Then we who are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 
(I Thess 4:17-18)

I think because as a kid — you are always looking up, always noticing things.

As an adult — we tend to look around instead of looking up.

A friend and I were taking a walk together yesterday. He was intensely frustrated about life, the economy, etc. He was talking — his voice getting more heated with every thought expressed.

I was listening — but I was looking up. In front of us was spread a verdant green field,  Blue mountains, capped in crusty snow as far as the eye could see.

And I stopped him — and said:

“look up! Look at that!”

“It’s beautiful“, I said.

And he stopped talking — and saw it.
And for a moment there was peace.

When will we find peace?

When we stop looking around,
and start to look up.

“Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God, and believe in Me.
In My Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so,
I would not have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again
and receive you to Myself, that where I am there you may also be.”
(John 14:1-3)

Heaven has become a blessed reality to me.
My heart is becoming more and more
insulated from fear and from being troubled.
I don’t fear death.
I don’t fear taxes.
I don’t fear the economy.
I don’t fear poverty.

Because — my heart is longing for heaven.

Not the quintessential abode of harps, angels and St. Peter.
But the dwelling place of Jesus Christ.

The place where I will see Him as He really is.
The place where my thoughts, my sin will no longer distract or decay.

The place where my heart will be united with His seamlessly.

I love life.
It’s wonderful.
If anything, I’m so free to enjoy it —
Because I’m a visitor, not a resident.

But it doesn’t hold me like it once did.

This isn’t a recent revelation.
It’s one that just seems to grow day by day.

I long to be with My Lord.
I don’t say that out of piety or pride.
But out of desperation.

As Peter said to Jesus —
“Where else could we go — you alone have the words of life.”

The closer you get to Jesus, the more you long for heaven.
Sure — I’m excited about the things He has for me to do here on earth.

But “to live is Christ, and to die is gain”.

And I look forward to that glorious day.
When by death or being caught up — we meet face to face.

What blessed hope, what joyful freedom.
What love, what life!