Articles

Do You REALLY Wait in Joyful Hope?

“When I find in myself desires that nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical conclusion is that I was not made for this world.”

~ C. S. Lewis

wait-in-joyful-hope
Photo by Can Berkol

Of course, you and I know that although the world seems to be falling apart, we are not going to give up. We are made for Heaven, for eternity with God. Our short time in this world is only a preparation, a formation of sorts in the Way of God. Think of it as basic training for sainthood. Saints are not born, they are made. And this world is a saint-making machine, designed to help us grow into our Father’s shoes, to be made “holy as the Lord [your] God is holy”.

The Good News is that Jesus is coming back. He promised He would and He is always faithful to His promises. He hasn’t left us here to suffer, but so that we may be perfected in love and holiness. Sometimes it hurts, but that’s just a part of the process, of dying to oneself. The Bible ends with a hopeful message:

“The Spirit and the Bride say “Come!”

~ Revelation 22:17

Yet, how often do we find ourselves praying this way? The Bride is the Church—that means you and me—and in union with the Holy Spirit we should be praying for the return of Jesus. So, why don’t we? Probably because most of us are more than content with our lives, or at least attached to our earthly existence, so much so that we don’t necessarily want it to end. That whole Heaven thing can wait, we think to ourselves.

This is why we look at the martyrs of the Early Church as religious fanatics rather than role models of deep faith lived out, written even in blood. To them martyrdom was the greatest sacrifice one could make for Jesus. And although death was just as painful for them as it is for us, they were willing to let go of their attachments, to give themselves fully over to God. After all, Heaven is eternal intimacy with God.

Question: Are you ready for Heaven? Do you really want Jesus to come again? If not, what is standing in the way?