Who remembers this hymn: Some glad morning when this life is o’er, I’ll fly away. To that home on God’s celestial shore. I’ll fly away. I’ll fly away oh glory. I’ll fly away. When I die Hallelujah by and by I’ll fly away!*

I loved that song growing up and I still can appreciate its reality. Especially right now. Since the death of my baby boy I feel like I have one foot in heaven and one foot on earth. But we all feel this way. We can’t wait to get to heaven and have all our pain, struggles, and issues done and life will be good and easy. And this is definitely something about which to be excited!

However, do you realize that God saved you, sent His Son to die a horrific death for your sins – not to take you out of this world but to change you while you are living in it. And in changing you while you are here, He intends to use you to further His kingdom and bring Himself glory on this earth.

If God’s goal was simply to get you to heaven He’d take you up the moment He saved you! That would make things so much easier for Him and for you.

God’s desire from Genesis to Revelation has always been to come down and dwell among His people on earth. He wants to live in you and through you here and now. He left you on earth for a reason and a purpose, so fulfill your calling Church! Glorify your Father in heaven with whatever you do today. Be salt, be a light. Bring the Kingdom of God through your actions. And the way you bring the Kingdom is by obeying the King. Don’t wait for this to begin after you die.

Yes, there are struggles and hardships in this world. Yes, there are many reasons to be excited about eternity with God in the new heaven and on the new earth. I cannot wait to see loved ones who have gone ahead. But for now, our focus is to be here and what God has called for us to do here on this earth at this time with this life.

Believer, there is a tension in our lives as, on the one hand we are anxiously longing for the day when God’s kingdom fully covers the earth and may we rejoice in that. But on the other hand, may we also learn to live in the excitement of today and what God wants to do here and now through us, His body to spread His kingdom.

Don’t fly away just yet, live for the King today.

*http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/alisonkrauss/illflyaway.html