Eternal perspective
But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward
to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. - 2 Peter 3:13
This is the crescendo of the psalm, the "one great lesson taught us by all the vicissitudes of life" [Alexander Maclaren]. It provides us with a lens through which we can correctly view the rest of life. All of the tables of blessing and valleys of despair of this life are to be understood in the light of seeing how they prepare us for an eternity spent in communion with God.
On the road
Our citizenship is in heaven - Philippians 3:20
We are therefore Christ's ambassadors - 2 Corinthians 5:20
As those who follow Jesus in this life, we are already on our way to our eternal home. Once we ascend to eternity our souls will cease their journey and be in an everlasting state of rest. But even now we are not spiritual wanderers, but those already granted citizenship in heaven. As Vance Haver puts it, "Christians are not citizens of earth trying to get to heaven but citizens of heaven making their way through this world."
When we die we will experience no change in identity, citizenship, or company. We will remain children of God and inheritors of his kingdom, dwelling in the house of the Lord. For now we are ambassadors for Christ; his representatives in a foreign land to proclaim the good news of Jesus, but soon we will be coming home, and home we surely shall stay.
Coming home
My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so would I
have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? - John 14:2
David is persuaded enough of the endurance of God's favour towards him to say with confidence that he will remain with God forever. How much more can we, with full knowledge of what Christ has done for us, be sure that we too will partake in this everlasting communion?
And who is welcome to stay at someones house indefinitely, a servant or a son? What a wonderful reminder we see here that we are children of God, for if we were anything else we could not be sure of our eternal welcome. Knowing that we are children of God gives us a basis for the assurance that our stay in our fathers house will see no end.
Delight in the Lord
We are to live in preparation for eternity now. One thing this meant for David was to live utterly content with his lot in life. How petty squabbles and anxiety about what role God wants us to have in his plan seem when we know that we are to dwell in his house forever! May we declare proudly with king David that, "I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." [Psalm 84:10].
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. - Psalm 27:4
to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. - 2 Peter 3:13
This is the crescendo of the psalm, the "one great lesson taught us by all the vicissitudes of life" [Alexander Maclaren]. It provides us with a lens through which we can correctly view the rest of life. All of the tables of blessing and valleys of despair of this life are to be understood in the light of seeing how they prepare us for an eternity spent in communion with God.
On the road
Our citizenship is in heaven - Philippians 3:20
We are therefore Christ's ambassadors - 2 Corinthians 5:20
As those who follow Jesus in this life, we are already on our way to our eternal home. Once we ascend to eternity our souls will cease their journey and be in an everlasting state of rest. But even now we are not spiritual wanderers, but those already granted citizenship in heaven. As Vance Haver puts it, "Christians are not citizens of earth trying to get to heaven but citizens of heaven making their way through this world."
When we die we will experience no change in identity, citizenship, or company. We will remain children of God and inheritors of his kingdom, dwelling in the house of the Lord. For now we are ambassadors for Christ; his representatives in a foreign land to proclaim the good news of Jesus, but soon we will be coming home, and home we surely shall stay.
Coming home
My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so would I
have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? - John 14:2
David is persuaded enough of the endurance of God's favour towards him to say with confidence that he will remain with God forever. How much more can we, with full knowledge of what Christ has done for us, be sure that we too will partake in this everlasting communion?
And who is welcome to stay at someones house indefinitely, a servant or a son? What a wonderful reminder we see here that we are children of God, for if we were anything else we could not be sure of our eternal welcome. Knowing that we are children of God gives us a basis for the assurance that our stay in our fathers house will see no end.
Delight in the Lord
We are to live in preparation for eternity now. One thing this meant for David was to live utterly content with his lot in life. How petty squabbles and anxiety about what role God wants us to have in his plan seem when we know that we are to dwell in his house forever! May we declare proudly with king David that, "I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." [Psalm 84:10].
I wonder whether we are among the religious who only pop into the house of the Lord to appease him, or like the prophets who longed to dwell in the house of the Lord. Do we linger at the throne of grace longer we feel we need to, or are we quick to get on with our busy lives?
David (shepherd, giant-slayer, song-writer, fugitive, king of Israel, adulterer, father,...) had his share of doubts, hardships, and shortcomings. But he knew God. My prayer is that as we too experience the ups and downs of life, we would be able to say with David
One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek:David (shepherd, giant-slayer, song-writer, fugitive, king of Israel, adulterer, father,...) had his share of doubts, hardships, and shortcomings. But he knew God. My prayer is that as we too experience the ups and downs of life, we would be able to say with David
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. - Psalm 27:4
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