Packed Bags

by Macy Johnson

“Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.”

(2 Corinthians 5:1 NIV)

Is your earthly tent wearing out? Are your eternal bags packed? Are you ready to go to heaven?

As newlyweds, my husband and I looked forward to camping expeditions. We jumped at the chance to leave our stable, sturdy home to sleep for a week in a bright-orange, rickety, two-person dome tent. We loaded down our white Monte Carlo in flat-land Florida one crisp October and headed for the stately mountains and rippling creeks of North Carolina.

These days my tent is slightly frayed around the edges. God made our flesh and bones disposable, temporary to trigger an ache for heaven, our eternal home. Sarah Young wrote, “Yearning for Christ is a form of homesickness: longing for your true home in heaven.” I yearn for Christ.

I don’t belong on this spinning sphere, but am I really ready to leave? I was hesitant to secure a seat on a Delta jet to California, to visit my sister. Questions and concerns jumbled my thoughts: Which flight should I book? What should I pack?

Every day I grow more cautious, slow to try new things, go new places, meet new people. Yet I remind myself - after this, after life on earth, I go to heaven! The truth is: our bags ARE packed! Jesus has prepared a place for us to live with Him! We ARE ready!

“You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.”

(Psalm 73:24 NIV)

I thank my heavenly Father for this journey of life into eternity with Him. I hope you will, too!