Dr. Mike Murphy
Among my many, many faults and shortcomings, not always asking others for prayer is near the top of that list. I have always found it easier to pray for others than to ask them to pray for me. Looking to lead others in prayer for those around me in need, instead of directing that focus to the problems in my life. And I must admit, it often leaves me trying to put the proverbial lipstick on a pig, With the cancer, others will frequently contact or message me, asking me, out of concern, how I am doing. And usually, I am quick to dismiss them, moving on to other subjects the first chance i get.
Recently though, the dismissals have become a lot harder, as the cancer is taking a greater toll. Often leaving me facing struggles more each day that are increasingly difficult to put a good face on, and move the conversation away from. Showing me that one day soon, the cancer will leave me facing a permanent address change. But as that “moving day” draws nearer, I find the Lord is giving me little glimpses of what my new home is going to be like.
“But as it is written: What eye did not see and ear did not hear, and what never entered the human mind– God prepared this for those who love Him.”(1 Corinthians 2:9). We read those words, and we think to ourselves just how glorious Heaven will be. But as we look closely at those words, we soon realize that mankind does not know a word that can come close to describing how amazing Heaven will actually be. Heaven will be perfect, and without seeing perfection, there is just no way we can begin to describe what we think that perfection will look like. Simply put, we have nothing in this world to compare it to. Nothing in this world that gives us a glimpse of a place where suffering will be felt no more. Where conflict will no longer be seen. And where disappointment will never be experienced again. A place where temptation, and the evils of this world, will never again have a single ounce of influence on our lives.
Heaven will be a place where our friendships will be even closer, as there will be no disagreements or misunderstanding. A place where all our relationships will be open and honest, as the complications of our sinful nature will be left behind. Heaven will be a place where our work and our rest will go hand in hand. As we serve Him each day, our work will be found as perfect, sweeter than anything we can imagine, never leaving us bored for a single second. And Heaven will be a place where our longing for home will finally be fulfilled. A place where our hunger to know Him more will forever be quenched, and a place where satisfaction will no longer need to be defined.
The glory of Heaven will not be felt in our anticipation, but will be known each day in His presence. Think about that. All you know about Christ now, will pale beside being able to hear His voice speak to you each day. And as our Lord creates a new Heaven and a new earth, we will share in that wondrous world with Him. A world of such perfection, the wolf will then live with the lamb(Isaiah 11:6-7). A place of continuous joy, where we will be able to finally put all the pieces of the puzzle together, and realize just how perfectly all fits into His eternal plan.
As I now struggle with the cancer, and anticipate the approaching of that day, a verse from His Word continues to comfort me. “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.”(Isaiah 41:10). My life is not a measure of the ups and downs that this cancer might bring to me. My life is a sum of His love, and His undying grace. And through His love, and by His grace, I am blessed each day, to get a little glimpse of what this “moving day” soon holds for me.
Each day, the Lord gives me a glimpse of Heaven, as He blesses me to be able to look at so many of you. Most days as I turn on my computer, or check my phone, I see or hear each of the messages all of you send me. Messages of prayer and encouragement, that ask the Lord to keep His hand of protection over me. Messages of sincerity, that come my way with all the concerns each of you have as to how I am feeling. Messages that often are nothing more than a simple picture of something you know will uplift me. Messages of stories of how Christ is working in the lives of others. Messages of hope, that tomorrow will hold for me a better day. All messages that offer a small reflection of the true love and compassion that Heaven will offer, as you take the time out of your busy day to check on me. Giving me a glimpse of the brotherly and sisterly love that Heaven will be overflowing with.
As so many of you send me your questions each day about Scripture, and how the Word of God applies to our life, the Lord also gives me a little glimpse of what Heaven will be like. In each, I see your sincere desire to know more about His Word, and about our Savior. A true yearning and craving in each of you to know Him more, to know everything you can possible learn about Him. To be feed by a truth that only He can bring us. And with each new fact you learn, you do not sit quietly on that knowledge, you look to to use it to feed others. Each new detail you learn about Him, you find yourself wanting to praise Him more. And with each of those praises, with each desire in you to know Him more, I am blessed to get a little glimpse of what each of my coming days will soon hold.
And as I watch and hear the concern that so many of you have for this world and this Church, the Lord also gives me a little glimpse of what Heaven will be like. I see in you a compassion for all that only He can offer. A compassion that brings you to your knees in search of the certainty that will come from His lasting answers, not just leading you to turn to your fellow man in the hope he might have a temporary solution. A compassion that helps all around you each day to understand, true peace will only come from the Prince of Peace. And that true hope, is only found in His presence.
There is no denying, I cannot even begin to imagine or fully understand what the Lord has in Heaven waiting for me. But as I see the compassion each of you offer, the desire each of you have to know Him more, and the hope each of you find in the presence of His arms, the Lord gives me a little glimpse of just what Heaven has waiting for me. The slightest of glimpses at the way to spell that word that no man yet knows. The perfect word to describe all that Heaven will have to offer. But each day until that word is perfectly known to me, I thank Him for allowing me to understand the perfection of that word a little more as I see it reflected in all of you.
I pray on the day you hear that I have officially moved, you will not be saddened by my leaving. Knowing that in my new address, I am more alive than ever. And as the days draw ever closer to my “moving day”, my mind wanders forward to the day each of you will be moving also. A day that as you stand in His presence, and find all your questions answered, you will look over your shoulder to see someone standing there with a smile so big it will not fit on their face. And as you look closely, I hope you will begin to realize that smile has a familiar presences. A presences that you cannot help but walk over and speak to. Because behind that biggest of smiles, you will find me!
Praying the Lord gives each of you a little glimpse of Heaven today!