Hang On - We're Getting Closer To Home

By Jason, M.Ed., M.A.R., Headmaster

"Don't be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am." –Jesus (John 14:1-3)

Have you ever been on a really long car trip, one where it never seemed like you were ever going to get where you were supposed to be?  Long car trips can be frustrating—you’re looking forward to where you’re supposed to be, but the process of getting there can be irritating.  It can even make you want to disobey your parents and hit your little brother or sister after they’ve told you not to.

Sometimes life can seem like a long car trip, always heading somewhere and never quite sure you’re going to get there.  Ultimately, where we’re heading as Christians is to an eternity with God.  It’s the best possible destination, far better than we could ever imagine.  Yet along the way, we can lose sight of where we’re heading and our frustration can cause us to disobey our Heavenly Father and do what we know we’re not supposed to do.

Here’s some help for you as you, like me, try to keep your eyes on the prize during our long car trip to heaven:

1.  Enjoy where you are right now.  Life is actually much better than a long car ride, and God has filled our lives with exciting opportunities to love others and enjoy life. Don’t always look to the future for your happiness. Take advantage of every opportunity every day to live life the way God wants you to live.

2.  Look forward to better things to come.  This might seem to be the opposite of what I just said, but it’s not.  Sometimes we do get frustrated, especially when we’re trying really hard to do what’s right and we’re failing.  We need to know that things will get better.  God will work with us until we’re better at following Jesus and loving others.  Better things are coming, if you hold on and keep trusting God.

3.  Look forward to the ultimate best that God has for you.  Eternal life with God is an awesome thing, and we should spend time thinking about how great it will be when we finally reach the finish line of this life. The hope of heaven can inspire us and keep us trying when we would otherwise want to give up.

4.  Get some good friends who can help you.  We’re all in this together, as brothers and sisters in the family of God.  We need to encourage each other and pray for each other along the way.  Find some good Christian friends you can share and pray with. 

May God give you His joy in all situations as you trust in Him!