Cosmic Loneliness

"For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly... because the creation itself also wil be delivered from bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now."   Romans 8:19-22

The other night I was tossing and turning in bed. I spent the evening scanning the internet for news of the upcoming election and then did some reading which was secular as well. It was a novel that had me thinking how lonely the pursuit of riches really is. As I laid there, I realized things that thrill the world only serve to make me "cosmically lonely." I felt a check in my spirit. I couldn''t go off to sleep that way.

There is a constant battle being waged. Two voices vie for their right to be heard, so to speak, in my little old head. One says, "Come on, can't you just chill and relax and enjoy life. Do you have to be thinking about Him all the time?" The other voice says, "If any man would go after Him, let him say no to himself" (paraphrase of Mark 8:34). I can't forget that verse, even though sometimes I want to.

The days are short. Christ could come back at any time. There is a special reward for those who are "loving His appearing." II Timothy 4:8 But what does it mean to "love His appearing."

The three words are agapao, autos, epiphania that make up the phrase "love His appearing." The meaning of love (agapao) in that verse means: "to welcome with desire, long for." The word autos is translated "his," meaning Christ, in this verse. The word for appearing is "a manifestation,  ie, specially the advent of Christ (past or future), appearing, brightness."

(definitions derived from: https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/2ti/4/8/t_conc_1129008 )

If I get too comfortable with my life the way it is I will not be longing for Him. If I do not take in the Word daily I will not grow in my awesome respect for Him. When He appears, one of two things can happen: I will either love His appearing or I will shrink back in shame. There is no wiggle room there for a happy medium in between.

It is not worth it then to get sidetracked by worries of this life, of trying to make a name for myself, of "grabbing all the gusto" I can get in my short stay on this planet."But if I only think about Him I will have no fun," I can hear some saying, I can hear it in my own mind. That is a lie. For:

"the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law." Gal. 5: 22-23

Think of it! No law must be legislated against the fruits of the Spirit. The very things we long for, the very things that the human heart desperately desires, are all contained in the fruits of the Holy Spirit. They are all there as we walk step by step with our Faithful Master every day.

One day He will crack the sky. I will not listen to the naysayer in my own head. He really is coming quickly, and I want to be ready. How about you? It is as simple to decide to come once again to the Great Shepherd of your soul.

"For you were as sheep going astray, but are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." I Peter 2: 25