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Counting the Cost: Jim & Elisabeth Elliot

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“There is nothing worth living for, unless it is worth dying for.”
― Elisabeth Elliot

I fell in love with Elisabeth Elliot’s writings early in my life. As a young Believer, her faith and articulation impressed and inspired me. As an artist, her story sparked my imagination and got me thinking about the cost of true discipleship.

Elisabeth married Jim Elliot in 1953 in Quito, Ecuador where both she and Jim were already serving as missionaries. For years this passionate, well-spoken, and adventurous young man had been preparing to advance God’s kingdom by connecting with unreached people groups. Their love for each other was a small part, a reflection of the deep love they had for Jesus and their devotion to following Him.

OPERATION AUCA

Jim felt a deep call to the Aucas, a notoriously violent tribe, deep in the Ecuadorian jungle. He set up a team of four other men who would fly over the Auca village, lowering gifts and speaking the few friendly Auca phrases they knew.

“They went simply because they knew they belonged to God because He was their Creator and their Redeemer. They had no choice but to willingly obey Him, and that meant obeying His command to take the good news to every nation.” (Elisabeth Elliot)

In 1956, after three months of flying, the men made contact with the tribe. But what they first thought was a cautious welcome, turned out to be a brutal murder of all five missionaries.

Young Elisabeth and her daughter, barely a year old, were left without husband and father.

Life from Death

Though she and the other wives grieved the loss of their husbands, Elisabeth continued to serve among the Quechua, eventually meeting two Auca women who introduced her to the tribe, allowing her and Rachel Saint, wife of the pilot who flew with Jim, to move into the village and share the gospel. Elisabeth’s forgiveness and acceptance of the people who had killed her husband was a living example of God’s unconditional love which opened the door for these previously unreached people to know Jesus Christ.

I can’t imagine Jim Elliot the young boy, heart on fire, sharing the gospel whenever and wherever he could, dreaming of dying as a martyr. I don’t think that was the ending he envisioned. But ultimately he trusted that nothing would be wasted in God’s hands.

“For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?” Luke 14:28

His love led him to death at the hands of ignorance and fear and his death led to countless professions of faith, an ongoing legacy of redemption.

“He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” – Jim Elliot

David Brainerd: Serving While Suffering

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David Brainerd intrigued me from the get go.

I learned about this young missionary from the 1700’s around ten years ago, while I was doing some research for a Bible study I was writing. I discovered that he suffered greatly from depression and physical illness, yet he continued in faithful service to the Lord, blazing trails as he took the gospel to the lost. 

Knowing of his intense suffering, specifically with a mental health struggle common to modern times, made me view him as ultra-relatable.

God Can…

I’ve read about missionaries who had adventures in the jungles and encounters with people who welcomed them lovingly. I’d also heard about spiritual oppression that ended with a powerful testimony to God’s victory. (…You know, the types of stories that make little kids want to go out and be missionaries, too!)

These stories are exciting and powerful — and I’m so thankful for them and for God’s mighty activity of spreading the gospel. But they aren’t the only type of missionary stories that exist.

David Brainerd’s story, on the other hand, is the type that makes my heart weep with compassion, sympathy, and empathy.

God can use anyone. He can use someone who suffers intensely from mental health struggles. He can use someone with physical illness (or multiple physical illnesses.) Not only can He, but He does!

Praise God! When we hand our lives to Him, for His purposes, He will use us. And sometimes that means that we serve exactly how we are, and right where we are.

For reasons I could never guess, God didn’t heal Brainerd. He used him in spite of his mental and physical health. And Brainerd? He just kept plodding along faithfully. He pursued the Savior and shared Him with others, blazing trails (both figuratively and literally) all while obeying God’s call on His life.

 

The Life of David Brainerd - Serving while suffering. Read more at DoNotDepart.com

His Story

So just who is this man of whom John Wesley said, “Let every preacher read carefully The Life of David Brainerd.” (Referencing a book about him.)

David Brainerd lived in Connecticut in the early 1700’s. He heard “God’s call” as a young man and so he went to Yale in order to receive the credentials that were necessary at the time to become a minister. All the while he attended school, he was very ill with a disease (likely tuberculosis).

Just two short years into his education, he criticized both his tutor for a lack of grace and the Rector for administering fines to “over-zealous” students. The result? Yale expelled him. 

This crushed Brianerd! At this time and place in history, he couldn’t preach without a degree. But he didn’t allow this to stop him from obeying God’s call on his life. David continued on, remaining faithful in obedience and devout in prayer. He continued to look for an avenue in which He could obey the Lord’s call to service.

“Here I am, Lord, send me; send me to the ends of the earth; send me to the rough, the savage pagans of the wilderness; send me from all that is called comfort on earth; send me even to death itself, if it be but in thy service, and to promote thy kingdom.” – A prayer from David Brainerd

What a lesson for us! When God calls, we should obey – despite the obstacles.

David Brainerd decided to pursue missions, where he would not need a degree. Interestingly, the Honorable Society of Scotland hired the American man from Connecticut and ordained him to be a missionary. 

His health was such a factor, they hired him to stay put. He stayed in the northeast and became a missionary to the American Indians right there in that region. He worked tirelessly, traveling by horseback during the day, camping at night, and sharing the gospel everywhere he went.

God answered his prayer. 

Once, while traveling for missions, he was caught in a horrible storm. He plodded along in the cold wind and rain, having no food and no shelter. He would likely have died, except that God provided a hollow tree and later, food– by means of a little squirrel who dropped nuts at the tree’s entrance. 

It’s absolutely incredible isn’t it? God’s faithfulness is so beautiful!

Jonathan Edwards, the famed preacher of the Great Awakening, took an interest in David Brainerd and invited him into his home many times, especially in his final months. As he became more and more ill, probably as a result of his tireless service, he resided there. 

Edward’s 17 year old daughter, Jerusha, was very touched by Brainerd’s love for God and passion to follow Him. It is reported that the two fell in love. She became Brainerd’s caretaker until he died at just 29 years old. (Jerusha herself became ill, possibly from caring for David, and died just four months later. Her father had her buried beside him.)

Serving While Suffering

Look at this excerpt from his diary:

“Thursday, April 7. Appeared to myself exceeding (sic) ignorant, weak, helpless, unworthy, and altogether unequal to my work. It seemed to me I should never do any service or have any success among the Indians. My soul was weary of my life; I longed for deaths beyond measure. When I thought of any godly soul departed, my soul was ready to envy him his privilege, thinking, `Oh, when will my turn come! must it be years first!’” (David Brainerd)

When I imagine Brainerd, depressed, sick, and weary, plodding along in the cold wind and rain with no food or shelter in sight, I think of “serving, while suffering.”

His story seems so relatable, doesn’t it? 

That could be any of us, plodding along in service, despite how we feel. That could be you, wanting desperately to follow God’s call but seeing every obstacle pop up right in front of you, time and again. It could be her who wanted the education, but couldn’t get it. …Or me, feeling unworthy and unequal to my work.

It could be any of us, not understanding why God doesn’t heal, and then longing for death.

Friends, life is hard and sometimes ugly, but God can use us despite all that.

Obedience At All Costs

Brainerd’s story reminds me to obey, no matter what, and let God’s work be done. I’m not sure of all the souls that came to know Jesus because of Brainerd, but his work was considered by many to be successful. Yet, his story doesn’t have what most would call a “happy ending,” which maybe gives a lasting impression of his intense daily battle with depression and illness. 

Though I would love to paint a beautiful and happy ending onto the story of his life, I think doing so would miss the point. Brainerd’s life was a portrait of obedience at all costs. 

And that, my friends, is what serving Jesus is all about. It’s about going all in. It’s about submitting your whole life and will to His Lordship. (And yes, I know that’s easier said than done.)

May the Savior use us all… and help us to serve Him wholeheartedly. In spite of any suffering we may experience, may we be found serving while suffering. May we blaze trails and share Jesus — even if God calls us to share Him exactly how we are and right where we are.

I leave you with this passage from 2 Corinthians that comes to mind when I think of David Brainerd:

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Read more about David Brainerd here, in this biography written by Jonathan Edwards.

Blessings and prayers for faithful service to the Lord,
Ali

Gospel Trailblazers: Pioneer Christian Missionaries

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Jesus commanded His followers to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Making, baptizing, and teaching disciples as the Gospel is shared (Matthew 28:19-20) completes the Great Commission. Twelve every-day, regular people took up the call in wake of Jesus’ ascension to Heaven, and generations upon generations follow Christ’s command.

Stewards of God’s grace, pioneer missionaries spearheaded, lead the way, launched, explored, and blazed new trails for the Gospel.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.  1 Peter 4:10

Using what God gave them, these faithful men and women are examples for us today. Throughout September, at DoNotDepart.com, we will highlight the lives of these Gospel trailblazers. Join us all month long as we delve into the lives of these Christ following world-changers.

Throughout September, at DoNotDepart.com, we will highlight the lives of Gospel trailblazers. Join us all month long as we delve into the lives of Christ following world-changers. #GospelTrailblazers

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Hearts Toward Heaven: Series Wrap-Up

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As we wrap up the month of August, we come to the end of our series #HeartsTowardHeaven, a look at what Scripture tells us about eternity with God. Let’s look back on how Scriptures have informed our understanding of Heaven before spending a few moments on one of the last passages of the Bible.

A Place Prepared

Ali began our series with “A Place Prepared: for the Not Yet and for the Now.” With a look at John 14:1-3, she told us how her perspective on heaven was changed by the stillbirth of her daughter, awakening a longing for heaven in a brand new way.  Ali shared about how the words of King David, who also lost a baby, showed her that “Jesus’ promise of eternity is for those who believe in Him (me), yet also for my baby daughter who never had the opportunity to believe.”

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”  (John 14:1-3)

Far From Home

Jaime reminded us that, like Abraham, we Christians are also exiles far from home. We live in a land that is not home, awaiting the fulfillment of a promised forever home. “Our time on this earth is a prelude to the reality of heaven, short, in view of eternity, but not insignificant. ”

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
(Hebrews 11:13-16)

Heaven Is Home

Cheli shared the story of her friend Kim, whose life and death were guided by faith. In a time when our society holds illness, aging, and death at arms-length, we have fewer opportunities to watch our brothers and sisters in Christ who precede us in death and learn from their steadfastness, making stories like Kim’s even more of a treasure. Kim experienced the intimacy with Christ that came with suffering and came to deeply understand the longing for heaven that Paul expresses in 2 Corinthians:

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
(2 Corinthians 5:1-5)

Hope of Heaven

I wonder how many of you related as I did to Sabrina’s reflections: “All along, I had been trying so, so hard to walk by sight. I prayed harder and tried to squeeze more sincerity into everything I did. Little did I know, I was carrying a burden Jesus had already willingly accepted on my behalf (Matthew 11:29-30).”

What a beautiful reminder of His faithfulness. “Be of good courage,” Sabrina wrote, “Trust in the Good Shepherd. He has led us to the cross, and He will surely lead us home.”

From Every Nation

We then took a look at how heaven is filled with Believers from every nation. As the Revelation of John tells us, our brothers and sisters who have suffered and died, including those martyred for their faith, populate heaven with worship, where we will join them before the white-robed Lamb.

“ After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
(Revelation 7:9-10)

Ready to Depart

“We are earth-bound, somewhat selfish creatures who are focused on our own survival. Death is portrayed as the worst outcome, the final end, the last resort,” Kristee wrote.  And yet Paul was eager for death, as it provides the transition to heaven.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
(Philipians 1:21-23)

“Paul could be in this place of peace about his death because he knew God would triumph. Accomplishing God’s purposes on earth didn’t depend on Paul–they have always and will only depend on God. Paul knew that he was–and that we are–just part of the story God is writing. Regardless of what happens to us, God will be victorious.”

The Dwelling Place of God

As we come to the end of our series, I’d like to conclude with my favorite verse about Heaven.

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”
Revelation 21:3

I recently heard a preacher say that “the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus is the whole story of the Bible.” And while I wholeheartedly agree that the Bible from beginning to end tells the story of our Salvation through Christ, I personally see this verse from Revelation as a more comprehensive summary of the Bible.

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and god himself will be with them as their God.” That was the story in Eden. That was the story of the Temple. That was the story of the Incarnation — Emanuel, God with us. That is the story of the indwelling Holy Spirit. And, finally, we know that fully living in the presence of God — His dwelling with us; our abiding in Him — is ultimately, perfectly, forever fulfilled in Heaven.

Heaven is the fullness of how we were created to be with God. And for that reason, Heaven is Home.

 

 

Ready to Depart

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For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ for that is far better. Philippians 1:21-23

My grandmother, Moma T, was ready to depart. In fact, when she awoke from a stroke, she asked, “Why am I still here? Why didn’t He take me to glory?” Moma T had lived a life of “fruitful labor” and seen her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren come to know her faithful Savior. Her body was worn and tired, and she was impatient with the delay keeping her from being with Him. When she did depart a few weeks later, it was a comfort for all of us to know she knew she would be with Christ–which was far better.

A Proper Understanding of Death

Paul also had a proper understanding of death.  This can be challenging for us to understand. We are earth-bound, somewhat selfish creatures who are focused on our own survival.  Death is portrayed as the worst outcome, the final end, the last resort.

Paul didn’t feel that way. He tells the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:24, “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Paul’s only interest in being alive was in furthering the Kingdom.

As Paul was leaving to go to Jerusalem–a journey which a prophet had foretold would end in Paul’s arrest, Paul asks the weeping crowd, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus?” (Acts 21:13) Paul knew whatever the outcome of his trip, God would be glorified.

Paul instructed the Romans in verse 14:8, “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.” Paul was unconcerned about his future as it related to his own safety and security.  He knew God’s will could not be circumvented.

Completely Christ’s

When I encountered statements like these from Paul as a young adult, I kind of thought, “Well, good for you, Paul.  We know you’re super holy, but we can’t all be that way.  Besides, it’s easier for you to be like that.  You didn’t have my dreams or hopes for the future or have a paper due next week.”

What I didn’t understand was that Paul’s focus was so different from mine.  Even though I was a Christ-follower, I was still distracted by earthly things. Paul was completely Christ’s. He was totally sold out to the Lord regardless of the situation.  If he was alive, great!  He still had more opportunities to serve. If he was dead, great! It was better to be with Christ anyway.

A Place of Peace

Paul could be in this place of peace about his death because he knew God would triumph. Accomplishing God’s purposes on earth didn’t depend on Paul–they have always and will only depend on God. Paul knew that he was–and that we are–just part of the story God is writing. Regardless of what happens to us, God will be victorious.

What keeps us from having this same understanding of death as Paul? What keeps us from being completely Christ’s? We’re so wrapped up in earthly security that we can’t rest in God’s security.  We think the outcomes depend on us instead of realizing God is always in control.

We’re so wrapped up in earthly security that we can’t rest in God’s security. We think the outcomes depend on us instead of realizing God is always in control. #HeartsTowardHeavenSeries

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How can you better walk this double life of being completely Christ’s but living here on earth?

From Every Nation

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As we focus our #HeartsTowardsHeaven this month, we pause this week to reflect on the people of heaven — Believers from every nation.

from every nation

My heart has been heavy this week. Yours may be, too. From the Taliban in Afghanistan to the earthquake in Haiti that has taken nearly 2,000 lives, the suffering of which we have caught glimpses in recent days is immense. You may have seen a particularly moving phrase that has been circulating this week, attributed to an email sent by a Christian in Afghanistan. He wrote, “most of us expect to meet Jesus face to face in the next two weeks.”

When I came across those words this week, I saw in a new light the vision of heaven that John describes in the seventh chapter of Revelation.

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
(Revelation 7:9-10)

It struck me afresh that heaven is populated with martyrs of the faith, including those of our present day. I imagine the courage with which the persecuted church is walking out their faith, and how that must ring out as resounding worship in heaven. “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

One ministry leader shared this week that 22 of their 20 underground church leaders remain trapped in Afghanistan. Our Christian brothers and sisters passing from this present life into eternity, be it from age or illness, natural disaster or violence, join together in worship in a new and profound freedom and peace in the presence of the risen Christ.

John’s vision of Heaven continues:

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

“Therefore they are before the throne of God,
    and serve him day and night in his temple;
    and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
    the sun shall not strike them,
    nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
    and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
(Revelation 7:13-17)

He who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

Amen.

For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe every tear away from their eyes.

Amen.

Lord, shepherd your people.

Shepherd those who are facing terror. Shepherd those who are grieving. Shepherd those facing the unknown. Shepherd those battling illness, hunger, or shame.

Wipe the tears from their eyes.

Comfort those who are alone.

Comfort those who are the comforters.

Give them courage, and give them your profound peace.

May we look forward with hope and anticipation to the glory of joining your saints from every nation in worship:

“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Amen

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These voices from 50 nations were joined one year ago. Though the first images here recall the isolation of initial pandemic “lockdown,” the musical collage of voices and faces across the globe well portray our unity and hope as Christians, an apt foretaste of heaven.

The Hope of Heaven

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Today, we continue to turn our #HeartsTowardHeaven as we look at how the hope of heaven can lead us to be secure in Christ.

When I was 16, my dad, stepmom, and 3-year-old sister moved from the Midwest to Florida. No longer were we just a half-day’s car ride apart; we were now half a continent apart. It was a confusing time for me. As a child who grew up in two households always missing one parent, I felt like my dad was no longer the safety net I needed, too far away to come and rescue me from the major squabbles in my mom’s house or the mild teenage drama I would sometimes succumb to.

Around this same time period, God was also starting to take hold of my heart. I had grown up hearing so many mixed messages about Him, from Muslim perspectives to watered-down Christianity. By His grace, I had accepted His gift of salvation years back, and He was calling me into a deeper relationship with Him. But every time He called me to something higher and better than where I was currently residing, I would slip back down into the same old rut of confusion.

 

 

You see, I didn’t have a clear memory of receiving Christ as my Savior. No one had ever written the date down in my Bible, I didn’t have a “spiritual birthday” like friends at church, and at times I simply didn’t “feel saved.” As long as I questioned my own salvation, my spiritual growth was practically impossible. At one point, I was praying every night that if I hadn’t truly meant the prayer from the night before God would surely recognize my sincerity that night in hopes that I would feel the transformation from lost to found.

 

Am I Saved?


One evening, when I was visiting my dad in Florida that first summer, I was reading my Bible. I had no church to go to down there, no youth group to attend, no Christian friends to talk with or mentors to ask questions. I was so tired of carrying this burdening question of, “Am I saved?” Then, God led me to this passage:

 

 

Somehow, this was the verse that God used to speak to my heart. The passage goes on to say that we don’t even know our own thoughts completely, only the Spirit does, and it is He who helps us understand the things of God (1 Corinthians 2:10-13). When I wrestled with these truths in my flesh, I fell on my face again and again. But when I allowed the Spirit to speak to my heart, I understood that, on my own, spiritual truths are too great for me to grasp and ultimately rest securely in. “…No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined…”

I could spend all of the rest of my days here on earth trying to wrap my mind around the wonders of heaven and not even come close. It is too glorious and infinite a thing to be contained by my finite and fallen mind. Praise God! I would not want to place my hope in a thing of my own making. The eternal life with God in heaven that I look forward to is a place of beauty and truth, with the glory of God Himself as its light (Revelation 21:23). I will never tire of it; it will never become dull or commonplace or a chore to be in God’s presence forever.

The eternal life with God in heaven that I look forward to is a place of beauty and truth, with the glory of God Himself as its light. I will never tire of it; it will never become dull or commonplace or a chore to be in God’s…

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The Epic Story

 

So, if heaven is beyond my comprehension, then, too, is salvation outside of the realm of my understanding. Yes, even a small child can come to Jesus in faith and become a son or a daughter of God. But the mercy and grace extended to me at the cross will always be a mind-blowing gift. The truth that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, died a horrible death on the cross for my sins and was raised again three days later so I could have new life in Him is a truth that is too great for me. It is an epic story that, when I slow down, sit, and meditate on, like I am doing right now, drives me to my knees in worship.

That night, I praised God for the redeeming work of His Son. I acknowledged all my doubts and said, “From this moment forward, I confess Jesus as my Savior. I recognize that His work on the cross was for me. When I actually crossed the threshold from death into life has no bearing. Today, I recognize the truth and accept that it is for me.” 

 

“…Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2b).

 

All along, I had been trying so, so hard to walk by sight. I prayed harder and tried to squeeze more sincerity into everything I did. Little did I know, I was carrying a burden Jesus had already willingly accepted on my behalf (Matthew 11:29-30). Yes, following Jesus is not always easy (Matthew 16:24-25; 1 Peter 2:20-21), but striving to walk through life in my own strength and wisdom is infinitely harder. My eternal hope–my confident expectation–is in Christ Jesus, the sure and steady Anchor of my soul (Colossians 1:5; Hebrews 6:18-19). Be of good courage. Trust in the Good Shepherd. He has led us to the cross, and He will surely lead us home.

 

“So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” –2 Corinthians 5:6-9

Heaven is Home

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Today we are continuing our series, #HeartsTowardHome, looking at what the Bible says about Heaven.

Known for her runway model dimensions, her motorcycle, and a sassy mouth, Kim broke the mold for Social Studies teachers. My new colleague and I were worlds-apart-different from each other, but in working together we found common ground. I had a front row seat to watching Kim transform from “Christian in name only” to a mature, sister in Christ.

Life Transformed

Going to church as a child, planted spiritual seeds in Kim. Those seeds started sprouting when she announced her first pregnancy. Suddenly, laser-beam-focused on raising a child with good values, Kim turned to her childhood faith. In time, renewed faith in Jesus and the working of the Holy Spirit transformed my friend.

Devastating Diagnosis

Three years ago, and miles apart, I learned of Kim’s cancer diagnosis— aggressive metastatic breast cancer. Tumors riddled her strong, svelte frame. Her body wrecked by cancer, Kim told me, “Cheli, Jesus suffered more to save me than I a suffer from cancer.” Hidden in Christ and completely surrendered, Kim knew what it meant to participate in Christ’s suffering.

…that I may know him [Christ Jesus] and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death….   (Philippians 3:10, clarification mine)

Longing for Heaven

A year later, Kim rang the bell after her last chemo treatment. So, with refreshed hope for Kim’s healing, I thanked God with teary-eyed gratitude around the Thanksgiving table. Yet—before the ringing bell diminished, cancer delivered its final blow. Within weeks cancer nearly destroyed her vision and decimated her body. Gifting her family and friends with the last of her energy, she said goodbye. On Christmas Eve, Kim went home to Heaven. In that moment, death gave way to life— eternal life.

Truly, my friend understood the full meaning of 2 Corinthians 5:1-5:

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

Though I miss my friend, I rejoice in her new life. Kim put on a new body, fully clothed in Christ. Free from disease and pain, she lives life to the full— forever.

What does 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 say about Heaven? Join us as we continue our #HeartTowardHome series.

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What is God impressing on your heart and mind as you read 2 Corinthians 5:1-5?

Far From Home

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This month we’re turning our hearts towards heaven and examining what Scripture says about what’s to come.

“We are such stuff

As dreams are made on, and our little life

Is rounded with a sleep.”

(The Tempest, act 4, scene 1)

 

I’ve spent the last couple of weeks directing a drama camp through a production of The Tempest so I’ve got Shakespeare on the brain.

It’s the story of Prospero, once Duke of Milan, whose brother stole his kingdom and left him for dead in a damaged boat sent out to sea. Unbeknownst to the usurper, Prospero and his daughter Miranda made it to the shore of a deserted island where they live a charmed life ruling over the island. As the play begins, Prospero’s enemies find themselves on the same island, haunted by their misdeeds until at last Prospero reveals himself and sets everything right again. It’s a comedy, which means everyone gets a happy ending before the curtain falls, something we know is not always true in real life.

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11:13-16)

Strangers and Exiles

)ur history of faith is built on a long line of men and women who believed in the promises and character of God long before they had any proof.

Abraham left his home without knowing any details including where he was going, He obeyed because God promised to make him a great nation through whom all other nations would be blessed (Genesis 12:2-3). Even after God showed him the land of Canaan and allowed his barren wife Sarah to birth a son, Abraham lived his whole long life as a sojourner – a stranger among the natives.

“For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.” (Hebrews 11:10)

What does it mean to live as a stranger? For Abraham, it meant living tents, at the mercy of his neighbor’s good graces. Though he was a very wealthy man, he humbled himself, insisting not on his own rights but on the timing of God, whom he trusted. He could have come into the land boasting about the power and superiority of God. He could have waged war or negotiated a seat of influence. Instead, he “contented himself to …bear their unkindnesses patiently, to receive any favours from them thankfully, and to keep his heart fixed upon his home, the heavenly Canaan.” (Matthew Henry)

Such Stuff As Dreams

Today we live with the benefit of seeing God’s promises fulfilled through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:7-9). But like Abraham, we live in this world as sojourners, “seeking a homeland” and dreaming of the “better country” that is to come.

In the quote I opened with, Prospero is musing about life, how fleeting it all is. “What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” (James 4:14) Our time on this earth is a prelude to the reality of heaven, short, in view of eternity, but not insignificant. For by living and dying in faith we show our Lord and Father that we want what He has to offer. If we live out our time in humility, as guests of this world, if we recognize the promise that is now and not yet (link to Ali), if we keep the faith, greeting it from far off like Abraham, sure of the timing even when we do not understand (John 8:56), God will not be ashamed to be our God, for He has prepared for us a city.

A Place Prepared

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This is the first in our new series, “Hearts Toward Heaven,” a contemplation on the hope of Heaven and what we know from Scripture about eternity in unity with our Lord.

The Appeals of Heaven

Heaven has always had so many appeals to me! …An eternity with Jesus, experiencing perfection, sinlessness, freedom from struggle, ultimate peace, and harmony.

But after the stillbirth of my third born daughter, my heart longed for heaven in brand new ways. It wasn’t as though the same things didn’t appeal to me, it was that I was looking at them from a different vantage point. From the new position, it was as if I could see more. 

Instead of heaven feeling like something that was “over there” and “someday,” I saw it as something I had a personal stake in. Like part of my heart was there now.

I considered things about heaven that I would have never considered before facing such a major loss. Maybe you have experienced the same because you have loved ones there as well?

 

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”  (John 14:1-3)

 

The verses above brought me so much comfort during my time of grief. To say my heart was troubled was an understatement. Shattered, broken, or ripped out would have been a better description. But as I read the passage above, Jesus’ words were like a sweet, soothing balm.

They still are.

Jesus promises a place with Him in eternity. And like King David (in the Old Testament) said of his child who passed away, “I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.” (2 Samuel 12:23, NLT) So I know that Jesus’ promise of eternity is for those who believe in Him (me), yet also for my baby daughter who never had the opportunity to believe.

A Place Prepared: Not Yet… and Now

Because Jesus died for our sins and then rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, he makes “a place” for us. (John 14:2) It was this action that guarantees that any who believe in Him are promised eternal life. Ultimately, the place He makes isn’t just heaven (although that is part of it), but it’s also the “place” of restored and reconciled relationship with God. It’s Jesus (the Way) Himself. (John 14:6) (Read more about this HERE at the Gospel Coalition.)

The beauty of Jesus being the Way to that place is that we get a deposit on heaven right now in this life through the indwelling of Jesus’ Holy Spirit. 

Yes, being reunited with loved ones who have already passed on to be with Jesus is a huge appeal of heaven. (The reality of this truth is intensely joyous for me!) But having Jesus now — in this life — gives great comfort and hope! It points our hearts toward heaven where we will experience Him completely unhindered by the enemy, the world, and the flesh… for all eternity!

There’s promise for the “not yet” and for the “now.”

How beautiful! 

How does this passage point your heart toward heaven? Share in the comments.

Jesus prepares a place for us. How does that point our hearts toward heaven? What does it mean for the “not yet” and the “now?” #HeartsTowardHeaven

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Ali

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