Train Your Eyes To See A Glimpse Of Heaven

Have you ever heard someone talk about ‘seeing’ Jesus? How about fellowshipping in the spirit? Experiencing God? Maybe you know a fellow Christian who radiates with the joy of Jesus not because of, but in spite of circumstances. How about the Christian whose cup is over- flowing, eating from the banquet table of God? Instead of this spiritual oasis you’ve heard others talk about, do you find yourself in a spiritual desert.

Remember the planning stage and all that energy you felt from the rush of big dreams? How about the excitement and great expectations you had at the start of your journey? What an adventure you were going to have. But then you took that wrong turn. The sun moved higher in the sky and your air conditioning cut out. One flat after another and now here you are, in the middle of a dry, lifeless desert. The road is rough and rutted. Your gage is reading empty and your riding on the rims of your tires having used the last spare miles ago. A lost and wearied traveler on a deserted rough and rutted road. To go ahead means pain from being bumped around from driving with worn and flat tires through the pits and holes in the road. To stay where you are means the hopelessness of always being alone. To go back means failure. You’re down, out, confused, lonely, hungry, joyless, hopeless, fruitless, and useless. You’ve been deserted, forsaken. At least that’s what Satan would like you to think.

Look pass the lie. Look for the truth. Look around you. Hope, Jesus, is just a look away. He is always there. It’s His promise. “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Joshua 1:5. “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20. God’s abiding presence is a reality. Look around you. It’s not a treasure hunt where you have to search, solve riddles, or decode messages. He’s right next to you. Train your eyes to see God. Train your eyes to see the glimpses of heaven that God puts before you. And in those glimpses find Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faith, Gentleness, and Self-Control. Look about you and find Jesus!

Look into the understanding face of a loved one you have just disappointed or spoken rudely to. You have just looked into the face of God. Listen to the sweet, honest, laughter of a child. That’s the Song of heaven. Are you a chocolate lover like me? Bite deep into that rich, thick dark chocolate. You have just tasted of the Joy of heaven. Sit quite and watch a bird flitting back and forth on a branch, chirping, and singing. Sshhh, sit quiet, just be still and watch. You have just experienced Peace. Do you have a dog that goes crazy every time you return home? It doesn’t matter if you’ve been gone one minute or one day. The welcome is the same. She doesn’t care that you’ve recently scolded and unjustly taken your anger out on her. She is faithful and true. What a welcoming! You have just experienced the Faithfulness of God. How about that feeling us parents have when you have just given a gift to your child that they have dreamed about and desired beyond measure. You have scrimped and saved and done without, but in the face of such joy the reward well outweighs the sacrifice. You have experienced the Love of Heaven. Have you ever just sat on the beach and watched the waves raise and crash with a resounding pound, that’s the power of God. Have you ever been to the hospital or doctors office? If you have you have experienced ‘hands’ that heal, you have experienced the miracle of God. Have you ever held your child and felt their pain, cried their tears, or better yet have you been that child? You have experienced Kindness, Gentleness, and Compassion. Have you ever said ‘no’? There you go! That was Self-Control. Have you ever woken from a long, restful sleep, into a day that is neither hurried, nor full? Not only that but you can hear the birds singing, and you see as you lazily waken to the day that the sky is clear and blue. You are seeing the Freshness of God. A co-worker or friend tells you not to worry, I’ll handle it, and I’ll carry the load. That’s the cross of Jesus. Have you ever had a cold glass of water on a hot day? That’s the refreshment of God. How about the freshly fallen snow covering the brown barren grass. That is the power of the Blood. Washed clean and made new. God is near.

When you feel you’re in a ‘spiritual desert’ look around. You are really in an oasis. Breathe deep, drink deep, eat deep, enjoy! You are never without the presence of your Savior. Train your eyes to catch a glimpse of Heaven!

And by the way do you know any good jokes? Share them with Jesus. That’s Delight!

May the face of your heavenly Father always shine on you!

Shalom in the name of Jesus,

Cindy