The Goal of the Father’s Love

God lives and works today. In his fatherly love for us, he has prepared a heavenly city where we may live with him forever. This is the goal for which the Bible tells us we should be striving.

But perhaps heaven isn't real for you. You can't even relate to the word heaven, let alone strive to reach it. If so, listen to today's meditation by Bess Lea Schlink called The Goal of the Father's Love.

How much the Father loves us. That's what the glory of heaven tells us, and the reality of it. The fact that this heavenly glory really awaits us.

A true father wants his children to be happy, and in heaven there'll be only happiness and joy and exultation. This is why God created heaven in his great love, so that we, his children, would have a home where we could be perfectly happy, and not just for a little while, no, forever. Especially in view of heaven, I can think of one Bible verse that fits perfectly.

It's in 1st John chapter 3. See how much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children. Yes, heaven is the place of new life. Through the resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ, God gives us new resurrection life.

The promise of 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 is completely fulfilled. That is, the old has passed away. Behold, the new has come.

Now we may gaze upon our Father, tasting his never-ending love. There's no more chastening and tribulation, for now he's finished his work in us, completed that which he had to do in us on earth. And now, in the measure that we had to suffer, the Father will shower us with good things.

We'll be so overwhelmed that we can only say, no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. 1st Corinthians chapter 2. What will it be like when we arrive in heaven? The Father himself will wipe away all the tears of those who have come out of great suffering. He will take his children in his arms and embrace them.

Finally, our deepest, our ultimate longing will be fulfilled. Yes, the Father won't hold back anything. He'll give us everything he has.

To his children, he gives the greatest gift of all, himself. See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God. Who will live in heaven's glory? Only he whose heart is set on that goal, at any price.

Have you ever been seized by this desire? Whoever runs a race puts the last ounce of his energy into running. What have we put into our race towards the eternal goal? You have been listening to a program written by Basilea Schlink of the Little Land of Canaan. To learn more about how God lives and works today, visit us at our website, www.canaan.org. That's K-A-N-A-A-N.org. If you contact us, we would be happy to send you a free inspirational booklet.

If you do not have access to the web, please contact this radio station for our postal address. God bless you.