PILGRIMS TOWARDS THE HEAVENLY CITY
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"For our conversation is in heaven;from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3:20) The distinguishing mark of the believer is his walking by faith. We know that we do not belong to this world even if we are transiting it for a time. The hope we have in the heavenly places anchors our soul and helps us endure through all circumstances as if we see Him who is invisible. The natural man cannot live so because it takes complete renunciation to all self-sufficiency and a complete willingness of the heart to be in tune with God's will, as it is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. Walking with the Lord requires complete trust and dependence on Him. This is why there is no way for the righteous to walk than by faith. As soon as we turn our eyes from the Lord to the things around us we discover there is nothing apart from Him to uplift our hearts, motivate our will, give us purpose or strengthen us for the journey. We soon reach the end of our resources and come to acknowledge that there is nothing we can do when we are separated from Him. Only those who wait on the Lord "shall renew their strength . . . they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31) We need to remember every day that our conversion is in heaven and continue to walk by faith, with eyes set on the Lord. This mind set brings in return a growing awareness of the presence of God with us and a sweet assurance of the love and grace He extends to us at all times. The consciousness of the reality of God is indeed dependant only on our availability to forsake all, focus on Him and remain sensitive to His voice. It is the fellowship of His presence that stirs and inflames the affections of our heart and the zeal with which we want to serve Him. When we live like this, knowing the Lord and making Him known becomes the reason of our existence, and the only legitimate passion of our life, joy of our spirits and desire of our hearts. We shall soon see our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ appear, and we will rejoice in His presence forever. May this hope of glory, which is Christ in us, strengthen and comfort us in our adversities and trials, inspire us to continue to walk by faith, and motivate us to keep ourselves unspotted by the world, waiting for the soon coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. |