Walking With Jesus

Your Eternal Purpose

“Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

*As I do every 15th of the month, I’m devoting todays blog to Sylvia Gunter. Today’s prayer is taken from Sylvia’s new book: Strength To Equal Your Days a 365 day devotional by Sylvia Gunter and Elizabeth Gunter Powell. See the link below to order your copy. Blessings, Ed

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the blessed assurance that the best is yet to come. I place my trust in Your mighty hand and the eternal purposes that will never waver. As I run the race You have set before me today, fill my heart with joy, knowing that You are by my side in every step, through every trial and circumstance—whether they are visible to others or known only to You.

Father, daily remind me of the promise You made in Jeremiah 29:11, that Your plans for me are for good, not for harm, to give me a future filled with hope. Strengthen my faith in the truth that in all things, You are working for the good of those who love You and are called according to Your purpose (Romans 8:28). I am Your handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to carry out the good works You have already prepared for me to do (Ephesians 2:10).

Lord, strengthen me in Your power so that I may speak Your words and perform Your works, impacting the hearts and lives of those You have placed in my path. I trust that You are intricately weaving together every thread of Your purpose in my life, preparing me for things beyond my understanding. Help me to stand firm, confident, and strong, knowing that You are upholding my cause and guiding my every step. In the powerful name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Where You Headed?

“I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” (Matthew 8:9 NLT)

Do you realize as a child of God you live under Christ’s authority? There is a sense in which we have no will of our own, we make no plans of our own. Our activities are governed by our “Commanding Officer,” the Lord Jesus.

As with any destination the shortest route is a straight line, yet, like most trips I’ve taken, there are no straight lines between here and there. Factor in detours, car/travel difficulties, and other interruptions and you have a lot of uncertainties with which to deal. Life’s journey with Jesus is an adventure that can’t be “boxed” or “packaged” according to our preferences.

The truth is, we don’t know the way, at least not a way that can be conveniently mapped out. We’re following a Person, not a pre-planned route; thus, the reason for trust, clear lines of communication, and a willingness to be flexible. Heaven is our destination, but our day-to-day strategy to arrive there isn’t dependent upon our ingenuity or clever planning, it’s dependent upon our ability and willingness to listen carefully and follow instructions.

Jesus says simply, “I am the Way” with the clear implication: “Follow Me!” But why should we? What makes Jesus think He has all the answers? What makes Him supreme ruler of US? Because His credentials are beyond explanation or even understanding and He’s the ONLY ONE EVER to come from heaven, then ascend back to heaven, so, it’s pretty safe to assume He knows the way.

But the foundation of whether or not we’ll trust Him to lead us there is faith. There have been others, many others, who have given explanations of what’s going to happen when we die and what we need to do to prepare, but NONE who have laid down their life for our forgiveness and to fill us with His Holy Presence in the Person of His Holy Spirit to make sure we have step-by-step instructions.

Our destination isn’t really the issue as much as our moment-by-moment interaction with our Savior. There’s a sense in which our relationship with the Lord IS our destination and the “way” is to follow His directives. And that can be scary because sometimes His way leads to confusion, pain, suffering, heartache, misunderstanding, and a lot of other things we don’t like and would rather avoid.

Beth Moore gives us insight when she writes: “Sometimes a storm in your life is what will blow you to the place you are longing to be.” That’s why life is such an adventure, we never know what the next step is going to entail or where the next turn will lead. That’s also why we must be slow to draw conclusions based on the seeming obvious.

For example, just because I’ve been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s doesn’t mean the Lord is done with me, that I no longer have value to Him or purpose for which He can use me. Neither does your diagnosis, lost job, death of a loved one, divorce, or any other tragedy that has befallen you. Actually, it may be the beginning of a brand-new leg of your journey that will prove better than you can now imagine.

He will give you insights, understanding, times of intimacy with Him that you could experience in no other way. Trust Him. Follow Him. Walk closely with Him. He’s not only your destination, He IS your Way.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

On What Are You Resting?

“After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son so He can give glory back to You. For You have given Him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one You have given Him. And this is the way to have eternal life – to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one You sent to earth.’” (John 17:1-3 NLT)

Jesus isn’t Truth simply because the Church believes that He is or even because the Bible says He is. Jesus is Truth because that’s who He says He is, and He is incapable of telling a lie. In much the same way as whatever comes out of the mouth of Satan is a lie; everything that comes from Jesus is Truth.

Every person who has ever lived or ever will live rests or will rest their hope in something or someone. It may be a body of belief that is religious or non-religious, or something they were taught by a grandparent or parent when they were small that they’ve never forgotten, but we all have a fundamental “truth” that drives our life. But all beliefs aren’t equal and wrong beliefs have consequences.

Some people believe that all people are basically good, that given the opportunity people will do the right thing. Prisons are filled with people who didn’t choose the “right thing.” Others believe we’re simply products of our environment, that our behavior is essentially learned or “inherited.” And, to some extent, that’s true.

According to Scripture we’ve been born with an Adamic nature, a nature that resists God and seeks to forge our own way. We want what we want when we want it and are, too often, willing to do whatever it takes to get our way. As human beings, we’re naturally selfish and self-centered. We have a nature that craves attention and likes to be recognized and praised.

Like our “father,” Satan, we aren’t opposed to fabricate or exaggerate the truth to make ourselves look better or to put ourselves in a more favorable light with those we wish to impress. Indeed, our “father” has been known to disguise himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14) as a means of deceiving those who would allow him.

But as believers in Jesus we don’t rest in lies or half-truths. We don’t settle for make believe, opinions, rhetoric, or riddles, and for good reason. Gratefully, our God not only teaches Truth but amplifies it through His very being. Jesus said of Himself in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.”

“Right!” you may be thinking, “and I’m the Easter Bunny!” you may say. People can say anything about themselves or anyone or anything, but the proof is in the proverbial “pudding.” Can you prove what you say about yourself as Jesus proved what He said about Himself?

Jesus revealed His identity in many ways, but in two very distinct and incomparable ways. He was born of a virgin, and He rose from the dead on the third day after His verifiable death. Those and other evidence give me full confidence that I can rest in the Truth, not only of what He said, but of who He is. But as ironclad as I believe those truths are, the irrefutable evidence to me is His ever-present life and love with me throughout my day in unmistakable and undeniable ways.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

The Opposite of Joy

“And all the people followed Solomon into Jerusalem, playing flutes and shouting for joy. The celebration was so joyous and noisy that the earth shook with the sound.” (I Kings 1:40 NLT)

What do you think of when you think of joy? What’s the most joyful occurrence or occasion of your life? Was it your wedding? Your baptism? Your graduation? What about the day you had the least joy? Your divorce? Your cancer diagnosis? The death of someone you loved?

Joy is not an emotion; joy is a gift of God. That’s why, according to Timothy Keller, “The sin under all other sins is a lack of joy in Christ.” Events don’t elicit joy, purpose does. We find our purpose in Jesus, not in accomplishments. We can have positive emotions in enjoyable circumstances and sadness in circumstances we deem unpleasant, but the joy of Jesus isn’t dependent upon circumstances, it’s dependent upon intimacy with the Lord.

Nehemiah 8:10 reminds us: “Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” If we follow his train of thought, can we then conclude that lack of joy of the Lord is our weakness? So, the opposite of joy isn’t sadness it’s weakness, most often caused by a lack of purpose.

Did you notice Nehemiah said. “for the joy OF the Lord,” not joy IN the Lord. Being filled with God’s presence in the person of the Holy Spirit is literally the embodiment of joy within us. As believers we don’t have to search for God, we only have to acknowledge His Holy presence within us. To be filled with Jesus is to be filled with joy! But does that mean we’re always laughing and giggling like school children?

As I mentioned above, joy isn’t an emotion we turn on or off, it’s the gift of God’s presence within us and surrounding us regardless of the circumstances of our day or the mood of the moment. Joy is a decision to recognize that even in pain and heartache the foundation of our joy is a Person. Because Jesus doesn’t change neither does the fact of our joy in knowing He is walking with us, sometimes carrying us through the troublesome and difficult seasons of our lives.

To know Jesus is to have joy and to have joy is to recognize that because we belong to Jesus our lives are not our own. Our feelings on any given day cannot and must not dictate who we are or even what we do or don’t do. Prayer is not a luxury we sit aside if we don’t “feel” like it. God’s Word isn’t an option we can ignore because we’ve had a bad day.

Love, joy, peace, patience and the other fruit of the Spirit are necessities that must govern and guide us regardless of other factors pressing in on us. We cannot choose our mood based on emotion but must allow our behavior to be governed by the Spirit within us. He’s our Ruler, not we ourselves!

Often the days we’re at our worst and feel least like being “holy,” are the very days it’s most essential that we open our heart to become the joy of Jesus for someone else. Our selfishness screams for our attention and demands our submission to it’s demands, but as God’s child we must not give in. Allowing joy to reign in our hearts, minds, and lives requires discipline that can only be acquired as we yield to the indwelling Spirit.

Apart from Jesus we can do nothing, so it stands to reason that the discipline we need to be conformed to His likeness will be provided by His presence within us. His joy is our strength, even in our weakness, perhaps, ESPECIALLY in our weakness

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

All We Can?

“You are My friends if you do what I command.” (John 15:14 NLT)

How much of what you or I do in an average day is done for us? How much for the Lord? What has He asked of me or you that we’ve ignored or postponed? You know what that is, right? It’s NOT doing what He commands us to do. It’s sin.

A few verses before the one above in John 15, Jesus uses the term “remain” nine times in six verses. And just to be clear, “remain” means to obey, to stay at the task assigned, to do what we’re commanded to do. And what happens if we get lax and decide we’d rather do what we want to do? Verse 2 explains what the Father does: “I am the true grapevine, and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of Mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.”

What happens to the “branches” that are removed? Verse 6 explains: “Anyone who does not remain in Me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.”

We wonder why our lives aren’t bearing more fruit or why the church in America has grown so ineffective. Could it be because we’re withering branches waiting to be burned? As illustrated in Genesis 6, God’s Spirit will not put up with our sin forever. We want to believe because we said a prayer and live what we consider to be a “good life” that we’re good to go with God.

In much the same way as I believe that behind the saving grace of every saved person was someone praying, I believe behind every person who isn’t saved is someone NOT praying. I also believe that behind every suffering child, every gap in the care of hurting people all over the world, lost people groups, the proliferation of evil in every sector of societies across our world, are “people of God” more concerned about themselves than others.

We’re NOT loving well! We’re NOT being obedient to our Commander in Chief! Let me be more to the point: I’m not being as obedient and submissive to the Lord’s directives as I must be if the Lord is going to be able to make use of my life and I so want Him to. I think for years I was hanging to the Lord’s “vine” by a thread.

The Lord cuts us a lot of slack, but there comes a point, especially now when the clock is ticking and time is literally running out. This is no time to set back and relax, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and be about our Father’s business with more energy and enthusiasm than ever before. And I’m not concerned about my or your age. If we have breath, we have something to give; some vital way to influence someone’s life for Jesus.

We can’t slow down or quit, there’s too much at stake. Yes, of course, we can ask God to “bless the world” or “bless all the lost people.” But there’s no way we can see an answer for that prayer. He IS blessing the world! He is blessing lost people if He’s allowing them to have life. We need to shrink our world and begin using names of people with whom WE can follow up and “track” whether or not they’re getting the information they need to make a decision for Jesus.

Here’s the bottom line: Am I, are YOU, doing all we can to submit to Christ’s authority in our lives? Are we obedient to His directives? Are we following through with those for whom we’re praying to see if there’s anything we can do to help them make a decision for Jesus before it’s eternally too late?

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Is God Really to Blame?

“But Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to Me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.’ And He placed His hands on them and blessed them before He left.” (Matthew 19:14-15 NLT)

There’s something about children that softens our heart and lowers our defenses. We naturally want to hold them, love them, and protect them, which is natural because we inherit those instincts from our heavenly Father. Perhaps that’s why it breaks our heart and challenges our senses to realize, not only how children have suffered over the ages, but how they are suffering in the day in which we now live.

Children have become objects to be used rather than precious ones to be loved and cherished. There are parts of the world where the life expectancy of adults is low, yet they continue to have many children who become orphans. Even in more progressive societies, children are often orphaned or abandoned for reasons that are beyond their control.

What’s my point? Children are designed by God to be cared for and when they aren’t they suffer. What am I saying? We want to blame God for the plight of children, but in some respects it’s like blaming the forest for the trees. The forest wouldn’t exist without trees, like humanity wouldn’t exist without children, but children can’t care for themselves. They demand care, but when care isn’t available to be given, children die and or must do what they can to make a way for themselves.

They become vulnerable and easy targets for those who want to violate and use them for their own gain. Could God step in and stop them? Of course, and the truth is, He has taken measures to assure their safety and security, but the system breaks down.

It begins with parents and families of origin, but when we don’t do our job, we want the government to step up and do what we weren’t willing or able to do ourselves. But the government is stretched too thin and too many children fall through the proverbial “cracks,” and/or those given responsibility for their care take it upon themselves to violate the children or use their influence to allow those who shouldn’t, to have access to the kids.

Factor in those whose whole orientation is evil and whose only aim is to use children for their benefit and pleasure, and you have a world on fire with evil whose days are quickly coming to an end.

So, is God at fault for all of this? Some would argue He is because He gives us free will and He “allows” us to behave like idiots. But what’s the alternative? To be robots or animals? I choose to believe the reason children and anyone else suffers is due to the sin and negligence of man, not the negligence of God. Could God do something about it? Of course!

He flooded the earth and started over, but we didn’t get better, we got worse. So, what do you think He’s going to do this time? He’s using fire and there won’t be any survivors except those who specifically choose to be His friends and followers. And we will be made perfect so nothing evil will ever take place on the new earth again. But that’s not the end of the story.

The care of the suffering has been entrusted to each of us, as we care for those in our spheres of influence. To the extent we become the hands and feet of Jesus, to that extent the needs of the world will be addressed. And because things haven’t gotten any better, it only points to our lack of response to the clear directives of God, not the negligence of God.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

When Grace Seems Fair

‘From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:16-17 NLT)

We all think we understand grace, but we don’t and won’t until we see Jesus face to face. Grace isn’t simply a kindness given or a favor bestowed, it’s a Person who shed His blood so we wouldn’t have to shed ours in a futile attempt to save ourselves from our sin. God was the same in the Old Testament as He is today, so, of course, He has extended His favor across the centuries. But on many levels, grace received a new definition when Jesus placed His sinless life in place of ours and took our sin upon Himself.

Grace before Christ’s sacrificial death is like a drink of cold water on a hot day, refreshing and helpful, but it doesn’t last. Martin Lloyd-Jones said it well when he wrote: “The Christian life starts with grace, continues with grace, and ends with grace. By the grace of God I am who I am. The gift of eternal life is a grace gift that wasn’t available until Jesus died to make it possible.

In every case grace is undeserved and unearned. We don’t receive grace because we want it or think we deserve it, we receive grace when we’ve quit asking and our face is buried in our hands in complete despair. Perhaps that’s why Bob Goff said: “Grace never seems fair until you need some.”

Bob Goff also made the observation: “Humble people make grace look easy.” Why would he say that? Largely because humility doesn’t expect accolades, they don’t live for the next “blessing” or the next “reward” from the Lord. They serve the Lord out of sacrificial hearts of love and devotion. Malachi O’Brien wrote: “None of us are as ‘important’ as we would like to think we are. Live to be forgotten and ferociously live to make Jesus famous.”

Loving and living for Jesus is a privilege and honor, not simply based on what He gives us, which is far more than we could ever in eternity give ourselves, but based on the opportunity we have to give of ourselves for a purpose that will long out live us. Being a Jesus follower isn’t about our importance, but His; not about what we have to give up or do without, but on what we’ve gained in knowing and loving Him.

When it seems our “grace” tank is running low, perhaps it’s time to realize that, as J.I. Packer said: “There is tremendous relief in knowing that His love to me is based at every point on prior knowledge of the worst about me.” When the Lord died for us, He didn’t base that decision on how good we were, or were going to be, we had and have no goodness of our own, but on how great our need would be.

If you ever get the misguided idea you don’t need grace, try figuring out a way to get to heaven without it. There is no Jesus without grace, no salvation without grace, no Holy Spirit without grace, no conviction without grace, no goodness, kindness, mercy, or any of the fruit of the Spirit without grace.

Grace is unearned and undeserved. We can’t buy, borrow, beg, or steal it. It’s a gift. A gift given by our loving, all-knowing, ever-present Father who knows us better than we will ever know ourselves and is kind in ways we cannot comprehend. When He extends His grace to you, don’t try to figure it out, just say, “Thank You, Father!”

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

With Eternity in View

“Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12 NLT)

*Please Note: Recently I’ve gotten responses to my articles to which I’ve been unable to respond. I get a response back that says “Address Not Found.” I want to be faithful to respond to EVERY inquiry, so, please be sure to give me an accurate email address. Thanks, Ed 😊

A lot of things we fret about wouldn’t be an issue if we saw them in light of eternity. I think of getting caught at a red light or being cut off in traffic. Why do we honor those incidents by giving them another thought? I used to get frustrated by the amount of hair my little Lola shed, until one day I took her to the Vet and wasn’t able to ever bring her home again. Suddenly her shedding didn’t matter.

My brother in Christ, Ray Majoran, wrote these beautiful and challenging words: “Let us hold loosely to the worries of tomorrow, trusting that Your faithfulness will meet us there (Matthew 6:34). Instead, fill us with the boldness to forgive freely, love deeply, and serve selflessly. May we plant seeds that bear eternal fruit, trusting that the unseen ripples of our obedience will echo into eternity (John 9:4). God of all time, help us prioritize the eternal over the fleeting. Shape our hearts to live as if this year is our last — intentional, purposeful, and undistracted. And as the sun sets on our days, may we be found faithful in Your light.” (See Glimpse of Infinity If Tomorrow Never Comes – 01-05-25)

A Piercing Light “Used by permission, © Ray Majoran, GlimpseOfInfinity.com”

When you rise from your bed each day, does the thought of the reality that this could be your last day on earth cross your mind? Yeh, kind of morbid, but that’s why I learned early in my walk with the Lord to keep short accounts with God. What does that mean? It means if you mess up, fess up! If you do, say, or think something that’s inappropriate and dishonoring to the Lord, confess it and turn from it immediately.

Life is too short to allow our mind and heart to ponder non-essential, unprofitable things. My baby girl recently celebrated her 52nd birthday. I was thinking: “How can this be? We just brought her home from the hospital!” We so take this life for granted, believing we have tomorrow and next month and next year! That’s a lie from the enemy. We have this breath, but we’re not guaranteed the next.

When we live with eternity in view it magnifies our responsibility to invest every second of this life in His Kingdom. But how? By living expectantly, loving unreservedly, giving lavishly, praying earnestly, waiting patiently, and hoping longingly, especially for our lost loved ones to come to Jesus. We must not let opportunities to speak of Jesus pass us.

There are no “accidents.” If the Lord gives you voice with another human being, on the phone, electronically, or in person, treat them as though you were communicating with Jesus. “Yeh, but it’s someone from the company that tried to rip me off!” Or “It’s the person who cheated me in a business deal!” Or “They’re a Republican!” Or “They’re a Democrat!” We are often so petty and think such shallow thoughts. They’re human beings made in the image of their heavenly Father, JUST LIKE ME AND YOU! We must get over ourselves!

What if the Lord changed his mind about us every time we did or said something stupid? He always views us through the lens of eternity – what He designed us to be for Him; what we can mean to His eternal Kingdom when we get our heart and mind set on Him. We have to purposely and intentionally harness our thoughts and hold them captive to the glory of our Savior.

Eternity begins today for anyone privileged to open their eyes to the light of a new day. We who profess to know the Lord of heaven MUST be about our Father’s business of loving and serving those in our spheres of influence to the best of our ability under the Spirit’s directive. Their eternity and ours may depend on it.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

God of Infinite Light!

“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life…” (Philippians 2:14-16a NLT)

What does it mean to be a person of light? What characteristics or attributes qualify a person to be considered a person of light? Of course, the simple answer is, a person of light loves and lives like Jesus. But aren’t their differences in how some Jesus followers live? Is there a common factor that EVERY Jesus follower has or exhibits in and through their life?

Some of the “key” ingredients of the life of a Jesus follower are things like forgiveness, grace, faith, belief, being filled with God’s Spirit, and worship. There are more and over time the manifestations of God’s grace are revealed in and through the life of a believer, but foundationally, these are the elements that must be present, not only to HAVE salvation and new life in Christ, but also to GIVE evidence of the Lord’s presence living in and through us.

Shine On “Used by permission, © Ray Majoran, GlimpseOfInfinity.com”

Light removes and replaces darkness. We who once walked in darkness have seen the light of Christ, have embraced it, been transformed by it, and now live in the newness of life only available to those who have experienced His light. What that doesn’t mean is we can now brag and hold it over everyone’s head that hasn’t yet come to Him.

What it DOES mean and what we CAN do is share the light of Christ with everyone in our spheres of influence. If you’re in an environment of total darkness and you have light, it’s a sin to not let it shine. When I was walking in darkness, I didn’t realize how lost I was or how far from light I was until I saw Him shining in and through a friend who gently and compassionately helped me to understand that I was lost and without hope until I opened my life to the light of Jesus’ love.

We don’t need to argue anyone into the light, we just need to let it shine in the ways we live and love. Genuinely born-again believers are different in good and positive ways. There’s no way NOT to be. We must by necessity be vessels of the Holy Spirit. He refuses to be hidden and will work His way out of anyone’s life in whom He lives.

Infinite means no end. God’s light will never end, will never be withdrawn or darkened by our or anyone else’s sin. Sin is darkness and to the extent we persist in habitual sin, to that extent we’ll dim the light of our Savior in our lives. Living in light means we give exposure to anything in our heart, mind, or life that represents anything that is dark, divisive, or demeans the Savior’s presence in our life.

Light demands decision! We MUST choose light or darkness, there’s no middle ground. To profess faith and still love our sin more than Jesus is to believe a lie and to continue to walk in darkness. We’re either walking away from sin and death or continuing to walk in it. Faith in Christ will launch us on a new path, but we must immediately make decisions to begin the journey of deliverance from the sin that so tightly holds us.

If you are caught in habitual sin – lust, drugs, alcohol, gossip, to name a few – please, find a believing friend today with whom you can be honest, then seek together the help you must have if you want to walk in Christ’s light.

And please don’t hear what I’m not saying. We will not be perfect in our behavior, thoughts, or attitudes until Jesus returns or we go home to Him in death. However, to the extent we allow ourselves to continue to wallow in habitual sin without effort on our part to put it behind us, to that extent our witness for Christ will be hindered.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Better Than Eden?

“Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there He placed the man He had made.” (Genesis 2:8 NLT)

In your mind and heart, what is the best part of living on planet earth? Granted, you’ve never lived anywhere else, but can you imagine life being better someplace else? It’s not hard, is it? All the evil, fear, uncertainty, sickness, death. Sometimes I just want to be done with life on earth and be in heaven with my Savior.

Then I think of life in the Garden of Eden before sin and evil. What would there be not to like? Originally Adam was alone, but God remedied that when He made Eve. Adam’s responsibility was to tend the garden, but the idea of walking with God each day in the midst of perfection seems very appealing. Yet, Nancy Guthrie wrote: “The new creation will be everything we have always longed for. It’s going to be even better than Eden.” But how could that be?

We are social beings. God made us to thrive in partnership with others. Can you even begin to imagine how it will be when everyone is equally beautiful, intelligent, physically capable, talented, loving, kind, and on and on. We’re very different now and I can’t imagine we’ll not be “different” there, I’m just not sure how. But whatever “different” looks like then, we’ll embrace and celebrate it.

Think of our differences now, even as believers. Some are very detail oriented, while some seem to “fly by the seat of their pants.” Some are brilliant, insightful, good at thinking, reasoning, figuring things out, while others take it as it comes, not concerned about the future or what it might bring. Some of us are very “home” oriented, while others don’t want “the grass to grow under their feet.”

Will that change in heaven? Will we lose our sense of adventure; our longing to explore? I imagine the Lord sending us to planets lightyears away just so we can see what’s there. It seems reasonable that we’ll have different ways to interact with other species. In conversation with them, will we learn why elephants have such good memories or why bears have such a strong instinct to protect their young?

Will we learn from the eagle who dominants the sky or hear lectures from whales about the depths of the seas? Will the Lord give us insight into why certain things on earth held such fascination for us or why we seemed so endlessly attached to certain ways of doing things? Will we remember what it was like living with a sin nature and bask in the glory of being freed from it forever?

Whether heaven will be better than Eden isn’t an issue for me. All that concerns me now is that I live in submission to Jesus’ Lordship and will joyfully do so throughout eternity. Oneness with my Savior is what drives my life from day to day and I can’t imagine wanting it any other way in heaven.

Being able to see and understand things that are a mystery to us now will no doubt bring a smile to our face and joy to our heart, and the sometimes stillness of His voice will, hopefully, be amplified and clarified for perfect understanding and obedience.

One thing I’m certain won’t be in heaven is a passion for lost souls. All souls that are going to be found will be found and settled into their new surroundings. I’m not sure how, but my sense is, we will no longer need to grieve for our lost loved ones and friends. Somehow, in some way that we can’t comprehend now, the Lord will enable us to come to terms with their decision to remain lost. But to have to live with the thought that they could have been saved had we been more diligent in our praying for and reaching out to them wouldn’t be heaven, but hell. We must not allow that to happen. We must do all we can to reach them now while there’s still time.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊