You’re
Not Home Yet
So do not throw away your confidence;
it will be richly rewarded.
Hebrews 10:35
Bill and Della had been missionaries in
Africa for twenty-seven years when God called them from the field; it
was time they returned to the States. As it happened a professional
athlete had shared their flight, fresh off his most recent victory,
the medal he’d won draped around his neck. Passengers and crew
alike had jockeyed for the chance to meet him.
Arriving at their daughter’s home
following the twenty hour flight, Bill was still thinking about how
childish people had been, vying for the athlete’s attention. “I
wonder,” he grumbled, “if people had known what we went through
for the past twenty-seven years, if they’d have paid as much
attention to us as they did to someone who gets paid millions of
dollars a year to play a game?! It’s not right; there should have
been a homecoming celebration for us!”
Always the pragmatist, Della suggested,
“Why don’t you go tell the LORD how you feel
and see what He has to say about it.” She watched as Bill
entered his son-in-law’s study, intending to do just that.
A short time later Bill emerged, his
countenance completely changed. Della asked, “So, what did God
say?”
Bill smiled sheepishly, “He said,
‘Don’t worry, Bill, you’re not Home yet.’”
†
Most of us, if we’re being honest,
are just like Bill. There is a deep-seeded desire for personal
affirmation and attention…we want recognized for our
accomplishments.
Apart from the help of the Holy Spirit,
it is impossible to watch others receive accolades, while we go about
serving Christ largely unnoticed without becoming resentful.
When we place our confidence in what
men think about our actions, we are setting ourselves up for
disappointment, because for the most part, they themselves are
seeking approval and aren’t thinking about our accomplishments
ahead of their own.
God promises us a reward if we place
our confidence in Him. In doing so, we find satisfaction and peace
that men cannot provide, even in flattery.
Heaven is our true Home. When we get
there, our Creator will tell us exactly what we’ve longed to hear,
“Well done good and faithful servant!”
Prayer
“Help me look to You for
everything I need, LORD, especially where
recognition is concerned. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
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