Longing for His Return

We were reunited with Nathan once again this past week and, as always, it was so sweet.  It is amazing to me, that the only hurt that is cured immediately is that of missing someone.  When you are separated from the one that you are "one" with, as I often am, it is such an intense feeling of longing, really one that is inexplicable unless you have experienced it yourself.  But once they are back, from the moment you receive that first hug upon their return, it's over...you no longer miss them, because you can't...you are in each other's presence, face to face, and nothing can remove the joy of that moment.  It, in a very real sense, is a small glimpse of the glory to come.

As Christians, we are never truly alone, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, and we have God the Father's and Christ's many promises throughout the scriptures that "I am with you,". It is made apparent through countless works of grace we experience everyday, both big and small, that only a God that is with us each passing moment could orchestrate our lives so beautifully, even in the bad things.  We have ever present help from a loving Heavenly Father, the finished work of Christ on the cross, and the Holy Spirit who is ever conforming us into the likeness of Christ, yet we struggle!  We doubt that God really loves us when trials arise, or when our blessings don't come when we think they should.  We struggle to believe that He is sovereign and working all things together for our good and His glory when we see a dying, depraved, sin-loving world around us.  This life we live is hard.  We are stuck in this already-not-yet phase of redemption where our sins have already been paid for and we are blameless as we stand in Christ's righteousness before God, yet we live in a sinful world and battle with the sin that still lives in our own hearts moment to moment.  We yearn for the unity that has already been promised, but not yet accomplished.

I have often thought about what it will be like to enter God's presence, either when Christ returns or when I die.  I have wondered if I will miss this earth, the people I love that are still alive on it, or all the things I didn't do while alive here.  After yet another reunion with the man I love, I can tell you without hesitation that the answer is NO.  The bliss we will experience when reunited with the One that our souls long for above all else will be unmatched by anything that has been experienced on earth.  All of the desires of our heart will be satisfied, and we will realize the full power of Christ's "It is finished."  Regardless of the blessings enjoyed here, the joy of being in perfect unity with God will so outshine them that they will be less than a drop added to a vast ocean in comparison.  We will long for NOTHING!

And every reunion we experience as a family only makes me long for that greater and final reunion even more...

"Creation longs for His return, when Christ will reign upon the earth; the bitter wars that rage, are birth pains of a coming age.  When he renews the land and sky, all heaven will sing and earth reply, with one resplendent theme: the glories of our God and King." Keith and Kristen Getty