HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT MEETING THE LORD FACE TO FACE?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be
away from the body and at home with the Lord.
(2 Corinthians 5:8)

MEDITATION:
What do you look forward to when you go on a trip away from home?
If you go to the beach, you probably look forward to seeing, hearing
and playing in the ocean. If you go to the mountains, you probably
look forward to viewing the scenery.

But if you are going to visit family or friends, what do you anticipate?
You look forward to reuniting with certain individuals, right? How
about when you are returning home from a trip? You look forward
to the greetings from your family, right?

A little boy was riding alone on a train on a hot day. The travelers
were extremely uncomfortable, and the scenery was not too interesting
as they passed through the desert of Arizona. A lady sitting beside the
boy asked him,
    Are you tired of the long ride?”
The little boy smiled and said,
    “I’m a little tired, but I don’t mind it much. You see, my
      father is going to meet me when I get to Los Angeles.”

What a great analogy for believers! Sometimes we get a little tired of
the burdens of life, but it is exhilarating to know that our Heavenly
Father will meet us at the end of life’s journey. The joy of being with
Him forever is beyond our ability to describe.

We should look forward to the Lord greeting us as we step into eternity.
Anticipating that meeting with Him can help us cope with the problems
of this life much easier. Of course the world tries to distract us from our
looking forward to ‘going home’.

We have many problems and burdens thrown at us, but if we lose our
our focus of ultimately being with the Lord, then we can be vulnerable
to worries, anxieties, and health issues. However if our focus remains
intact, we discover that the Lord gives us added strength and wisdom
for coping with the issues we encounter.

ACTION:
Where is your focus? Are you dreading the day when you see Jesus face
to face? If so, then what changes do you need to make to allay those fears?
When we are in a healthy relationship with the Lord, we can find ourselves
anticipating with joy the day when we go home to meet Him. We can only
imagine how great it will be to leave a world of turmoil and trouble, and
start living in a new world full of joy and happiness!

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise that all of those
who truly love You, and have sincerely given control of their lives
to You, will join You in heaven when they leave this world. Help
me personally to change my priorities so that I can joyfully look
forward to meeting You face to face at the end of my life on earth.
When I think about You waiting for me at the end of my earthly
journey, I am filled with an unspeakable joy.”

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