Good Morning,
As we keep our minds stayed on our heavenly home and our eternal destiny we can keep our perspective about what is going on around us and in this temporary place. John 14:1-3; says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me. In My Father's house there are many mansions (dwelling places, home). If it were not so, I would have told you; for I Am going to prepare a place for you. And when I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, that where I Am there you may be also." We are occupying in a state of preparation. We are lovesick for the Lover of our soul. He is coming for His Bride, the purified Church. Philippians 3:20-21; "But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven and from it we earnestly and patiently await the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, Who will transform and fashion anew the body of His glory and majesty by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself." Look at this great and glorious promise and hope that we have, to live eternally with our Father and our Lord. Well we must keep ourselves stirred up and getting ready. Our citizenship is in our homeland. Soon we will be going home. All of us believers are on the journey toward home. Every test, trial, and temptation are the light momentary affliction, that we must obtain the victory over, as we keep our eyes eternally minded. Earnestly means to be serious in intention, purpose or effort; sincerely zealous; showing depth and sincerity of feeling; seriously important, demanding or receiving serious attention. We need to give serious attention and be zealous about looking and preparing for our Lord's return and heaven.
"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will vanish (pass away) with a thunderous crash, and the material elements [of the universe] will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up. Since all these things are thus in the process of being dissolved, what kind of person ought each of you to be [in the meanwhile] in consecrated and holy behavior and devout and godly qualities. While you earnestly long for (expect and hasten) the coming of the day of God by reason of which the flaming heavens will be dissolved, and the [material] elements [of the universe] will flare and melt with fire? But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness (uprightness, freedom from sin, and right standing with God) is to abide." (II Peter 3:9-13) Now you can see why we must position ourselves to holiness, godliness and uprightness. Are you expecting and hastening His coming? We do this by our diligence, consistency and persistence in the Presence of God and in His Word. The more that you spend time in His Presence there arises a longing and yearning to be with the One who loves you so perfectly. The more that you spend time in His Word, it reveals to us the times and the seasons that we are in, and awakens our longing even greater. "So beloved, since you are expecting these things, be eager to be found by Him [at His coming] without spot or blemish and at peace [in serene confidence, free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts]. (II Peter 3:14) This is the reason that we must walk holy in our behavior and our conduct as we see the day approaching. This is not the time to quit, but to stir up the flames and burn even more in love with our Lord and Savior. We can have serene confidence and remain free from fears and all the agitation that the world is experiencing. Eager is being keen or ardent in desire or effort. We must be eager to without spot or blemish, we must put forth an effort to be continuously washed by the Word. He is coming! We have our covenant to live in holiness, so no matter what comes keep your eyes heavenly-minded. "For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease. Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting." (II Corinthians 4:17-18)
"Lovesick"
Pastor D.
Daughters of Z 