iCrucified

The second week of Advent began this past weekend. I continue to explore the season with reflections and meditations. Words that currently consume my thoughts follow:

• Longing
• Maranatha (“Our Lord, com” “Come, Lord Jesus”)
• Hope
• Glory
• Completion

A sense of “longing” continues to haunt me…an insatiable desire of spiritual hunger. My soul is ravenous for my ultimate completion in Christ…with my God. I know these feelings, this sense, is true in my deepest self, but my mocking flesh hurls insults and taunts of hypocrisy at me for speaking my thoughts of spiritual hunger. I despise this conflict and groaning of soul.

It seems in the interim of here and Eternity, this tumultuous battle between the spirit and flesh is a self-perpetuating cycle. The more my soul is awakened and drawn closer to the things of God, the more I am made aware of the catastrophic effects of sin, and consequently, the weakness and failures of my own physical nature.

~ And I long…~ Maranatha

“Blessed are the poor in Spirit… Blessed are those who mourn… They shall be comforted and they shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 5:3-4

So many things remain broken; even if I want to feel safe in the promise of my own redemption and salvation, I am conflicted…spiritually bipolar at times… even manic. My faith does not waver; the hope and promise of my completion is strong…my eternity secure in Christ and for this I rejoice, but my hunger is not satisfied. I long to see my Jesus face-to-face, triumphant in victory, sitting on His throne as He rules the nations…the insidious destroyer who is sin forever removed from the face of a New Earth.

I Long for His glory and I hope for completion… Maranatha

Famine is a reminder, disease is a reminder…physical, emotional, and sexual abuses are all reminders of the cancer of sin. Decay, pollution, birth defect and poverty are the tinnitus to my spiritual ears. War, climatic catastrophes, pestilence, idolatry, and death blur the “eyes of my heart.” Lies, slander, hypocrisy, and pride from my fellow humanity bear the scent of terminal cancer to my nostrils. Time itself is a reminder of sin…we were not created to serve the rule of seconds, minutes, hours, or years… God created man with Eternity in his heart. Our destiny was, and is, immortality in eternity with our Creator God. The process of aging, keeping track of schedules, and the tyrannical ticking of the clock…all vicious and relentless in their reminder of man’s rebellion and disobedience toward God.

My soul longs for the King of Peace… Maranatha

In light of our longing there is hope. God has sprinkled His DNA across the universe; creation itself bears the promise of hope and glory. We awaken to the splendor of His spoken word; “Let there be light,” in the glorious rising of the sun. We marvel at the mystery and complexities of conception and birth. The incredible science behind osmosis and photosynthesis (life as we know it depends on these earth actions) are hints of God’s handiwork. We have hope looking forward…a hunger and a longing for the eternity that God has planted in us with the same breath in which He gave us life.

“I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6

“I am making all things new…” Revelation 21:3-5

Longing… it is the groaning burden of a soul that hungers for completion

Maranatha… Come, Lord Jesus, Come

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