But the world is passing away along with its desires, while whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:17)

Beloved in the Lord, It is the will of God that we will abide with Him forever. From the very beginning, His heart has been to dwell with His people. He desires to have eternal fellowship with us, not just on Sundays, not just in prayer, but forever in His presence. “He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” (Revelation 21:3). That is God’s eternal plan for us.

However, many of us have been entangled in the desires of this world and the things of this life. The noise of this age is loud. The pursuit of money, fame, pleasure, validation, and comfort has pulled our attention away. 

Many of us have not set our eyes on things above but have been engulfed in the things of this world. We chase what fades, we build what will burn, and we give our best years to what cannot satisfy. God wants us to live a life of forfeiture,  a life that has turned its back on this world and its desires. Not a life of misery, but a life of surrender. A life that says, “Jesus is better.”

Beloved, God is calling us back. Back to first love. Back to eternal things. Let us lay aside every weight and sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set before us, looking to Jesus. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

May the Lord help us to live as pilgrims and strangers here, with our citizenship in heaven, waiting for the appearing of our Savior.

In Jesus’ name, Amen!