Good evening everyone!
I just got home from Colorado and, let me tell you, this was the perfect time to go! The beautiful fall colors are just starting to come out. Most of the parks and hikes are bathed in golden leaves that catch the sun's rays just right. Every once in a while, there are rich and vibrant red leaves that catch your eye as you look out over a sea of yellow. There are still plenty of dark green pine trees occupying the mountain sides too.
In Flagstaff, we have trees that transition into fall colors too, but it is nothing compared to the splendor of Colorado. The other thing is, Colorado has some of the most magnificent mountains I have ever seen. The jagged peaks pierce the sky in unrelenting dominance. I have never felt so small in my life, but I have also never been so in awe of God's power either. I felt so at peace as we were driving the Million Dollar highway (except for the few times where we got too close to the edge of the road on the highway, it's a steep way down!). As I continued to stare out the window, feeling as if I was flying amongst the trees, I was overcome with this intense feeling of longing. I felt as if God was telling me, "Taste and see what I have for you." I knew then that He was talking about joining Him in my heavenly home. A small wave of sadness crashed over me because I wanted to be home in that instant. To know that I wasn't home yet, saddened me just a little. But then I became incredibly thankful for that longing God placed in my heart.
We all have a place of belonging. We all have a home. God instilled in our hearts a desire for the eternal, a desire for Him. I know this has been said a lot before, but we are truly not meant for this world. That is why we long to get away from the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives and immerse ourselves in God's creation. That's why we find joy in genuine friendships. That is why we have a moral code. That is why we are never satisfied with worldly pursuits.
Paul in Philippians 3:20-21 expresses the beauty that is our eternal fate: "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."
Psalm 63:1 also illuminates our desire for our Heavenly Father and our desperate need for Him: "You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you: I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water."
Our hearts are meant for something greater. Our souls are meant to rest and rejoice in a home that is not of this world with the Creator and Savior of us all.
This deep longing that we all have is a blessing from God. It gives us a spirit of perseverance and gives up hope for the future. No matter what happens in this life, we have a home with our Father who loves us. We are not abandoned. We have a place with Him forever. We can rest in the fact that God is calling us to run the race (and run it well) so we can come home to Him victorious and full of joy.
I know this was a shorter blog post, but I hope it was still encouraging or a little helpful.
This week, talk to God about Heaven. Reveal your thoughts or concerns to Him. And ask Him to reveal some of His eternal heart to you. Big or small, God is eager to show you His heart.
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