For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? Mark 8:36
The TC2 life makes zero sense to those who do not know Jesus intimately. They say we have a ‘martyr’ complex. Obviously we don’t, we just understand now what the ‘real life’ really is.
Paul explains it this way…
…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:17-21
Hooo boy …Paul can be long winded at times, but there is gold in that statement. Lately I’ve been more and more aware of the ‘riches of His kindness’ towards us. His riches towards us are beyond our imaginations, for they will stretch into eternity. It is that revelation that Jesus IS LIFE that makes the TC2 commitment the perfectly logical one. When Paul pondered this reality he said this …
…as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. Philippians 1:20-23
My soul yearns more and more for that coming reunion / celebration. Are you still ‘in love’ with this place? Or are your eyes and heart set on another country? Obviously it is harder the younger you are, as for some of us older life experienced individuals we can see the horizon of life and yearn for what He has in store for us.
But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16
Don’t get the wrong idea — I know greater each day how important His calling and assignment is in my life. I have no desire to depart BEFORE He says, “Come Home!” Each day is about following His lead and doing the duties of an ambassador of the Heavenly Kingdom. His heart becomes mine as I feel His love to those He is reaching out for, and His desire to show them ‘the way’.
Each day here is about the service in Him. For each day is another opportunity to invest into eternity through His instructions by the Holy Spirit. I find His joy there in that place of obedience to His whispers.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Psalms 51:12
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Psalms 95:1