All for the display of His glory.

There is so much in this life that makes me long for heaven... for the new kingdom where Jesus, the perfectly just and righteous King will reign. I dont suffer much in this life but hurt with people that do. Especially the kids. When I was very little, I would witness kids being verbally abused. I didnt know what to do, but so desperately wished somebody would do something. When I think of the lord's resistance army in Africa, human trafficking and abortion in my very own country, I long for the suffering to stop. I long for Jesus to return, I long to have God's kingdom fully established on earth.

I have read a lot of books by Randy Alcorn who has enlarged my view of heaven, helped me yearn for heaven and live for it. God has blessed me through Randy to have the view of eternity that I have. However... I am challenged by Hezekiah's view of life... of living. In Isaiah 38 God tells Hezekiah he is going to die. Hezekiah responds by praying "Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." (Oh how I long to say this at the end of my life) God responds to Hezekiah by promising to extend his life 15 years, deliever them from the Assyrians (who were about to attack) and defend the city. (God sure goes above and beyond huh.)

Then Hezekiah journals, and I am challenged so many years later. He says "I will will not again see the Lord, the Lord in the land o the living." He was sad to die because he would not get to see God show up in incredible ways here on earth. He also says "those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness" I wonder if  that is something we wont be able to experience in heaven... hoping to see God's faithfulness. ??? (A few other things we wont be able to do in heaven are share the gospel and as my uncle pointed out, we wont be able to suffer for His glory.) He goes on, "The living, the living-they praise you, as I am doing today; parents tell thier children about your faithfulness." Oh, to live life longing to tell about God faithfulness and longing to praise Him...

Oh Lord, please put that longing in me, to proclaim Your goodness, Your excellencies of You who called me out of darkness into Your incredible light. Help me long for declaring You to be great as much as I long for You to come restore Your earth.

And a final thought about Hezekiah's prayer being answered. He had a limited view of heaven but even though He didnt totally understand the implications of what he was asking God for, God answered him favorably and gave him 15 more years of life. As a result, Manasseh, the most wicked king was born and would come to be King. But also Josiah, who would do a lot to bring the nation back to the Lord. Sin and Redemption. All for the display of His glory.