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By Ian Robinson, Major
I write this on the eve of our European vacation. Tomorrow morning we fly off to London, Spain, Sheringham and Scotland. It’s a lot of travel, but I love it! You see, I am a traveler by nature, especially overseas. And I can’t stay in one place for any length of time. I am always looking for the next big adventure.
My wife is my polar opposite. Isobel hates travel. In fact, this morning she said, “I wish we hadn’t decided to go on this trip!” She will be fine when we get there, but the journey doesn’t interest her at all. She gets no pleasure from it, whereas for me, the journey began weeks ago when we booked our flights. I anticipate every moment, including the drive to the airport, check-in (did it online actually), security, and waiting to board with a Starbucks latte in my hand. Then there is the flight itself and the arrival at the other end when we take the tube to our destination. I doubt if I will be able to sleep tonight!
In what little spare time I have had lately, I have planned our time in London and Spain. I’ve booked train tickets to Sheringham and Scotland. By the way, those of you in the know might be surprised at our side trip to North Norfolk but Isobel is at peace with it and the friends we made during our short stay there have been begging us to come. I have checked and rechecked the weather, contacted family and friends and even decided which corps we’ll attend on the three Sundays we are there. Weird, isn’t it?
Some of you will identify with me and some with Isobel. But we are on the greatest journey of all—the journey of life—and we should anticipate every moment of every day. The Apostle Paul writes, But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies, so that they will be like his glorious body (Phil. 3:20-21 NIV).
Now that’s a journey and a destination to anticipate! A new body with no faults, ailments or limitations. We will be like Jesus, and the Bible says those of us who live anticipating his coming will receive a special crown as well (2 Tim. 4:8). That’s something to look forward to, and I need to tell you that Isobel lives in expectation and anticipation of his coming every day.
So, it doesn’t matter what the journey of life has thrown in your way. Whatever trials, illnesses, problems and hurdles you have had to overcome, or might still be going through, God has given you something marvelous, wonderful and amazing to look forward to. Anticipate the journey, plan for the days ahead, savor every moment until Jesus comes again.
Life is a journey; long is the road,
And when the noontide is high
Souls that are weary faint ‘neath their load,
Long for the waters, and cry:
The well is deep and I require
A draught of the water of life,
But none can quench my soul’s desire
For a draught of the water of life;
Till one draws near who the cry will heed,
Helper of men in their time of need,
And I, believing, find indeed
That Christ is the water of life.
General Albert Orsborn (SASB 351)
