The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 15:18-19,
"One day when she [Aksah daughter of Caleb] came to Othniel [her husband], she urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, 'What can I do for you?' She replied, 'Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water.' So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs."
During the distribution of the Promised Land, Aksah and her husband, Othniel, asked her father, Caleb, for an area that had springs. They already had land given to them and they wanted water for flocks or cultivated fields or for whatever to realize their ambitions and aspirations.
The writer of Hebrews speaks of entering into God's kingdom and becoming heavenly bound in terms of entering into "God's rest", Hebrews 4, and uses the intention God had for Israel to subdue the Promised Land and inhabit it with our entrance into eternal life as believers today. The writer says, "For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience." Hebrews 4:8-11. This is the plea made to embrace Jesus Christ.
As Aksah and Othniel had ambitions and aspirations for their inheritance in the Promised Land, it causes me to wonder about what our own ambitions and aspirations might be as we dwell with the Lord in eternity, having entered his rest. For certain, the greatest ambition and aspiration of our lives here has to be the fulfilling of our singular and most important purpose in this life: finding Jesus Christ and inheriting eternal life through him.
Once there, in eternity, we will have those things we will wish to pursue. We know this because we are made in the image of our Creator and carry within us aspects that reflect his creative propensities. Consequently, even in this life, we find a great need for meaning, purpose, fulfillment and satisfaction. Certainly we will be in pursuit of those things as we enjoy our eternal life together with the Lord: our ambitions and aspirations.
What will those activities be? What will they look like? The picture of an angel strumming a harp all day long is definitely out. First, we are not angels (and won't become angels in the next life - angels are a different race of people, different from the human race) and our need for meaning, purpose, fulfillment and satisfaction clearly won't be provided by a limited existence of spending all day long on a harp.
I have to think that since God made us a certain way, we will find pursuits he makes available to us that perfectly fit the way in which he made us - and that fit each of our personalities. You will recall, in the Garden of Eden, prior to the fall of man, while living in communion with God in a pristine environment, Adam and Eve had their pursuits, tending to the garden, "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." Genesis 2:15.
Perhaps some may feel it is pointless to spend time thinking of these things, but not me. We are told, "Be joyful in hope..." Romans 12:12. I think focusing on our great hope that is ours in the resurrection is exactly what the Lord desires of us. It provides us the patience, the encouragement, and even the excitement we all need in this life as we look to the next. Paul also tells us, "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." Ephesians 1:18-19.
"One day when she [Aksah daughter of Caleb] came to Othniel [her husband], she urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, 'What can I do for you?' She replied, 'Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water.' So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs."
During the distribution of the Promised Land, Aksah and her husband, Othniel, asked her father, Caleb, for an area that had springs. They already had land given to them and they wanted water for flocks or cultivated fields or for whatever to realize their ambitions and aspirations.
The writer of Hebrews speaks of entering into God's kingdom and becoming heavenly bound in terms of entering into "God's rest", Hebrews 4, and uses the intention God had for Israel to subdue the Promised Land and inhabit it with our entrance into eternal life as believers today. The writer says, "For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience." Hebrews 4:8-11. This is the plea made to embrace Jesus Christ.
As Aksah and Othniel had ambitions and aspirations for their inheritance in the Promised Land, it causes me to wonder about what our own ambitions and aspirations might be as we dwell with the Lord in eternity, having entered his rest. For certain, the greatest ambition and aspiration of our lives here has to be the fulfilling of our singular and most important purpose in this life: finding Jesus Christ and inheriting eternal life through him.
Once there, in eternity, we will have those things we will wish to pursue. We know this because we are made in the image of our Creator and carry within us aspects that reflect his creative propensities. Consequently, even in this life, we find a great need for meaning, purpose, fulfillment and satisfaction. Certainly we will be in pursuit of those things as we enjoy our eternal life together with the Lord: our ambitions and aspirations.
What will those activities be? What will they look like? The picture of an angel strumming a harp all day long is definitely out. First, we are not angels (and won't become angels in the next life - angels are a different race of people, different from the human race) and our need for meaning, purpose, fulfillment and satisfaction clearly won't be provided by a limited existence of spending all day long on a harp.
I have to think that since God made us a certain way, we will find pursuits he makes available to us that perfectly fit the way in which he made us - and that fit each of our personalities. You will recall, in the Garden of Eden, prior to the fall of man, while living in communion with God in a pristine environment, Adam and Eve had their pursuits, tending to the garden, "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." Genesis 2:15.
Perhaps some may feel it is pointless to spend time thinking of these things, but not me. We are told, "Be joyful in hope..." Romans 12:12. I think focusing on our great hope that is ours in the resurrection is exactly what the Lord desires of us. It provides us the patience, the encouragement, and even the excitement we all need in this life as we look to the next. Paul also tells us, "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." Ephesians 1:18-19.
What activities will you be engaged in as you enjoy the Lord together with all his people? What might your ambitions and aspirations be in eternity? What do you see yourself accomplishing and pursuing that will be pleasing to the Lord and pleasing to you?
Certainly there will be a briefing on what all is available for us upon our entry into eternal life with the Lord, but isn't it fun, isn't it exciting to speculate today?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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