Dear Church Family,
Greetings in the name of the Good Shepherd! Here we are for another day in our journey to the Celestial Kingdom where we shall enjoy the company of the saints and angels before the throne of God for ever and ever. That bright prospect makes every day a blessing in its own right.
We think about how the days keep coming and going, but sometimes we are hindered in the things we want or hope to do in any particular day. This has certainly been true for the last few months. Some of those plans have been major and involve some of life’s most important moments. Others have been minor, amounting to nothing more than a nuisance.
Nevertheless, these things add up, and as they do, they can begin to weigh on us. There are things we want to get done, even need to get done. Other things are put on hold and adjustments have to be made, some minor, some major.
There is, however, one event that is running its course uninterrupted by anything – your journey to the Celestial Kingdom. The way may be cluttered with sloughs, steep mountains, pleasant valleys and meadows, but the journey goes on, and every day each one of us grows closer to the prize.
The Book of Proverbs reminds us that…
Proverbs 4:18 …the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
Ahead of us, for all those whose trust and hope rests in the Lord Jesus Christ, is a day more glorious than any we have known, and we shall stand in the presence of our King, filled with joy. All tears will be dried, all cares ended, all fears forgotten, and we will be lost in love and praise and wonder.
Until then, we need to be praying for one another and looking for that great day…
Hebrews 13:14-16 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
As when the weary trav’ler gains
The height of some o’erlooking hill,
His heart revives, if, cross the plains,
He eyes his home tho’ distant still ;
So when the Christian pilgrim views,
By faith his mansion in the skies;
The sight his fainting strength renews,
And wings his speed to reach the prize. 3
Tis there, he says, I am to dwell,
With Jesus in the realms of day:
Then I shall bid my cares farewell,
And he will wipe my tears away.
–JOHN NEWTON
