A little glimpse of heaven

This weekend I joined over 1700 others in celebrating 50 years of God’s faithfulness to Bible Study Fellowship International, a ministry in which I participated for 25 years.  The room was filled with tearful and joyful reunions and the joy of hearing from many the "rest of the story."  In many cases it had been years since we had seen one another and it was a little taste of how we will celebrate the first thousand years of heaven.

This weekend I joined over 1700 others in celebrating 50 years of God’s faithfulness to Bible Study Fellowship International, a ministry in which I participated for 25 years.  The room was filled with tearful and joyful reunions and the joy of hearing from many the "rest of the story."  In many cases it had been years since we had seen one another and it was a little taste of how we will celebrate the first thousand years of heaven.

In addition to the celebration and fellowship, I was impressed personally with the truth of the scripture in James 5:7: So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s return. Think of how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient  for it until it receives the early and late rains.  In so many conversations as I visited with various ones it was obvious that God had continued to work in each of our lives while we went our separate ways.

I often get frustrated with myself and sometimes with others when it seems that we are making little or slow progress.  This celebration reminded me that God is faithfullly at work in each of us and that He is the one who paces the process.  He brings into our lives various experiences and challenges to allow the seeds planted to grow into a healthy plant.  We are such an instant gratification society that we find it hard to wait for the changes we desire. Nevertheless, with the perspective of five, ten or twenty years, I rejoiced to hear of God’s blossoming the potential I perceived previously in the earlier stages of development.

It reminds me of the illustration that it only takes a few months to grow a squash, but it takes years to grow an oak from an acorn.  God is in the business of growing oaks of righteousness and He is never in a hurry, so why should I feel such pressure to make things happen?  In our harried and hurried world, it is encouraging to me to be reminded so beautifully that I am called to be faithful in whatever place he assigns me and leave the results, immediate or long term, to Him.  One day we will rejoice together at all that He accomplishes.  In the meantime, take time to smell the roses or however you restore your soul.