Growing up I lived in 5 different states and 10 different houses. For the three years that I was in college, I moved 5 times. Since graduating, (mind you that was 6 months ago) I have moved twice and am about to move again on Monday.
I’m about to embark on a journey that requires me to pack up and move to a new place every month.
I often say that I consider myself a nomad. Some don’t understand this lifestyle. Some people would absolutely hate moving around so much. But honestly, I’ve grown to be okay with it.
Yes, I still hate saying good-bye to people. It still hurts every time.
But I know that the good byes are only temporary.
You see, unlike an actual nomad – someone defined as having no permanent place of residency – I have a permanent home, but it is not in this world. My mind has been wandering a lot to the idea of what life will look like when Jesus returns. Hope as filled me as I have read scriptures like this:
“The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and the little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall no hurt of destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD and the waters cover the sea…” (Isaiah 1:6-10)
I dream about a world like this, a world where little children have the space to grow and live up to their full potential, a world where they are believed in rather than too often, harmed or abused or forgotten about.
I have found myself longing for eternity more than every before.
As I have been meditating and praying on this, asking the Lord why he has not come yet – he has so graciously given me scriptures to remind me of one thing:
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)
You see, our God loves us immensely. More than we can comprehend. And he loves everyone. And when I say everyone, I mean every. single. person. He loves everything that He created, and how could he not – for he created us out of an overflow of love.
He is such a loving father that he wants his whole creation to hear about “this gospel” – the saving power of his son, whom we will celebrate the birth of in a couple of weeks.
He doesn’t wish for anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance, as it says in 2 Peter. If that doesn’t testify to the magnitude of God’s love for us, I don’t know what will.
I long for eternity, for my permanent place of residence.
But I long for everyone to be there as well.
And that is why I am going on the World Race in the first place.
The Lord has asked some of you to stay rooted where you are and bring his gospel to those around you and that’s a wonderful thing! Make sure you are doing that.
The Lord has asked others, like myself and my team, to go into other countries and bring his gospel there. And that is great too! Will you pray for us as we do that?
But let us all keep our eyes focused on Christ and what is yet to come. The Lord won’t come until the whole world hears and we are the ones charged to do the telling. How will they hear otherwise?
From one nomad to another – I encourage you to think about the wonderful, saving gift of grace you have been given and start thinking about (and acting on) ways you can share that with others.
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news,
who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness,
who published salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
(Isaiah 52:7)
P.S. I have reach my next fundraising deadline of $10,000. YAY!! God is so good to me! I only have $3,600-ish more dollars left to raise to be fully funded. If you feel led to give, just click the box that says “support me” at the top of this page. You’re gift will be tax-deductible so make sure and get it in before the end of the year!
Thanks you SO much to each of you who has supported and been praying for me. It truly means so much.
