“24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
This morning as I brought my dog out, the nippy air of Fall filled my senses with eager anticipation of the festivities of Thanksgiving and the joy of Christmas to come. The cycle of the seasons inches me closer to the promised land as the impatience longing for that day imbues my mind.
Since that day in the Sunday school in my mother’s Chinese church in Singapore, the sense of our eternal home was etched dearly in my heart. I was six then. Strangely that a Chinese church would have a Negro Spiritual (that was what it was called then) as part of her worship stable. The joyous refrain of “This world is not my home, and I’m just a passing through” has stayed with me all these years.
Just like all of you, 2020 is certainly not a run-of-the-mill year. A strange year I may add! How I wish that our days of passing through this earth, sojourning in our temporary home would soon end. Today, we may be saddled by this trying time, but we are not quarantining from the day that the Lord has made for us.
Our eternal God, whom time and space cannot confine, has our destiny. He has placed eternity in our hearts, giving us a longing for a place far more glorious, peaceful, and desirable than our current temporal home. This longing is our assurance, comfort, and hope.
In the second film in the “Lord of the Ring” saga, Middle Earth is under impending annihilation. Hope for the survival of Rohan is dimming against the might of Saruman’s Orcs. Rohan’s hope lies in reinforcement, which for the moment is not forthcoming. As Gandalf is just about to saddle Shadowfax to summon help, Gandalf turned to Aragon, “look to my coming, at dawn, look to the east.” At daybreak, just as all appeared lost at Helm’s deep, the brilliant light to the east sent forth the charge of reinforcement led by Gandalf riding the magnificent white Shadowfax towards the battle, all was safe.
Can you hear Jesus saying, “look to my coming?” All is not lost. Indeed, Jesus is coming soon on a white steed. He gave us the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of His return. Not only is the Holy Spirit guaranteeing a future event, but this day, He is with us.
The revelation of our future is more than showing us that heaven is a place overflowing with God’s goodness. The Revelation in the Bible is for our assurance of our faith and strength for today’s living. As Peter encourages us:
“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” Peter 1:8-9
The importance of always setting our sight on our eternal home is a reminder that we do not create our heaven on earth. Whatever we make on earth pale in comparison to the real thing. Further, our anxiety comes from the fear of losing anything that we create. Instead, look to the city whose foundation is built by God where rust and moth will not consume.
Our joy is cemented in the joy of God in His Son. Let this joy wrought by Jesus, be our daily strength. In Christ alone, our anxieties, fears, heartbreaks, and everything these lives afford is silenced in the surpassing knowledge of Christ in us. We have the greatest reason for thanksgiving before us, our Lord Emmanuel!
Let us appreciate the gift of this day as we celebrate Thanksgiving. What has God done for you?
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Psalm 34:4-8
Rev. Timothy Tan