For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith. Philippians 1:21-25 (NIV)
Through hardships and afflictions, God often lessons our strong grip and affectionate desires on earthly esteem, drawing our attention and focus upward. It does us well to remember that earth is temporary but our heavenly abode is eternal. Indeed, Jesus specifically told us we are to store up treasures in heaven rather than on earth. In Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV) He states: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Our hearts remain focused on what we treasure most, Amen?
Thomas Case writes: “Affliction reveals the glory of heaven. To the weary, it is rest; to the banished, it is home; to the scorned, glory; to the captive, liberty; to the warrior conquest; to the conqueror, a crown of life; to the hungry, hidden manna; to the thirsty, a fountain of life, and rivers of pleasure; to the grieved, fullness of joy; and to the mourner it is pleasures for evermore.” Our souls desire is to be with Jesus which is supremely the very best of all. And those who walk by faith are not fully content until it becomes sight. And oh, what a sight that will be! No one can fully express the glory of God or the complete satisfaction of being in His Presence - no longer wanting.
We think so much of earth and rarely of Heaven yet here we lack but all is provided for us in our heavenly abode by our Head and His mighty Hand. Our view of Heaven is to be one of comfort and contentment and overflowing joy. Just as Christ first suffered and then went to glory, we too must walk likewise. We live in a fallen and broken world where sin and evil abounds and believers are not immune from troubles either. We are called to walk as Jesus did with the earth under our feet, heaven in our eyes and the Holy Spirit empowering us. Indeed, what are our greatest troubles in light of what Christ walked through? If we are in Christ, all we experience in this world is used to conform us into His image and to prepare us for glory. He has gone to prepare a place for us which no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor mind conceived what that will be like. Hold loosely to this earth it is perishing but our heavenly home is eternal. We are to be looking forward to heaven with great anticipation and longing.
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Philippians 3:19-21 (NIV)