NO COMPLETE SATISFACTION ON EARTH!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2021.

SUBJECT: NO COMPLETE SATISFACTION ON EARTH! 

Memory verse: "For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, As were our fathers; our days on earth are as a shadow, and without hope." (First Chronicles 29 vs 15.)

READ: Hebrews 11 vs 13 - 16:

11:13: These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 

11:14: For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 

11:15: And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they have come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 

11:16: But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

INTIMATION:

Have you ever imagined why human wants are insatiable? This is because this earth is not our ultimate home. In our home, there are no wants, therefore, there is no insatiableness. And the fact that earth is not our ultimate home explains why, as followers of Jesus, we experience difficulty, sorrow, and rejection in this world. It also explains why some of God's promises seem unfulfilled, some prayers seem unanswered, and some circumstances seem unfair. Such situations are not operative in our home.

In the passage we read today, the Scripture talks about God's Hall of Fame. These people of faith in the passage, were “strangers and pilgrims” on earth—this world is not their home. Embracing this truth, they lived and died without seeing the fruit of their faith on earth, not receiving all that God promised, but they never lost their vision of their heaven country. On the contrary, at the present time, many Christians become frustrated and defeated because their earthly needs, wants, expectations, and demands are not immediately met when they accept Christ as Savior. They become impatient and want to quit. Many think that pain is an exception in the Christian life. When suffering occurs they say, "Why me?" They feel as though God deserted them, or perhaps they accuse Him of not being as dependable as they thought in reality. 

In God's eyes, the greatest heroes of faith are not those who achieve prosperity, success, and power in this life, but those who treat this life as a temporary assignment and serve faithfully, expecting their promised reward in eternity. While we are on earth, we may never see the purpose of our suffering. But we know that God will keep His promises to us. Your time on earth is not the complete story of your life. You must wait until heaven for the rest of the chapters. It takes faith to live on earth as a foreigner. The end of life is not the end! 

However, we live in an evil world filled with suffering, even for believers. But God is still in control. He allows some Christians to become martyrs for the faith, and He allows others to survive persecution. We should be comforted when we remember that Jesus is God, and suffered persecution, and death by hanging, in the evil world. He understands our fears, weaknesses, and disappointments (see Hebrews 2 vs 16 - 18; 4 vs 14 - 16). He promised never to leave us (Matthew 28 vs 18 - 20), and intercedes on our behalf (Hebrews 7 vs 24 - 25). 

In order to keep us from becoming too attached to earth, God allows us to feel a significant amount of discontent and dissatisfaction in life—longings that can never be fulfilled on this side of eternity. We're not completely happy here because we're not supposed to be! Earth is not our final home; we were created for something much better. Realizing that life on earth is just a temporary assignment should radically alter your values. Eternal values, not temporal ones, should become the deciding factors for your decisions. It is a fatal mistake to assume that God's goal for your life is material prosperity or popular success, as the world defines it. The abundant life has nothing to do with material abundance. 

An old story is often repeated of a retiring missionary coming home to America on the same boat as the president of the United States. Cheering crowds, a military band, a red carpet, banners, and the media welcomed the president home, but the missionary slipped off the ship unnoticed. Feeling self-pity and resentment, he began complaining to God. Then God gently reminded him, "But my child, you're not home yet," When recognition is not given to your perseverance, when you suffer neglect, when life gets tough, when you're overwhelmed with doubt, or when you wonder if living for Christ is worth the effort, remember that you are not home yet. At death you won't leave home, you'll go home.

A fish will never be happy living on land, because it was made for water. An eagle could never feel satisfied if it wasn't allowed to fly. You will never feel completely satisfied on earth, because you were made for more. You will have happy moments here, but nothing compared with what God planned for you. You will not be in heaven two seconds before you cry out, "Why did I place so much importance on things that were so temporary? What was I thinking? Why did I waste so much time, energy, and concern on what wasn't going to last?"

Prayer: Abba Father, this world is not my home, I am just passing through. I am persuaded that You have prepared a place for me in our Father’s mansion, to welcome me into at my appointed time of coming home. Endue me with the right spirit of wisdom and understanding, to live on earth conscious of my home country, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!