Dear you,
If you share a traveller's heart, you will understand that
this is both a wonderful and wearisome thing. A full-of-wonder thing
because we want to live and learn the delightful diversity that the God of the nations has created. We want to celebrate His
genuine genius in the sights to see, sounds to hear, aromas to smell,
flavours to taste, people to meet. Variety beckons, curiosity calls,
interest ignites. We crave the next adventure. Yet a wearisome thing
because we are easily haunted and daunted by a restlessness. There is
always somewhere new to go and someone new to meet. Being present at
many places, yet feeling absent in many spaces. The possibilities
sometimes seem too many, and a sense of feeling settled is now craved. We
are all over the place, both geographically and mentally.
And so, like with all of life's funny feelings, we need to go to
God's Word which is our compass. He points us to the True North whether
we be north, east, south, or west. He reminds His blood-bought children
that we are on a journey heavenward. And just that - a journey with a destination. Wherever
we are, wherever we go, whoever we enjoy meeting, however we are doing,
are we conscious that wherever we roam, we are really heading Home?
This feeling of restlessness is a very real one and can dominate us if
we do not overcome it with the truth - that this earth is not our true
home and actually "the Most High is our shelter." We cannot seek in a place what can
only be found in the Person of our Lord - contentment.
We must live the reality, not the dream. The reality is
that here on earth "we have no lasting city, but we seek the City to
come" which is beyond and better than all our dreams, because we will be
in the everlasting splendour of the kind King.
Though it is natural to get lost in the charm of travel, we must
hear the words of the Lord Jesus. "Seek Him first and His Kingdom!" The
Gospel is what keeps us going, both geographically and mentally. Let's
not forget that it is because the Lord Jesus left His glorious heaven
for our grim earth that we might even have the hope of living in Him now
and with Him later. May we hum the old hymn - "Oh there are ten
thousand charms" in the Saviour!
When my heart feels hopelessly homesick for different places on
this planet, I recall to mind that "He is our dwelling place in all generations" and therefore I have hope. He spoke that to a
group of wandering, wondering Israelites and still speaks it to us all now,
because His Word is living and active. "In HIM we live and move and have
our being." Regardless of our street address for the time being, the
question is - do we live in Him? Do we love Him because He first loved
us, and do we love others along the way? Is His Word a lamp unto our
feet and a light unto our path? Are we follow His ways of faithfulness
and truth? Do we wander for Him? "By faith, he went out, not knowing whither he went." Are we filled with wonder in His presence? Do we "declare His glory among the nations"? And so we can be all over the place geographically, yet settled in purpose because of His Holy Spirit in us.
Cheers to all the many God-given adventures that await you and
me, if the Lord wills. Whether they be near or far, let us realize that
He is always very near. Let's keep in mind our present citizenship in heaven which is also our
final destination, and invite family, friends and strangers along the way to come with us by
coming to Jesus. And He said, "Come unto Me."
Grace and peace to you,
from a fellow wayfarer
P.S. Scripture references in order - Psalm 47:8; Psalm 91:1; Hebrews 13:14; Matthew 6:33; Psalm 90:1; Acts 17:28; 1 John 4:19; Matthew 22:36-39; Psalm 119:105; Psalm 25:10; Hebrews 11:8; Psalm 96:3; James 4:15; Psalm 139:8-10; Philippians 3:20; Matthew 11:28; Isaiah 55:1
