Reunion Not Worthy to Compare

We’ve all been there: especially as YWAMers we are all too familiar with growing to love people just for the season to end, leaving people and people leaving us; saying goodbye to people we love is hard.

When we are separated from these people – we can’t help but miss them: it’s natural to groan for and crave the presence of those we love but cannot be with. We then anticipate the moment when we will be in reunion, waiting and wishing for that day to come.

For some people, though, we know that the reality may just be that the day of reunion will never come, so we anticipate another day – the day when we will together be at the throne of the infinitely glorious King offering endless praise.

 “See you on the other side!” A brother in Christ exclaimed to me. Yes, there is truth in that. On That Day, saints will be among one another as we worship the Lord, but I don’t believe that I will be experiencing this joyous and excited reunion with friends and family that heaven is often described to be. I will be reunited with the One I love far more.

Reunited with the One

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.” (Psalm 73:25 ESV)

I think about how much joy I experience when I see a friend that I’ve longed to be with, and how excited I become in anticipation of it. This is natural. This is how I believe I was made to feel, as my excitement in earthly reunion points to something even greater I am anticipating: my physical reunion with God the Almighty.

 “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8:22-23 ESV) 

 Not Worthy to Compare

If, God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him,” then being reunited with people we miss in heaven should be of little significance to us – because all of our satisfactions will, forevermore, be sufficiently found in Him alone and we will be worshiping Him in the fullness of joy.

 “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11 ESV) 

As saints we will be in the presence of God: finding sufficient joy and love alone in Him, but with that, we will be among Christ’s body, which He loves and actually commands we also love. We cannot worship and love God in fullness unless we love what he loves. God loves His Body.

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40 ESV)

Are You Anticipating?

Our anticipation and yearning can serve as a means of directing our gaze to the promise of heaven. We await the reunion of the saints in Christ, worshiping the King as One Body in Him. Further, though, we await our physical reunion with the infinitely glorious God.

When faced with the heartache when parting from people we love, or groaning with anticipation to be reunited with someone we miss – let’s look at Jesus. Let it be reminder that there is promised a day where we will no longer be physically separated from God; we will be in His presence and all sufficiently satisfied in Him.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6-8 ESV)

Anticipation is a wonderful reminder of all that Christ has done in reconciling the saints with God. Not by anything we can do, but only because of what Christ has done, we get to be in the presence of God forevermore. Praise the glorious King.

Ready to make the jump.

At YWAM Montana-Lakeside, we are all about doing whatever it takes to know God and to make Him known, together! We’d love to help you make that next step in your global missions education. Apply now!

Your Beauty is Not Your Value

It was over – again.  The hope, unspoken, barely admitted, though thoroughly wrestled through, fell away like it had so often done before. As usual,