Looking Forward to the Best That’s Yet to Come

Number 29 in the series “God Rocks: 101 Amazing Everyday Gifts!” Stories and promises of the awesome blessings God gives us each day. I hope it encourages you today!

Recently a long time friend sent out a group email with a poem about how fast life goes by. Not sure I’m really thankful for  that reminder.

Photo Credit: Peter Kurdulija

When we were in high school life stretched out forever. Yet, now in the blink of an eye many of our friends are retired.

The endless days of raising kids somehow turned into having grand kids for many.

Most of us have lost parents and some siblings and friends.

And I stop and wonder sometimes, “Where did the time go? How did it go by so quickly?”

I find we all deal with it in a variety of ways.

Some speed up activities. If they just stay busy enough they avoid thinking about it.

Others seem to deny it hoping it’ll all go away, I guess.

Yet, for all of us when we lose another loved one we stand face to face with our own mortality and how brief this life really is.

That’s why I love Jesus’ promise, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 8: 10-11 NLT)

I’m glad this life isn’t all there is. It just goes by way too fast.

And I’m glad that my only qualification for Heaven is to simply ask in whatever hope I can muster up. Frankly, anything beyond that I wouldn’t make the grade.

Yet, in this passage I see a glimpse of Heaven that in a way kind of makes me look forward to it.

First, we’ll be real people. We’ll be like Jesus in his resurrected body form. People recognized him. And we’ll know each other.

I’m hoping maybe for a few minor tweaks since we are starting kind of fresh though.

Second, it’ll be fun. I love the picture of a feast. We’ll have great times with those we love. Get to meet some of our heroes from history. And never have it interrupted by sorrow again. Now that’s cool.

Third, we’ve all lost a loved one and thought, “ I just wish we could have had one more cup of coffee or one more hug.” You know what? Now you get to.

Frankly, that puts a smile on my face just thinking about it.

This life is way too short but it’s truly only the beginning.

How does that hope encourage you?

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