"I Just Hope I Get Married before Jesus Comes Back!!!"

Admit it. Male or female, young or old, we've all been there. We've all felt the tension, maybe even disconnect, between our earthly bucket list and treasure in heaven. Yeah, we want Christ to return, but if He could wait until we get our dream job or find "the one" or travel the world or reach some mysterious point of satisfaction in life, then that would be great!

We make little sandcastles of worldly things to give us meaning, hope, and purpose only to watch them wash away with life's ebb and flow. We continue to think there are joys and satisfactions this earth can bring us that Christ cannot. How quick we are to set our identity in anything but Christ our Solid Rock, our Risen Savior!

I say this from a place of brokenness over my own sin. I, too, still have a list of things I want on this side of heaven. It may sound silly, but for the past year, I desperately desired to be on the beach. I love the water and the sun and the air and the tropical fruit... anyways. I literally told myself that living on the beach would be my "end goal" of life. With a Godly surfer husband and handful of kids, of course. And while having aspirations is no sin at all, being ungrateful for your current situation most definitely is. After doing the latter for a year, I became quite miserable.

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I go to college in the beautiful West Texas. Why I chose or how I ended up here can only be explained by God's sovereignty. I grew up some 8 hours away in East Texas, home to rolling hills, oak trees and countless lakes. Moving to the windy flatlands proposed a huge attitude adjustment for me. I would get in the foulest of moods about the landscape! That's it! I would get so stinking depressed about things like the lack of green in the (eternal) horizon. I literally told myself, "When I'm living on the beach, I'll be so much happier. I'm only living here for a season." Oh, but what if you're not?? Are you the Author of your life, Jadyn??

I know this is long but please read all of it <3

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 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. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:18-25

When I write these blogs, it usually takes me a week or so from initial idea to when I post the final product. As I was thinking about this one, I had the thought, "If all Christians lived as if Christ will return, as if we have treasure in heaven, as if we will experience the new heaven and new earth, what would be different? What if we had a heart set on eternity?"

What if we used Matthew 6:33 as a guiding verse in our lives? "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Here's what I think would happen:

• There are a lot of people we would not date. By show of inwardly raised hands, how many of us have dated or been otherwise romantically involved with someone because we were lonely? Bored? Enjoyed the affirmation? If we are in Christ, we can rest assured that He will give us all we need; those who seek Him lack no good thing (Psalm 34:10). We don't NEED a boyfriend or girlfriend or spouse. We need the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ideally, Christians should be satisfied single or married, for we know that being married is not life's end goal but rather to eternally glorify our King. After all, no one will be married in the resurrection (Matthew 22:30). Trust me, this is a lot easier said than done.

• We wouldn't have so much stuff. Materialism is not talked about near enough in the church. We look down our noses at the rich and famous who have ten-car garages yet go on an Amazon or SHEIN spree once a week. We just love stuff!!!! We want the biggest Stanley cups, the newest iPhone, the sleekest car, the highest paycheck. We are like the young rich ruler who, though seeing Jesus right in front of him, chooses his many earthly possessions over eternal life (Mark 10:17-22). Let us lay up treasures in heaven, where no moths, rusts, or thieves can destroy or steal (Matthew 6:19-20).

• We would be members of a church that preaches the gospel. Every Sunday. It can be hard to find a good church. But it is 100% worth the search. If we are not seeking the satisfaction from the Kingdom, we seek to self-soothe. A church that preaches the "prosperity gospel" or a self-help/motivational theology is not centered around Christ. No matter where we are in your walk, we need the gospel. We are sinners by nature, deserving of God's wrath. Yet He in beautiful mercy sent His Son, Jesus, fully God and fully man, to the earth. Jesus lived a perfect life and died a gruesome, sacrificial death so that sinful humans may be in the presence of a holy God. Jesus rose from the grave three days later, proving His power over death!! His resurrection proved the Father's satisfaction with Jesus' perfect sacrifice. Jesus is now at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us. Through this gospel we are saved. Not by our works but by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. By believing in Christ, we become heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:7)!
  

• We would pray continually, especially for the lost. We literally have the 24/7 opportunity to speak to the Creator of the universe. To intercede for the lost on their behalf. If we acknowledge that heaven is real, we must acknowledge the existence of hell. Oh, may we be burdened for those who are under God's condemnation! May we constantly ask for God to draw them to Himself that they may be saved.

• We wouldn't be obsessed with our looks. If we are here on this earth to glorify God, why do we spend hours glorifying ourselves on social media? This has been a big conviction of mine lately. How are you pointing people to Christ by posting or even taking that selfie? I ask myself this a lot. Christ is coming, and we should have a sense of urgency because of this truth. Let us not waste time looking in the mirror but instead to Christ.

• We would preach the gospel to everyone. To our friends, the lost, our fellow church members, even ourselves. Whether we are reminding others of the Truth or telling people this glorious Good News for the first time. We would live as examples of the power of the gospel, imitators of God, showing the love of Christ through our good works (Ephesians 5:1-2).

TL;DR: If we seek first the Kingdom of God, we will live as He has called us to, no matter how countercultural it is.

Our time on earth is so incredibly short compared to eternal glory. We will experience a new heaven and a new earth. It is going to be so much sweeter than this broken world. We can't even imagine. May we live in the light of heaven. May we not live as those who do not have the hope of Christ, but as a joyful people awaiting the coming of their Savior.

Your sister in Christ,

Jadyn

P.S.: A part of applying this does depend on your idea of what heaven is, your eschatology. Unfortunately, some of us may have grown up believing in a totally false idea of it (as I did). I may write a blog about this later but for the meantime, listen to R.C. Sproul's explanation of what heaven is like: https://renewingyourmind.org/2019/08/30/what-is-heaven-like.