As Christians, heaven is our goal. We want to spend eternity with God. And we know that heaven is going to be perfection - as in, way better than this life on earth. This creates a tension for Christians.
St. Paul talks about this in today's first reading from Philippians 1. "For to me life is Christ, and death is gain. If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not know which I shall choose. I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better. Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit."
While we should be anxious to get to heaven, we must also realize that God still has more work for us to do here on earth. And we must do it with great love, zeal and passion. Yes, there should be a healthy tension in our lives between our desire to be in heaven, and our desire to accomplish God's will here in the flesh. When done right, all will be accomplished in God's perfect time.
Father, we long for heaven. And we long to fulfill your will here on earth. May we always be open to your perfect timing in both. Amen.
Join Gus and Michelle on a pilgrimage to explore the lands of the shipwrecks of St. Paul in Malta, Sicily and southern Italy. Get the details at www.GusLloyd.com.
May God continue to guide me to do his will here on Earth; especially with the caring of my mom , that he give me patience, in dealing with her Dementia behaviors.
Gus,
To perfectly represent your message here, as I was reading, I was hearing Kenny Chesney in my head singing “Everybody want to go to heaven, but nobody want to to go know”. Thanks for your daily reflections and welcome back from the Holy Land. I enjoyed following your pilgrimage on-line and reminders of a trip I took there over 35 years ago.