For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
Wow, what a wonderful part of Scripture. I’m not sure about you but living in this world is getting more and more uncomfortable. But let me say this… That’s a good thing. We know that this world is not our home. Our home is in the presence of God, who longs for us to come home. But while He chooses for us to still be here, we have a purpose.
I want you to put your hand on your chest. That heart that is still pumping means that we still have some work to do here. It’s not work in order to earn God’s love. Because that’s impossible. It’s work He is calling us to do because He longs for everyone to come Home to Him one day. So, He is calling us to be His hands and feet in a broken world. That is what Paul is talking about.
The day will come when we will be called home! To tell you the truth, I can’t wait for that day. A day when I will stand face to face with my Saviour, and worship God the Father, for eternity. A day when the only scars in heaven, will not be on us, but on the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. But until that day, let’s continue to run the race.
Be encouraged, that whatever pain you may be experiencing, whatever hurt you may be going through, it’s temporary. This journey we are on might be hard, but the race has already been won by Christ, for us. The cross brought heaven to Earth, but there’s still more to come – an eternity with God in our eternal home. The question isn’t ‘if’ it will happen, but ‘when’ it will happen.
Have a blessed day.
Mark Davidson
