Wanting More Out of Life

Have you ever experienced something so good in this life that you want more? Like a beautiful moment in our life, the birth of a child, an amazing sunset, a panoramic view of a beach or mountain that lives on in your memory. One so vivid that you can sit back and close your eyes, and virtually relive that time again. The smells, the sounds, even the surroundings! I find myself taking lot's of virtual vacations back to times in my life when I was so happy.

I used to think that at that moment, nothing could be better. Then I found myself wanting more...more times and vacations like that, more letters filled with heart felt sentiment, more chocolate in the box of See's candies.

Those moments are usually followed by the "If onlys.." You know the ones! Fill in the blank, If only I had _______, I would be more happier. Here are the words I have filled in as I think back, a better job, more money, more time, more kids, a bigger house, a job that kept me home, or hubby had a job that would keep me home, better relations with family members, a nicer car, better neighbors....you get the picture. It's OK, if you used some of mine.

The question is...what happened when you got any of those? Here's my answer again, now I want more! It's didn't make me as happy as I thought. I need more followers on my blog, more comments, more people emailing me asking me to try free things so I can give them away, oh just the winning lotto numbers so I can help people in need more....more...just more...one more thing!

Ever wonder why nothing really satisfies us and we always have that hunger for something more? I know I do. No matter how much money I make or how much I spend, it never satisfies and never makes me happy for long. I always want more!

God did it! Yup it's all His fault! OK, before you stop following my blog any further, here it is. God gave us a longing once we became believers and even it exists for the non believers as well for something more than this Earth could ever hope to give us. God has placed within us the desire for our heavenly home. Our eternal home. So no matter what we experience here in Earth, we will always want more.

Philippians 3:20 states it this way to us believers in Jesus Christ, "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." NLT

So when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we become citizens of heaven, it's our real home and not Earth. That's why we have this longing for something that Earth can never deliver. We will always be a bit "out of tune" with everything going on in the world or what the world has to offer. It leaves us feeling cold and empty on the inside and we still want.....more? Much More!! C.S. Lewis called it, " an inconsolable longing."

Ever wonder how migrating animals make it back to their homes. You've read the stories right of Fluffy, the dog, and how he got separated from his family, only to walk thousands of miles to find his home again? Like the prodigal son? Or even how the whales will migrate from one ocean clear across to another side of the world into an entirely different ocean. They know where home is. Their instinct or internal GPS if you will tells them the direction to go.

We are a lot like those animals. That is why though we may constantly search daily for happiness in this life on Earth, we have our eternal GPS programmed to our heavenly home. This Earth, is just a copy. A really bad copy if you see it in some ways. However I am talking about beautiful sunsets, pristine forests, wonderful scenic vistas or breath-taking beaches. They are a mere shadow of heaven.

C.S. Lewis again writes of heaven this way, "Earth is a shadow of heaven. The hills and valleys we know here on Earth, are only copies of the originals, which are in heaven now." Doesn't that take your breath away?

Therefore, we as Christians, should be 'heavenly-minded. It means this, "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.

I hope once again, this post has inspired you, made you think about the direction your life may be taking you at this point. I remind you that you need to keep looking up if you find yourself discouraged today. Home awaits you!