Joel M Bradshaw

123My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.–Psalm 119

The psalmist was in a rough situation with enemies that pursued him. He looked towards the deliverance promised him by God.

It’s a good principle for us. We are tempted to long backwards. Some look back at the past and proclaim them the ‘good ole days’. They long for a time in the past that was simpler or that didn’t have the stresses of the present.

I challenge you to place your longing on the future. Look towards how our faithful God is working out his majestic plan. See him as the king who cares for you. Set your heart on the wonderful things he has promised. One day the evil injustices of this world will be no more. One day there will be no more pain or sorrow. One day, God will fully dwell with his people for eternity.

Some of you long for the forgiveness of your sins and to be reconciled with God. Turn to Jesus today. Salvation is found in no other name. Confess your sins to God, trust exclusively in the person and work of Jesus who died in your place to satisfy the wrath of God against your sins. He rose again on the third day providing the very hope we Christians have to long forwards. Commit yourself to Jesus as his disciple. He is now your Lord.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”–Revelation 21: 1-4

It’s great to long, but long for the great future provided by God. Don’t long backwards. Long forwards.–JMB