January 17, 2019

How Big Is Your House?

One of the advantages I have from being abandoned at birth is that I can never feel at home in this world.  There is no desire to settle down here.  I want to keep walking; keep moving along my heavenward journey.  A. E. Brumley penned this beautiful hymn nearly a century ago that captures the sentiment so very well.    
This world is not my home
I’m just a-passing through
My treasures are laid up
Somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me
From heaven’s open door
And I can’t feel at home
In this world anymore.

When I was eleven years old, I was united with my parents but it never felt like home.  I gave my life to Christ at eighteen and once again I had to hear my father denounce me saying that I would have no share in family inheritance.  Those words of warning fell in my deaf ears as Christ had become everything to me.  When my earthly father was denouncing me, I could hear my Lord say “in my father’s house are many mansions” (John 14:2) and “I have come that they (you) may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

It is now almost 35 years and his abundance continues to amaze me here on earth and his visions of mansions in celestial city never fail to excite me on this heavenward journey.  “Times of refreshing” keep waiting for me at every turn and steep; when my journey gets harder and burden gets heavier (Acts 3:19).  He keeps preparing a “table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Ps. 23:5). 

Many children of God live unfulfilled life because they focus too much on the things of this world.  Seldom do they set their minds on the things of heaven.  The Bible says; “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things” (Col. 3:2).  Going against the written word of God in the Bible will always invite lack and misery. 

Knowing how setting our mind on earthly things makes us miserable, Jesus said; “do not worry saying ‘what shall we eat?’ or ‘what shall we drink?’ or what shall we wear?’ … your heavenly father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:31-33).

The amazing thing about living by faith in God is that even though we are not thinking about the earthly things, God in his divine grace meets all our needs according to his richness in glory (Phil. 4:19).  The more we seek heavenly things, the more God supplies our earthly things!

For those who have never experienced divine provision in life, this may sound very strange.  But those who truly seek God’s kingdom and righteousness can testify how a carefree life it is to live by faith!  We don’t have to have a care in the world for our material needs because God cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).

Sadly, if we don’t choose to live by faith, then, we choose to live by greed, and greed chokes everything out of life.  Jesus said; “the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:19).  What a waste of life!

On the other hand, if you “delight yourself in the Lord, he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalms 37:4).  In other words, if you are grateful to the Lord for small things in life, he will give you big things that surprise you.  And, not to mention the mansions in father’s house!

No comments:

Post a Comment