JANUARY 23
Psalm 17:15, “As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.”
Set before us in this psalm are two different approaches to life. David observed that there were those whose “portion is this life” (Psalm 17:14). Such folks live in the “here and now,” and only for the “here and now.” Their vision reaches no further than the next opportunity to satisfy their fleshly passions. David, however, looked forward to the glory promised by the blessings of the “then and there.”
C. S. Lewis once wrote about this dichotomy of desires: “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
There are those who have their minds set on earth things (Philippians 3:19). But as citizens of heaven, we aren’t so easily pleased. Instead, we live in eager anticipation of Jesus’ return, when he will “transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21). David longed for such, and we should too!
“To behold God’s face and to be changed by that vision into his image…this is my noble ambition; and in this prospect I cheerfully waive all my present enjoyments.” —Charles Spurgeon
Application Questions: A soon-to-be vacationer lives in eager anticipation of arriving at his destination. Is your mind set on earthly things, or do you live in eager anticipation of being with Jesus? How much time do you spend thinking about, and even yearning for, heaven?
LookingtoJesus 