October 1, 202
Kids have recently gone back to school, this time of year always makes me a little sad even though nothing substantial changes in my life.
I can distinctly remember sitting in school during the last few weeks of June and thinking almost done. Maybe while looking out the window at the beautiful weather, or talking with my friends about an upcoming activity, I would say to myself; soon school will be over and I can enjoy a summer of fun and excitement. The longing for summer vacation to start was almost palpable in those hot classrooms.
For my kids its kind of the same. They look forward to trips and sporting events, swimming and camping and bike riding. All of the things that they have been looking forward to since last September.
Another thing I remember is on that first morning waking up without having to get ready,
I would think summer will soon end. So while looking forward to all the fun and activity and even while doing it I would know that summer is not forever.
As Christians we need to think back to those days when summer held so much longing and anticipation. Then remember that we are headed for the land of endless day. As I look back at the waiting I remember that I too am waiting. “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
There are some differences that I want to think about just a little.
When we as Christians reach the end of our wait there will be no end. We will not be returning our summer vacation goes on into eternity. So as we look forward to the joys of eternity we must remember they never end.
On the last day of school all of the busses were headed home. At the end of this world people will go to one of two destinations. “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Nothing we did in school; how well we listened, if we did our homework, what friends we made, mattered in regards to summer vacation. But the things we do in this life will affect where we go for eternity. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” The friends we have made (well friend) will also make a big difference. “Greater love has no one than this that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”
If you are like me even though you haven’t been on vacation all summer this time of year still holds a bit of regret. When you get that good feeling of summer and fun remember that your true longing should be for the eternal joy of heaven.
“There’s a land that is fairer than day, and by faith I can see it afar; For the Father waits over the way, to prepare us a dwelling place there” what a day it will be, when we meet on that beautiful shore.
~ Kevin Cleary