“Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your advancement and joy in the faith. . .” (Philippians 1:25 HCSB)
Paul wrote to the Philippine Church. He longed to be with the Lord and wanted to share that longing with them. I imagine Paul looked around at the world and wanted to run, not walk, to be with Y’shuaJesus. Paul had good company in this longing. King David knew the longing, he tasted it and acknowledged that being a doorkeeper in the Heavenly Temple of the LORD is better than being a king on Earth. It is a constant yearning to be with our LORD. David also wrote:
“I have asked one thing from the LORD; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the LORD and seeking Him in His temple.” (Psalms 27:4 HCSB)
This dwelling in house of the LORD of which David here speaks is both a spiritual dwelling and a future physical dwelling with G-d. David wanted to build a grand temple for G-d here on Earth. G-d said no. It didn’t stop David from planning and preparing for it. And all the while he remained on Earth, I believe David considered the spiritual dwelling with G-d only a shadow of the physical dwelling, and certainly he yearned to dwell with the LORD physically.
The longing, the yearning, of which both David and Paul and many others felt is a desperate thirst and hunger for righteousness, truth, justice, and peace. They know it comes only from G-d through a Messiah. The Messiah is Y’shuaJesus. The intensity of this yearning is satisfied in one of two ways. First, we can leave our mortal shell and rise to be with the LORD. Second, we may be here to see the Lord Y’shuaJesus return to Earth to reign as King.
We live in a tumultuous time. First, we are offered substitutes for Messiah’s Peace. The job of advertising is to make us believe that products produced will satisfy the deep longings within us. We are inundated with short, catchy slogans that make us think we will be better people, more satisfied, more at peace, if we just become someone different, either through products or services. Second, there are people who are misleading us into believing that they will help us achieve the peace and harmony for which we yearn, with out waiting for our Messiah. Y’shuaJesus warned that many would come trying to deceive us. Matthew quotes Y’shuaJesus:
“False messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible even the elect. Take note: I have told you in advance.” Matthew 24:24.
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians that the Day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. When they say, ‘Peace and security. . .” (1Thes 5:3)
Look, I’d love to see peace and prosperity on this Earth. G-d made a beautiful world for us to enjoy. But regardless of what you or I may want, or even what so false teachers are saying, we are not going to have peace and harmony on this Earth until Y’shuaJesus returns to create it for us. We have a corrupt world. I think both King David and Apostle Paul understood that through sin, the world is corrupt. We just aren’t going to fix it. That doesn’t mean we stop trying to live righteous and just lives. Like Paul, we can make a choice to work with others for their advancement and joy in the faith:
“Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your advancement and joy in the faith. . .” (Philippians 1:25 HCSB)
And though evil continues to appear to reign, we patiently wait, enduring the yearning, until we leave this Earth or Y’shuaJesus returns. And when Y’shuaJesus returns to Earth, He’s not coming as a small baby wearing a diaper. He won’t ride a donkey again, either. He comes with sword, rides a white horse. He comes not to be a suffering servant, but to be our King. He alone will bring true peace, the Shalom of the LORD.
Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .
JonahzSong 