
A few years ago Brenda and I were in Florida and we visited First Baptist Church in Orlando for Sunday morning service because the guest speaker there was Don Piper. He was the man that wrote the book 90 Minutes In Heaven. His testimony of dying in a car accident and arriving at the gates of heaven and then 90 minutes later returning to earth is a great inspiration for Christians. He saw friends and others he recognized but, he only came to the gate and didn’t enter. So the interesting thing to me is that he never saw Jesus. I thought about the verse in scripture 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. I believe when we do go home, we will see Jesus face to face.
Billy Graham once said, “What is heaven going to be like? Just as there is a mystery to hell, so there is a mystery to heaven. Yet I believe the Bible teaches that both are literal places. I’m not worried about where they are, because I know where Jesus is and he told me to meet him there."
That’s the reason we should have a longing for heaven because, that’s where Jesus is.
Love in Christ Jesus, Ronnie Miller www.themillersbiblestudy.com
