Is it better to be here, or there?

As I arrived to work, someone passed me in the hallway and said, "Good morning how are you?" I said, "Great! Just great. It's a good day." My colleague said, "It surely is a blessing to be on this side."

I thought about that for a while. I suppose it is a blessing to be on this side of the veil, praising Jesus and worshiping Him and working for Him. He put us here. Therefore, I agree with the sentiment.

However, it is also good to remember that the curse is all around us and it is in us.

Woman, and all mankind, is cursed. (Genesis 3:15-16)

The ground is cursed. (Genesis 3:17-18)

The creation is cursed. (Romans 8:20-21)

The animals are cursed. (Genesis 3:14)

The creation which was once perfect is subject to futility, in slavery to corruption, is cursed and dying. Our hope is Jesus and His kingdom. While we are part of His kingdom now, being indwelled with the Spirit at our regeneration, which gained us entry into it, the glorified kingdom is in heaven. What a day when the curse is lifted and the Kingdom of Heaven descends to earth!

O, it is a double edged sword, wanting to be here and do well, wanting to be there and be glorified. Wanting to shed our sin-nature and desiring to be in the presence of Jesus! But we are not without Jesus now, for prayer is so sweet, our victories here sweeter- because they are accomplished through the Spirit in spite of our sin-nature. Yet we long for release, it is our ultimate aim.



The reason the bible is so tremendous is that there is nothing in it that is not common to man! Read of Paul's struggle over these very things-

Our Heavenly Dwelling

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

No matter here or there, our aim is to please Him. He is worthy of all praise.

I will extol you, my God and King,

and bless your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless you

and praise your name forever and ever.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,

and his greatness is unsearchable.

(Psalm 145:1-3)