Have you ever said to yourself, “I can’t wait until I’m in heaven, when I’m not so ______ anymore?”
I certainly have. Some of the things I put in that blank are “selfish”, “discontented,” “opinionated” and a whole host of other sins in my inner world.
Of course, I absolutely look forward to things changing in my outer world too. I yearn for the day when I don’t need to wear both corrective contact lenses AND reading glasses. And I may dream of a heavenly metabolism that can manage more than skinless chicken breasts and carrot sticks. And maybe in heaven I’ll be able to paint and play the cello and figure skate and speak Italian.
But it’s really those pesky sins that get me. I long for the day when I don’t wound others with my words. I long for the day when I don’t lose my patience in the post office line. And I long for the day, when I don’t think of myself more highly than I ought.
As I was praying this morning, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” I got to thinking. Thinking about my inner world. And then I got to praying. Praying that my inner world would look more and more now like it will look in heaven. That I would be on earth as I will be in heaven.
Today’s verse of the day on the Bible app gave me great hope too!
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life…” (1 Peter 1:3).
That is very good news.
The Holy Spirit living in me can literally make me more patient in the post office line. In that moment I can choose to not become fidgety and angry. The Holy Spirit can, in real time, put a muzzle on my mouth and a bridle on my tongue, and keep me from saying things that would wound others with my words! And the Holy Spirit, when I submit to His loving rule over my heart, can give me the humility to see myself as I ought.
What a gift! What a blessed hope. What a beautiful reminder. We don’t have to wait until heaven to look more like Jesus. He’s given us a Comforter to guide us into all truth, and lead us to look more like Jesus. Even today.
Happy Friday!