Heavenly Cravings

A story was shared of Christian African refugees traveling under the cloak of darkness, desperate to escape the cruel anti-Christian militias that were sweeping their villages. As they quietly traveled through the tree line, they could smell the delicious fragrance of food stewing. Their hungry stomachs could only dream of a good meal. Then they heard laughter and clapping as though somebody was being celebrated. But they must not stop… they must get to safety. They craved something in a place that wasn’t home. 

Randy Alcorn, the author of the book called, Heaven, wrote, “A person who gives sustained thought to another world, where Christ is and the resurrected earth, where we will live forever with Him - does not remain unchanged. They become a new person. They smell the banquet being prepared and won’t spoil their appetite with stale leftovers and scraps fallen to a dirty floor. They know what their mouth is watering for.” 

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:1-2). 

It’s an important truth to acknowledge - this world was never meant to satisfy us, only God can do that. We yearn for Heaven because we were made for Heaven. We hunger for God because He is our Creator, the One who lovingly knitted us together in our mother’s wombs, and knew us before anyone else did. We can’t expect to be satisfied outside of Him. 

As the world races towards a new trend, a new experience, a new project… we know they run in search of hope, purpose and satisfaction. May we be diligent to remind them that God has so much more for them if only they would turn to Him in humble repentance. He is waiting with so much love, forgiveness and blessing! “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!”

(Devotional by Cheryl Hall-Laos)