Devotional #28     

Meant to Walk on Streets of Gold

     Once we were living in Virginia we found that we could still save the cost of owning a car, since we could surprisingly get to most places on foot. The Lord also blessed us with many generous neighbors, although we tried not to overtax them by requesting too much help from them. But, there were several places to which we needed to walk a great distance. We had a small grocery store right across a passable highway from us. But, to save money and have more options we needed to walk about three miles to our supermarket. We’d often push our cart down the rocky, dusty road to replenish our necessities.

           

One week night, after 9:00 pm, we realized we needed certain items, one being diapers for our son, and we simply couldn’t wait to buy them. It had been a tough day at work and I still had a lot of prep work to do for the next day. My wife offered to go, but I didn’t want to put her in danger, since certain parts of the road was poorly lit and wild animals were around our area. Leaving home on that cold, late evening was the last thing I wanted to do.

           

I groaned and cried out to God on my long walk to do my duty, “Why, Lord? Why must my life be so difficult? I was actually brought to tears as I looked at my feet and questioned, “will I always be walking everywhere on these things.” 

Immediately my view changed, the ground before me shone with a beautiful golden hue. It appeared as though I was standing on a golden glassy mirror. Revelation 21:18 says of Heaven, “…the city was pure gold, like clear glass.” My feet transformed. You see, my big toe on my left foot is stunted and since my right big toe is longer, my right foot is a half size longer than my left foot. This difference has been a source of embarrassment for me. But, in this vision, which seemed more vivid than real life, my feet were perfect, the corresponding toes completely even and not a mark or blemish was on either foot. I was wearing a linen robe, instead of the jeans I had changed into before my reluctant excursion. Then, I heard the Lord’s voice, “Behold, do you not know that these feet were meant to walk upon My streets of gold?” As God transformed my surroundings in this vision, so He converted my perspective from darkness to light!

What joy to know that trails and troubles have their purpose, but shall all pass away. Jesus promised that we who trust Him will have mansions in His kingdom of Heaven. I joyfully await the fulfillment of that vision for both you and me!

See It for Yourself: Revelation 7:9, 10, Revelation 21:3, 4, II Corinthians 4:16-18

Prayer Focus:

Dear Lord,

I thank you for the promise of Heaven. A place where You Yourself will tabernacle with us!  You, our God, shall wipe away every tear from our eyes, and put an end to death, sorrow, and crying. For you will cause all pain to cease. For You shall make all of these earthly struggles, troubles and woes pass away, and Your glorious, new, never-ending day shall dawn!

In Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen.

Working It Out:

     Let us do as 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 instructs, 

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”