So Much More

Imagine going for an early morning walk. The sun peaks up over the horizon and bands of brilliant gold stretch up and out in every direction. As you gaze up, you begin to hear a mysterious and sweet melody coming from somewhere in the distance. The melody is so beautiful it almost puts you in a trance. Suddenly something deep inside of you comes alive with joy, wonder and awe.  Where is it coming from? You long to know the source of it so you can get closer. It's almost as if the melody is something familiar, but you can't figure out how or why. All you know is you want more of it.

I'm obsessed with trying to describe the indescribable. Have you ever had a sensation you just couldn't put your finger on- this beautiful inexplicable impression or awareness that made you want more? I've felt something so beautiful my tongue can't even describe it- something so intriguing, inspiring, colorful, melodious and delicious all at once. It's like getting only a tiny morsel of a sumptuous new desert and longing for more. It's intangible, but very real at the same time. I believe what I'm feeling is the inspiration of God. He's the most inspiring and intriguing being. He's unimaginable. There are no words. We have a sense of what he's like, but there's so much more. If this vague sense is unbelievably beautiful and inspiring, what must he be like in person? When you get a taste for the divine, you always want more. You never forget it. It's almost as if we have a sixth sense- a sense for the divine.

When people think of salvation they may think mostly about getting into heaven- but it's so much more than that. When we receive salvation in Jesus we become bonded to him, meaning that our hearts become one. Salvation is not a transaction, but a bonding relationship. When we hurt, he hurts. He hates seeing us in pain. When unfair things happen in this world you can be sure he sees it and is working all things together for our good. When we are saved by the blood of Christ, we receive God's favor as a divine gift. We become adopted into God's family and God takes care of his own. This certainly doesn't mean he spoils us or gives us everything we want. He makes sure we have what we need. At times we might not have much more than what we need, but he provides what we need.

John 15:5
 [Jesus said:] “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

One truth that we can really grasp onto is that Jesus is the vine. He's our source of love and life. Sometimes when I come to the end of myself I reach out to Jesus with my heart and I get this feeling of finally coming up for air. I'm finally getting the love I've been searching for. I run around this whole world looking for love but never find what I need. The deepest and best love you will ever find comes directly from the source.

Just as there's so much more to God than we know, there's so much more to life than we know. This life is mysterious how it unfolds and intertwines along with God and his mystery. He's presently waiting at the end of this life for us. As the maker of time, he stands both inside and outside of time. In eternity there's no such thing as time, blessed be the Lord God Almighty. It will be heaven not to be under any time constraints. The hard part of this life is we're inside of time and can't see the future, but God can, and that's where trust comes in. When we've given up hope, there's often something good right around the corner. If we could see what was coming it would be so much easier. I believe the reason we have to go through this type of hardship is to teach us patience and build our faith. This life involves growing periods that feel impossibly uncomfortable, but there's no better way to learn.

I really love the lyrics to Already There by Casting Crowns. It reminds me to look beyond what's happening right now. God recently reminded me of this truth: "There's more to life than what's happening right now." ...So much more.


Already There

From where I'm standing
Lord it's so hard for me to see
Where this is going
And where You're leading me
I wish I knew how
All my fears and all my questions
Are gonna play out
In a world I can't control

When I'm lost in the mystery
To You my future is a memory
Cause You're already there
You're already there
Standing at the end of my life
Waiting on the other side
And You're already there
You're already there

From where You're standing
Lord, You see a grand design
That You imagined
When You breathed me into life
And all the chaos
Comes together in Your hands
Like a masterpiece
Of Your picture perfect plan

One day I'll stand before You
And look back on the life I've lived
I can't wait to enjoy the view
And see how all the pieces fit
One day I'll stand before You
And look back on the life I've lived
Cause You're already there
You're already there

Songwriters: Matthew West / John Mark Hall / Bernie Herms