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Heaven is a real, wonderful place beyond what we could ever imagine. In heaven, we will experience the presence of God like never before. Yet, if I'm honest, I didn't always really long for heaven like I should have. Of course, I wanted to go there one day, and I believed that because of Christ I would, but as I got caught up in the busyness of life, heaven just felt so far off that I would forget about it. In my youth, it was easy to believe the lie that I was guaranteed at least 50 more years, so heaven just wasn't top of mind.
However, a chronic diagnosis made me face the reality of death. It will come. It may be decades away, but it could be days away. We truly never know! Furthermore, dealing with the physical limitations of my body made me long for the day when my body would be made new! Every time that sharp pain comes screaming across my abdomen, it is a reminder that it isn't supposed to be this way. Every time my energy drops suddenly and I need to lie down, my longing increases for the day when Jesus will restore what is broken.
"For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee."
(2 Corinthians 5:1-5)
Christians should long for heaven. Paul addresses the tension he felt between longing for heaven and knowing that he has a task to share the Gospel now on Earth when he wrote in Philippians 1 that "to live is Christ and to die is gain." I feel this tension, and it is good to feel this. Knowing that we have a calling here on Earth helps us to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Longing for heaven helps us to keep an eternal perspective and to have great hope while living in a broken world.
"So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him."
(2 Corinthians 5:6-9)
We can make it our aim to please God while we are away from our heavenly home by clinging to Him no matter what comes our way and bringing Him glory through all that life brings us.
Are you dealing with limitations? Do you know someone navigating their own limitations? This verse brings me great hope:
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
(Revelation 21:4)
The truth is, I desperately needed this to be true even before my diagnosis. But now, Jesus has taught me through my diagnosis to cling to this hope! I pray that as you face limitations of various forms and degrees throughout your life, it will cause you to praise God for the great hope that we have in Him who will one day make all things new.
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