Heaven on Earth? Living by design!

I think we are hard-wired with a desire for a “better place”.  All throughout history, people have been on the move looking for a better place or opportunity.  A chance for a new start, for freedom, prosperity, hope and the list goes on. Ever since we left the garden we have been trying in vain to get back. Could it be the “God shaped vacuum” in all of us, longing for a return ticket?

Since we are created in the image of God, I believe we are out of our natural environment, the one we were created for. Sort of a duck out of water! We have a sense that something is “not right” but we are not quite sure what that is. So, we pursue “a life” looking for happiness and meaning, a place to belong and call home. A destination that fits us to a T, so to speak! Unfortunately, for many of us, no one told us that we would have this longing for a better place. A deep-seated need for Heaven on Earth!  Now, this longing does not just apply to those with wonder-lust but to everyone who is not satisfied with the way things are! To all of us who have said, “why can’t I find happiness, real fulfillment in work and relationship?”

Be honest, at some point in your life you wanted, yearned for something more. I mean it could be something superficial like a new house, car or boat. Sure, the one you have could suffice but…..we say…”It sure would make me happy if I had…. you fill in the blank. Now, this applies to every area of our lives- physical, mental, spiritual, relational and social. We were created for Eden but somehow made a wrong turn and ended up in “God knows where?”!   We end up wanting to super size some part of our existence or ask for the “life upgrade”.

A desire for adventure is at our very core, written on our hearts!   The sad thing, for many of us, is that we have lost all hope of the adventure God designed us for or have settled for a counterfeit. Or, worse yet, was not aware that God had a special adventure designed just for us.

Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Eph. 2:10 God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that he has prepared for us to do.

2 Tim 1:9- who has saved us and called us to a holy life–not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

I have heard that ordering a pair of custom shoes specifically designed for your feet is amazing. Just imagine how they would feel on your feet. The saying, “fits like a glove” comes to mind.

Let’s say that a dear friend calls you one day and proceeds to tell you that they want to buy you a custom wardrobe, tailored just for you! Can you imagine how that would make you feel? Pretty special! Right? Well, God has taken this idea, and SUPER-GOD SIZED IT! He has custom designed a full and meaningful life for each of us! He has designed works for us based on our design. Each of our talents and abilities were taken into consideration. I believe that our Loving Creator-Abba Father even took our personalities, likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses into consideration when He prepared the works for us to do.

To me, this not only speaks of His tremendous love for us but also of His power and majesty!  Honestly, these thoughts are not something I can comprehend!

Isaiah 55:8-9 (English Standard Version)
8-For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
9-(A) For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Psalm 8

4what is man that you are mindful of him,

the son of man that you care for him?

5You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and honor.

6You made him ruler over the works of your hands;

you put everything under his feet:

But, I believe we must be careful not expect our lives to be all Rosy based on these and other promises. With any “rose garden” comes thorns, weeds, toil, and the battle of the elements. We must remind ourselves that Eden is not far off and that we can’t expect or try to make this life a “Heaven on earth”!

Pressing on Towards the Goal
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead,

14 I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 12:2

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The apostle Paul followed Jesus’ lead. He knew the game plan and what was in-store for him. We must know what’s ahead, realizing that this abundant life is just a taste of what’s to come!

I believe God wants us to live the life he has for us with “our bags packed”. For we our sojourners, aliens and not permanent residents. We need to live like we have temporary visas, living the full life God has for us but longing for a return to the homeland! For, to steal a famous quote… “there’s no place like home”!

As the apostle Paul said to the Philippians…For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

During the memorial service of my dear friend, of whom I mentioned earlier, the Lord gave me a song to remember her by. It is by Fernando Ortega- Give Me Jesus is the title. Here is the closing verse that sums it up for us!

When I come to die
When I come to die
When I come to die, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus

Oh Lord, help me to fix my hearts eyes on you! For only in you do I live and move and have my being! Help me to walk in the design you created just for me. These thought are too wonderful for me! Should I even dare to comprehend!?
Acts 17:25-35 (New International Version)
25-And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26-From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27-God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28-‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

Matthew 16: 

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life [f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for you to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul? Or what can you give in exchange for your soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward everyone according to what they have done.

As I consider the process we call life it causes me to consider the life of the “Author of Life”- Jesus. What was the attraction? Back in the day He was like a rock star!  People always had a strong reaction to Jesus!  There were no in between  feelings about Christ.  People either loved or hated Him! They bowed to worship or vowed to kill! Jesus was making music all right! He had a band called “The disciples” who were a real motley crew! His lyrics evoked much passion. I loved how thought provoking and insightful they were. In fact, His lyrics are still being read by millions today! Boy, He could sure tell a story that would rock your world!

His songs were not popular with the religious leaders of the day… so much so.. that they killed Him! Take the above verses for instance.. Denying self and laying down the control of your life are not very popular topics, not now or back then!  Loosing your life to find it! Come on, what are you smoking?  Am I not supposed to go for the gold and get all I can?  You know the saying, “He who has the most wins!”  To truly be happy I must have it all right?  Money, fame and power!  “Now, that’s what I am talking about!”

Can’t we have our soul and the money, fame and power?  Have our cake and eat it too?  God wants me to be happy…. right?  You know, that prosperity gospel thing!  Isn’t this Jesus my personal “spiritual consierge”, waiting on my every whim?

John 16:33 (New International Version)

 33″I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

“What is that you say?  I am going to have trouble?!  Wrong answer dude! So let me get this straight… you want me to lay down my life in exchange for trouble?! Does not sound like a win-win situation to me! I thought you were God and could give me anything!  And you are offering me trouble!  You have got to be kidding! Forget that, your plan is not very appealing…. I have a better way…. thanks though… I appreciate the offer.”

And we live our lives… like we are in control….and think that if we just work harder, smarter and longer… that we can avoid this trouble that Jesus speaks of…. after all, what does He know… He is just a carpenter from Nazareth! Right?

And so, we live our lives thinking we have “all the answers” or at least posing like we do! “Only the strong survive!”  That’s our motto! And then, to our surprise, “life happens” and we wonder where we went wrong! “How could this, you fill in the blank, happen to me?”  “Man, this is not what I bargained for!”  I did all the right things…gave at the office…served in Church…was a good husband and father etc…”

I know there are many “Christians” who have lived like this to some extent.  If you are honest with yourself you may be one of them. I know I was to some extent. 

When some really bad things started happening to me… I struggled to find answers… my faith was tested to the core… doubts flooded my heart and mind….If God loves me like He says He does then… WHY?  Why would He allow such stuff to happen to me… one of His kids?  I had bought some of Satan’s lies! Me, the strong, commited Christian was pierced through by the enemy, laying wounded and lost. Hope was lost…for the first time… I had lost hope.. and boy was Satan and his minions happy. I can just hear them saying, “one more Christian disabled, doubting Gods love”.

Now, Back to the title… Jesus… the fatal attraction…  Why did He draw so much attention… Why was He so attractive to so many?  What was it about this carpenters son that was so appealing….that His followers even died for?

Genesis 1:27 (New International Version)

 27 So God created man in his own image,
       in the image of God he created him;
       male and female he created them.

I believe that people were attracted to Jesus because He reflected the image of God! Not man made images but the true image- untainted and unspoiled by sin. Why did the religous leaders want to kill Him?  Because, He shattered the “image” that they were selling the people. They were “found out”  like someone selling a “bag of goods” is exposed. When someone’s livelihood or power-base is threatened they come out swinging..right?   Or, when someone’s way of living or doing things is challenged… they don’t take it laying down… right?

So, where am I going with this?  Well… here we go..ever since the fall, I believe, since we were created in the image of God…we have a longing to connect with the divine.   And we humans, wanting to do it on our terms, have found an abundance of ways to do this!  Filling the God/Divine shaped space in our souls with…………… you name it!   I don’t care if you are a Christian or not. We are all guilty of doing this to some extent and frequency.

So, I beieve the trouble Jesus was speaking of is due to the fall.  That’s not anything new in Christian circles. But, many of us who claim the name of Christ fail to expect the trials and understand their importance and purpose in our lives. Unfortunately, due to human nature, we would never reflect God’s image if trials were not a part of our lives. God, in His love and awesomeness, uses trials to remove the “dross” from our lives so we can, like Jesus, reflect His image.

I have heard so many people say to me, “I am not a Christ follower because Christians are hipocrits!  Basically, what that means to me is that to verying degrees, we have failed as believers to reflect Jesus’ attractiveness to a lost and dying world. Our sin of “double agent” living is not very attractive! Until we seek Him first and give up our self directed living we will not be attractive. And in the end… it is Christ’s love reflected in our lives that will attract people to Jesus. “Christ in us, the hope of glory”.

John the Baptist knew what he was talking about; John 3:30  -He must become greater; I must become less.

Thank-you Lord, for being so patient and loving.. for pursuing me… for working “all things” together for good!  for promising me a future and a hope.. for giving me life. Love, your son… Jon