Can’t Take It All In!
Imagine we have taken a trip abroad, but not just any trip. On this journey, we have been the recipient of a free ticket, a free journey, to take, if we want. All we need to do is say, “Yes, please, may I go—There—too? Please forgive me. Thank You for making the only way. Thank You for Your invitation. I accept Your free gift. I am ready to go—There—today, whatever You decide.”
We prepare to go. Our bags are packed with our favorite things. We prepare for our journey because we have also received the gift of time to gather the necessary things that need to go with us—things like LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL. Everything else, we have left behind.
We have carefully packed for our journey because we will always stay—THERE!
The day arrives, and we get to go!
It comes! (our going day) We are prepared, we are ready; we are so, very, excited to go—THERE!
We Leave here & Then we arrive—THERE!
Can you see us, standing THERE, in that city center, standing, and twirling around, going in a circle. We are trying our best to take it all in, but also realizing that every time we slowly turn round about, over and over—there is something new—THERE!
So much to hear, to see, to experience, to receive—THERE!
Round and Round and Round and Round . . . Twirling. Turning. Seeing. Receiving.
We can hardly believe we have arrived—THERE!
Look at us standing there in that city center; see how we have our arms extended wide, out from our bodies, giving us balance, for the city center stretches far and wide. See us throw back our heads and see us also receive the warmth of the sunlight beaming down upon our faces.
Beautiful. Glorious. Magnificent. Heavenly!
There are no words—NO WORDS—to express our joy we sense.
We are THERE!
We can hardly believe it, that WE (each one of us who accepted His invitation) are finally—THERE!
Then we suddenly realize another truly amazing actualization. No longer are we going—THERE!
Right now—today—we have finally arrived—HERE!
We are—HERE!
We have finally arrived—HERE! WE ARE REALLY HERE WITH—HIM—WITH GOD!
Yes, we are presently HERE—standing within the presence of our HEAVENLY FATHER!
Yesterday I found myself reading in Psalms and studying what it will be like to arrive home, to stand in God’s presence. In one of my favorite Psalms composed by David, I found a most-wonderful explanation of what Heaven must feel like & what the presence of God must feel like when we stand there—at the foot of God’s throne, standing within HIS PRESENCE. Suddenly, we realize how we are not standing There for just a brief time.
NO! WE REALLY GET TO REMAIN THERE—FOREVERMORE!
SEE WITH ME DAVID’S EXCLAMATION of GOD’S PRESENCE.
“You have encircled me
behind and in front,
And placed Your hand upon me
Such knowledge is too
wonderful for me.
It is too high, I cannot comprehend it.”
(Psalm 139: 5-6 NASB 2020)
There will not be any sadness in heaven, so the sadness comes today, on this side. After reading David’s explanation, I asked myself: Am I seeing only the darkness as I journey through this life, living day-by-day, seeing what surrounds me here on earth, before I go?
OR
Am I looking for, seeing the light of God?
Am I living this life-journey, walking with Satan, the enemy, as I go?
OR
Am I living this life-journey, standing with my LORD, my SAVIOR, Who allows me to walk beside Him, with Him, as I go?
Two camps: the enemy’s & the LORD’S.
- A single decision!
- A life-time of moments of choosing to walk with Jesus!
- An eternal protection!
- A promise of God!
- An anchor of our soul!
- A cross!
- A sacrifice!
- A resurrection!
- Our Hope!
- A solid rock!
- A Holy Ghost!
- A merciful Savior!
- An amazing GRACE!
- A single way—His Way—only one way to go!
Hallelujah for a broken heart, because once we were lost, BUT NOW WE ARE FOUND!
- HALLELUJAH!
- HALLELUJAH!
- HALLELUJAH—OVER & OVER & OVER & OVER—FOREVERMORE!
An eternity with JESUS, an eternity within the presence of our Heavenly FATHER!
Earlier, I heard a melody, a glorious melody that made me stop and realize another great truth. Listen to the song if today allows you space to really hear these lyrics.
“There’s no doubt about it/
I’m on my way home/
I’m not where I’m going, but I’m a long way from where I was/
I hear a choir of angels; they’re cheering me on/
We’ve only just begun!
We’ve only just begun!
I’ll keep pressing on; I’ll keep singing the same song/
Such a long way—
You finish what you started.”
“No Doubt About It” by the Christian band We The Kingdom
The LORD Jesus Himself gives us light.
HE DID!
The LORD gives us an opportunity to go—THERE!
The SAVIOR gives us the right to belong to God’s family!
HE protects us, proceeds us, journeys daily with us, shepherds us as we go, shields us, guides us, goes before us and behind us, gathers us, and NEVER LEAVES US!
HALLELUJAH, OH PRAISE OUR SOULS!
GOD REALLY LOVES US!
THAT MUCH!
THANK YOU JESUS!
THANK—YOU!
- HIS Mercy—it is enough!
- HIS Grace—it is enough!
So, today (as David did) I prayerfully look to my future. I hope you can too, look with me—THERE!
As we twirl about, realizing all that Jesus has done to make a way to fully receive God’s Love, we abruptly stop moving because our eyes suddenly see the reason we can ever even arrive—THERE—HERE!
Suddenly we see our FATHER GOD!
And there right beside God, we see JESUS, HIS ONLY SON, Our SAVIOR! Our REDEEMER!
And when we do, we fall forward, right where we once stood in the city center, with our faces pressed down upon the holy ground.
And (just as David did) we proclaim—
“I look behind me and You’re there,
then up ahead and You’re there, too—
Your reassuring presence, coming and going.
This is too much, too wonderful—
I can’t take it all in!”
(Psalm 139: 5-6 The Message)