Echoes

Today we know He has come and will come again. I, for one, am fervently looking to the heavens from which my Hope will come. I grow restless with the waiting.

Jules has admitted, on more than one occasion, she skips to the back of the book and reads the ending before getting too far into the beginning of the book. In this instance, I'm all for it! ;)

"It's a tearstained hope strong enough to comfort people who've watched
their parents die, seen their dreams fade away, struggled with whether or
not to have an abortion, or lived through a divorce. It's a hope for
the oppressed, the guilty, the haunted, the hurting, the forgotten,
the abused, the mocked, the ignored, the lonely, and the overlooked.
Workaholics and loudmouths and outcasts and spiritual furgitives like
us."

"It's a passionate hope, a real hope, a battle-scarred and yet victorious
hope. Only a hope like that could ever conquer heartaches this strong and
wounds this deep and pain as fresh as today's headlines."

There is so much more to human existence than living and dying---even more than enjoying the abundant life Jesus promises us as believers (John 10:10). While it is possible for us to experience a bit of heaven here on earth...moments when our fellowship with God is sweet, poignant times with our families and friends, or even looking at the whispy clouds which still allow the moon to shine through...we are not home yet. There is more, so much more, in store for us. Someday, Jesus will establish His eternal kingdom. And we who have followed Him will be rewarded for our faithfulness. He is coming back, and He's bringing our reward with Him! Oh, how we should long for that glorious day! How different our lives would be if we could grab hold of the vision Isaiah imparted and make it out own!!