If we know anything of the past and the future according to God’s eternal plan, we understand the times in which we live. This is not all there is, nor are we even near the end of what we must go through.

Eternity is called the Promised Land because it is planned for the future. The blessing of the children of God is that we have glimpses, mostly when least expected. We miss them when our attention is on what is happening around us and in the world or on ourselves. They are revealed in the preaching of His Word, in worship, in fellowship with other believers, in the study of His Word and prayer. Especially in intercession for others, He opens heaven to us.

We are traveling through this wilderness on our way to our true home. The enemy would have us wearied and weighed down with the cares of this world. We are drawn, caught up, and carried away in fear of what will happen next. We miss the most glorious of the revelations He has for us in our times of fellowship with Him, in our daily lives and as He overcomes the work of the enemy in us and others.

The promises of eternity with our Lord are given to those who, in faith, believing the promises, live in light of the promises now, here, and forever. Instead of  repeating the same fears of the multitudes, we exhort one another in the hope and fulfillment of God’s Word.

The older and nearer I am to the Riverside, the more and clearer I see the vision of the promises.

We don’t need to wait until we are old for this vision. As we receive the promises, we continue to our goal looking forward and upward in the blessed light He has given us in Christ, by His Spirit and His Word. We seek those things above where He is seated at the right hand of the Father. We set our affections on things above, not on things of the earth. Colossians 3:1-3

“He has raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:6-7

We hold forth God’s Word to encourage others. If we could only see how our heavenly Father sees and what He is doing behind the scenes, we would be rejoicing always and letting our moderation be known to all men
(Philippians 4:4-5).

Jerry and I were recently discussing the possibility that God could be discontent. Is God ever discontent in His sovereign rule? That would mean He is depending on His creatures for the way things will end. If that was so, then we would have no hope in His promises. We have a living hope by the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3).