The Bible in our World
It was a dark, dreary winter. The blizzard showed no signs of slowing, and blew relentlessly across the empty streets. Two men walked, bodies bent against the wind, struggling, struggling to plod on. They knew that after they endured through this deserted land, they would reach their hometown. There, they would find food for their starved bodies; there would be warmth for their shivering fingers and chattering teeth. There would be love of family and friends.
One wrapped his coat tighter around himself, making as though he would have stopped for a rest. The other promptly laid a gloved hand on his shoulder. They could not afford any form of pause or they may be overwhelmed by the bitter elements. Much as they would like a break from all the toil, they knew deep down that after their rest, they would not persevere on with the same determined spirit again. They gritted their teeth and forced their feet a step forward, and another step onward.
It had been too long since they truly knew joy; it had been too long since they had rest. Now, all they could remember was their labouring to reach home. The snow mocked them, the winds laughed and howled. Why would they want to return home when their country could offer them everything they could ever ask for? Why should they undertake such a perilous journey?
But they were adamant.
In their mind’s eye, they could see warm lights welcoming them back. They could hear the music of dances and revel in the merriment that they knew existed back home. And they walked on.
^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^
Do we not find ourselves in a similar situation? We are ever beset with problems after problems. We are ever facing temptations from all over us. The feeling of wanting to give in, wanting to give up is just so strong that so often, we are too close to doing it. The longing for rest from all our troubles, all our cares is just so great that we feel we would go to any extent just for it. But we have a hope. No matter how dire things can get, we can find comfort in the Bible.
The Bible gives us guidelines for living; it acts as a yardstick in our lives, but it does far more than that. The Bible paints a picture of heaven. Often as we read, we are seemingly brought into another realm that is so perfect. Like fantasy fiction, we find something we can almost escape into – only that this is real; we are escaping into the future reality.
The Bible tells us what our heavenly home is like. Vivid descriptions easily help us visualise something of its glory and splendour. When we look at our shabby homes, when we observe all the cracks in our paintwork, the uneven walls, the hollow tiles, we remember that there is a home which will be perfect, and this home is waiting for us. This home is made especially for us, constructed by our Father Himself. He who is the master architect who created heaven and earth, can He not ready equally magnificent homes for us?
The Bible shows us the love in this home. We learn of God’s love, how when Adam sinned, He provided a way of salvation, how He sent Jesus to die for us, how Jesus died willingly for us, and how He chose us, how He encourages us as we travel back home. And we know, when we enter heaven, He will be no different. The loneliest person will find companionship there; the sobbing child will find his Father, and this Father will wipe away all his tears, embrace him, and make everything perfectly well.
Most importantly, all these fill us with hope and strength. We know that we are not going through trials and temptations for nothing. We know that at the end of all these, we can discard all our burdens and return home. We know that everything bad will come to an end. We know that we will understand God’s plan completely and see that all things worked out for the best. Even in the bleakest of all times, we can see beyond the physical; we can see light and joy and warmth ahead. When we think of heaven, we see the paradise waiting just beyond the shadows.
The Bible gives us a foretaste of heaven. And with this hope, we can go on.
^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^
It was a bitterly cold and hard winter. The storm showed no signs of abating, and piled layers of thick snow relentlessly across the otherwise empty streets. Two men walked, hand in hand – the other hand shielding their eyes – struggling, struggling to take those few more steps. They knew very clearly that after they survived this wilderness, they would reach their home. There, they would surely find food, warmth and love. And there, they would laugh again.
One wrapped his coat tighter around himself, making as though he would have stopped for a rest. The other promptly laid a gloved hand on his shoulder. They could not afford any form of pause or they may be overwhelmed by the bitter elements. Much as they would like a break from all the toil, they knew deep down that after their rest, they would not persevere on with the same determined spirit again. They gritted their teeth and forced their feet a step forward, and another step onward.
It had been too long since they truly knew joy; it had been too long since they had rest. Now, all they could remember was their labouring to reach home. The snow mocked them, the winds laughed and howled. Why would they want to return home when their country could offer them everything they could ever ask for? Why should they undertake such a perilous journey?
But they were adamant.
In their mind’s eye, they could see warm lights welcoming them back. They could hear the music of dances and revel in the merriment that they knew existed back home. And they walked on.
^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^
Do we not find ourselves in a similar situation? We are ever beset with problems after problems. We are ever facing temptations from all over us. The feeling of wanting to give in, wanting to give up is just so strong that so often, we are too close to doing it. The longing for rest from all our troubles, all our cares is just so great that we feel we would go to any extent just for it. But we have a hope. No matter how dire things can get, we can find comfort in the Bible.
The Bible gives us guidelines for living; it acts as a yardstick in our lives, but it does far more than that. The Bible paints a picture of heaven. Often as we read, we are seemingly brought into another realm that is so perfect. Like fantasy fiction, we find something we can almost escape into – only that this is real; we are escaping into the future reality.
The Bible tells us what our heavenly home is like. Vivid descriptions easily help us visualise something of its glory and splendour. When we look at our shabby homes, when we observe all the cracks in our paintwork, the uneven walls, the hollow tiles, we remember that there is a home which will be perfect, and this home is waiting for us. This home is made especially for us, constructed by our Father Himself. He who is the master architect who created heaven and earth, can He not ready equally magnificent homes for us?
The Bible shows us the love in this home. We learn of God’s love, how when Adam sinned, He provided a way of salvation, how He sent Jesus to die for us, how Jesus died willingly for us, and how He chose us, how He encourages us as we travel back home. And we know, when we enter heaven, He will be no different. The loneliest person will find companionship there; the sobbing child will find his Father, and this Father will wipe away all his tears, embrace him, and make everything perfectly well.
Most importantly, all these fill us with hope and strength. We know that we are not going through trials and temptations for nothing. We know that at the end of all these, we can discard all our burdens and return home. We know that everything bad will come to an end. We know that we will understand God’s plan completely and see that all things worked out for the best. Even in the bleakest of all times, we can see beyond the physical; we can see light and joy and warmth ahead. When we think of heaven, we see the paradise waiting just beyond the shadows.
The Bible gives us a foretaste of heaven. And with this hope, we can go on.
^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^
It was a bitterly cold and hard winter. The storm showed no signs of abating, and piled layers of thick snow relentlessly across the otherwise empty streets. Two men walked, hand in hand – the other hand shielding their eyes – struggling, struggling to take those few more steps. They knew very clearly that after they survived this wilderness, they would reach their home. There, they would surely find food, warmth and love. And there, they would laugh again.
posted by Anonymous | 12:03 am
|
0 comments
