Yesterday my son had my granddaughter here for a time. We had a good visit, she wandered in and out of bible study and then went outside with her dad. After the last person left the bible study I cleaned up and then got ready to head in for a bath. As my son was leaving, my granddaughter ran up to the closed door and yelled, "Nana, I'm leaving! I'm blowing you a kiss and a hug!" I yelled back, "Mmm, got it! Here's one for you too!".
Do you ever feel like God and heaven are so far away, that there is no hearing God, there is no chance of really seeing heaven, nice pie in the sky dream? Let me tell you, God is as close to you as my granddaughter was to me; there was just a door between us. Jesus tells us in Mark 10:15, "I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it." My granddaughter had the faith that I was not only on the other side of that door, but that I would hear her when she called. I believe my heavenly Father is just on the other side of a door; that door is called death. Death is just the opening of that doorway into heaven and then we are with our Father. Faith is the walk that takes us up to that door, and then leads us through it. Faith that yes, Jesus died on the cross for our sins. That he was buried and rose again, and sits on the right hand of the Father, forever interceding for us. Faith that He is always with us. Faith that His Spirit resides in us. Faith that this life here is but a vapor and that He has prepared a place for us with Him in the heavenlies. Faith that I hear His voice every day; in reading His word. In hearing His Spirit speak to my innermost being; leading and teaching and correcting. In seeing His handiwork as I see the beauty He has created in nature. The trees and flowers and mountains. The night sky with its myriad of stars putting on a light show just for me. The joy in a child's face. The life experience shown in the wrinkles of an elderly person.
Faith like a child. I have that faith. I know that my Father is there, and not only that I hear Him, but that He hears me. He hears my prayers, my joyful worship and praise. He hears my inner groanings that cannot even be put into words. He sees my laughter and my tears. And even better than just hearing, He cares! He loves me more than I can ever comprehend. He created me for His good purpose, and He delights over me with singing (Zeph. 3:17). He gives me hope and grace and mercy. He has made me promises that He will keep. He has loved me with an everlasting love. He is my peace and my salvation. And He is waiting for me just on the other side of that door. And He is not alone there. My loved ones who have gone before me are there. Rooting me on to good works and to the day that I shall be with them forever. Many is the time that my heart hurts for missing my mom and dad. I shed a tear, but then I always ask Jesus, please give mom and dad a hug and tell them I love and miss them. I believe that just like my granddaughter blew me that kiss and hug through that door last night, my parents get their kisses and hugs through that door. They are truly only a heart beat away...and oh, the day that I see them again. What rejoicing there will be. In the presence of our heavenly Father, all because He loved us so much that He provided a way for us to Him...through that door!
Do you ever feel like God and heaven are so far away, that there is no hearing God, there is no chance of really seeing heaven, nice pie in the sky dream? Let me tell you, God is as close to you as my granddaughter was to me; there was just a door between us. Jesus tells us in Mark 10:15, "I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it." My granddaughter had the faith that I was not only on the other side of that door, but that I would hear her when she called. I believe my heavenly Father is just on the other side of a door; that door is called death. Death is just the opening of that doorway into heaven and then we are with our Father. Faith is the walk that takes us up to that door, and then leads us through it. Faith that yes, Jesus died on the cross for our sins. That he was buried and rose again, and sits on the right hand of the Father, forever interceding for us. Faith that He is always with us. Faith that His Spirit resides in us. Faith that this life here is but a vapor and that He has prepared a place for us with Him in the heavenlies. Faith that I hear His voice every day; in reading His word. In hearing His Spirit speak to my innermost being; leading and teaching and correcting. In seeing His handiwork as I see the beauty He has created in nature. The trees and flowers and mountains. The night sky with its myriad of stars putting on a light show just for me. The joy in a child's face. The life experience shown in the wrinkles of an elderly person.
Faith like a child. I have that faith. I know that my Father is there, and not only that I hear Him, but that He hears me. He hears my prayers, my joyful worship and praise. He hears my inner groanings that cannot even be put into words. He sees my laughter and my tears. And even better than just hearing, He cares! He loves me more than I can ever comprehend. He created me for His good purpose, and He delights over me with singing (Zeph. 3:17). He gives me hope and grace and mercy. He has made me promises that He will keep. He has loved me with an everlasting love. He is my peace and my salvation. And He is waiting for me just on the other side of that door. And He is not alone there. My loved ones who have gone before me are there. Rooting me on to good works and to the day that I shall be with them forever. Many is the time that my heart hurts for missing my mom and dad. I shed a tear, but then I always ask Jesus, please give mom and dad a hug and tell them I love and miss them. I believe that just like my granddaughter blew me that kiss and hug through that door last night, my parents get their kisses and hugs through that door. They are truly only a heart beat away...and oh, the day that I see them again. What rejoicing there will be. In the presence of our heavenly Father, all because He loved us so much that He provided a way for us to Him...through that door!
