As I wonder about the halls of this huge hospital, constantly reminded at every turn of the suffering that saturates the walls and floors and brick of this enormous building I think of my sister Eve whom I read about in my devotions today. Eve, the only woman who ever walked with God in the garden of perfection, the only woman who was in perfect face to face communion with the Creator.

 As I stand in the tiny hospital chapel, my hand upon the blue notebook filled with the cries of a multitude of people calling out for mercy, calling out for a miracle I was struck by the sharp contrast between what was and what is now.  What was it like to walk in His physical presence? To hear Him call out your name as you wandered about the delightful beauty of a new and perfect creation. I can only imagine.

  As we wade through the suffering of this world our eyes looking forward to the day of deliverance perhaps strength for the journey can be found in considering how terribly difficult it must have been for our sister Eve. To walk out of the garden, head down, tears flowing, the feel of death upon her skin from the raw hides that covered her nakedness. Hides fresh from the bodies of creatures she once frolicked with, perhaps even taking lazy naps with her head upon the flank of the magnificent creature whose skin she now wears. To realize what she has lost, to have witnessed that first death, the death of something innocent slain because of her shortcomings. To wonder how and when death would come to her.

 My sister Eve knows what it is like to stand in the very physical presence of God, to walk with Him, laugh with Him, delight in Him and then to be removed from that presence and cast out. And yet she endured. She endured and she believed in the promise that from her line would come a Savior, one who would crush the serpent that had deceived her. A Savior that would redeem her shame, restore her loss and set her free from the bondage she had willingly chosen.

 History has ever condemned my sister Eve, and yet I do not.. After all, I am certain that had I stood in her place I too would have reached for that fruit, I too would have tasted, and I would have handed some to you. She lost something that I have only dreamed of experiencing and yet she endured that loss and became the mother of all living. She endured.

    So as we walk through this world and all its suffering and need, let us set our sight upon His promises. Promises yet to come, promises of a time when tears are wiped away and sorrows are no more, promises of a time when we who belong to Him will see Him face to face.  Press on towards the goal. Be His hands, His feet, His voice, His heart. Shed the light of His love and sing of His promises. Share the good news of redemption. Endure.

 So I stand here, my hand upon the book filled with the cries of broken people calling out for deliverance and hope and I think of Eve and of Paradise lost. I stand and read the words in Your book of life, I read of your promises of Paradise regained. I stand here and the tears flow as You speak words of life into my soul. I lift up the prayers in the book, Lord hear their cries. I add my prayer to theirs and I leave the tiny chapel with a sure hope in my heart.

http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/what-gospel/

http://byfaithonline.com/a-reformed-presentation-of-the-gospel/

The longer I walk with Christ, the more I long to be with Him. This has not always been the case, in times past the promise of heaven was no more than the knowledge that when I die, I would go to there, but I did not long for it. I longed for Christ, longed for Him to save me from one trouble or another, longed for Him to grant me this job or that one, longed for Him to provide me with a house or a car, but looking back on those times (and I am not saying it is wrong to pray for such things) I really was not longing for Him, only His rescue, His provision, His blessing.

Now I long to see Him. To bask in His presence.To sit at His feet.

I long for heaven. These is so much beauty in this world, all of creation cries out glory to the Lord, and when I look on a beautiful scene, or an amazing creature, or when I see an act of kindness from one person to another. When fellowship with family and friends is just perfect and everyone is laughing and enjoying each other’s company.......during moments like these I think about what His word says.........

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."

And I think WOW! Better than this right here Lord? This is GOOD!........but He says this is nothing, He says that I cannot even imagine how wonderful it is going to be.......WOW!

Better than this!

Better than this!

Better than this!

Better than this!

Better than this!

And that is just looking at a handful of beautiful places in the world, think of all the most beautiful wonderful places on this great planet Earth…..and then consider His word….. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man” you cannot even imagine what He has prepared for those who love Him and are called by His name!

That makes my heart sing! That excites me, that fills me with hope!……and on top of everything......... He will be the light of that place…..” And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light”

And then I begin to consider all the wonderful creatures God has made. He gave me a love for animals, since I was a tiny child I was always drawn to any animal I saw. Still am at 53 years of age. I love animals. I marvel at them. When He makes all things new, His word tells me this; “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.” And I think WOW! I am going to be able to see all the animals and spend time with all the animals………..but in reality it will be more! I can imagine spending time with all His creatures in a beautiful place where He is the light……He says it’s going to be MORE than I can imagine, He says my eye has not seen anything like it, my ears have heard nothing like it, the thought of it has never entered my heart.

And I say WOW again!

I love many different types of music, and I believe that music touches the soul. Beautiful music calms the soul, brings peace to the heart. I can think of several pieces of classical music that are simply amazing, The place that He has prepared is going to have music! Music like we have never heard before. "nor ear heard"  It will make Schubert’s - Symphony No. 9 in C major seem dull and lifeless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87QwOIPQPr0

Franz Schubert - Symphony No. 9 in C major

And last, but my no means least, I think of relationships. How often have you banged your head against a wall trying to understand someone you love, or trying to get them to understand you? And doesn’t everyone treasure the really special moments, the ones where everything clicks just right, everyone is happy, there is laughter and closeness and you just wish you could stop time in its tracks and stay there forever. Those moments don’t come that often, there are far more of the ones where you are longing for something more, wishing to understand or be understood, longing to communicate on a higher level.

Relationships are going to be perfect there, we will walk with God and with each other, no sorrow, no tears, no ranting and raving and angry faces. It will be such a perfect time of fellowship that I cannot even imagine how good it will be.

And people we love who have crossed over will be there. We will have all the time we want to visit with them, to walk with them, to delight in their company, and I pray that all those I love will be there, to be able to simply fellowship in perfect accord with family and friends all the time is an awesome thought!

And He will be there, fellowshipping with us, and the relationship enjoyed with Him will be the greatest relationship of all, for we will see Him face to face. I cannot wait for that, I yearn for that.

I Can Only Imagine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb_vRkDBUB4

To close I want to reassure everyone that in my yearning to be with Him, I am by no means suicidal, nor am I gazing at the heavens and therefore serving no earthly good. I intend to remain and press on until such time as He is ready to call me home. I will fight the good fight, I will finish the race, I pray by His grace to finish it well!

But I am ready to go…….

Even so, come Lord Jesus