Just One Goal

“And now we are brothers and sisters in God’s family because of the blood of Jesus, and he welcomes us to come into the most holy sanctuary in the heavenly realm—boldly and without hesitation.  For he has dedicated a new, life-giving way for us to approach God.  For just as the veil was torn in two, Jesus’ body was torn open to give us free and fresh access to him! We come closer to God and approach him with an open heart, fully convinced that nothing will keep us at a distance from him.  For our hearts have been sprinkled with blood to remove impurity, and we have been freed from an accusing conscience.  Now we are clean, unstained, and presentable to God inside and out!”Hebrews 10:19-20,22 TPT 

I have one goal in this life and it won’t be satisfied until death.  I know it sounds morbid, but I promise it’s not.  I double-dog dare you to join me.

At some point in time, there will come a moment that I will cease to exist here on this earth; praise God!  It’s not sad. It’s a fact of life.  There is a life after this that consists of either glory or the lake of fiery sulfur.  In short, Heaven or hell.  There is no in-between and it’s only one or the other.  Both are final and eternal (so hard for my limited mind to grasp).  By saying It’s “final,” I mean it is the last place I will ever exist and “eternal” — it will always be, it is forever.  My destination is a place that I cannot change that never ends.  The depths of it are undoubtedly profound and I have given it much thought.  I know where I want to spend forever.  

When that moment comes, and I stand before the almighty Lord of Lords, He will not need to reach for that big book of names to see if I am on the list.  My goal, what I desire more than anything–the moment I step into the great hall that leads to the throne, He will shout, “welcome home, girl!!  You are here to stay!”  The second I open the door, He sniffs the air and knows it’s me.  That’s how familiar I want to be to Him.  The angels recognize the pitter-patter of my feet because they have heard them so often.  And, the icing on the cake, all of Heaven will erupt with jubilation when I enter the throne room for the final time.  I am there for good, permanent, and I’ll never have to leave His presence again!    One grand but attainable goal!  

What on earth are you talking about??  

Familiarity!  I’m talking about God Himself being so familiar with me and I so familiar with Him that introductions aren’t necessary when I arrive in His throne room that final time.  I don’t want the last time I show up to be the first.  I’m not a guest; this is my home.    

That kind of familiar intimacy (as with any union) takes time.  Rome wasn’t built in a day and I won’t reach my goal overnight.  My relationship is growing and changing every day and will be until that final meeting.  God knows everything about me; He should. He knit me together in my mother’s tummy.  However, He still cherishes each story I tell Him about myself.  Gaining familiarity is a consistent practice, so I keep coming back.   

But why?  Why do you want to be there?

Simply stated, He created me to be in His presence.    

Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time, He has also set eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

All humans, not just me, were created with eternity in their hearts.  God created us to fellowship with Him in His presence.  Saint Augustine said it best in the way back day, “Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee”  I’ll confess, I don’t know much about this Augustine guy, but I know he summed up the statement of my heart!  God made me–God made you–for Himself; that is the only explanation I have.  My heart is at home in His presence.  

If you have experienced this, you need no other explanation.  You know this to be true as well.  This world can go mad (more so than it is already) and within an instant, you step into a familiar realm where all that needs to make sense is God.  When your restless heart is calm, you need no further proof.  God created us for Himself.  He longs for us to sit in His presence–He wants us in His presence.  

God intended me (you too) to know Him.  Not just knowing His name, but knowing all the little details about Him.  He meant for me to see Him, to hear His voice, and to understand His whisper.  He craves my presence as much as I should crave His (insert mind-blown emoji here!).  He created me for fellowship, sweet fellowship with Himself.  So, of course, this is where my innermost heart is home.  However, Genesis chapter three happened and everything on this earth wants my heart’s devotion.  Without His presence, my heart is restless, troubled, if you will.  In His company, I am home, where I should be.  In His presence, nothing matters except Him.  The more I experience His presence, the familiarity, the more His presence permeates my entire world.  Heaven invades earth.  

This is beyond any doctrine; it is a lifestyle to be enjoyed every moment of every day.  But this is something you must intentionally seek out.  He offers His presence free to the thirsty.  

Revelation 21:6-7 “He said to me: “It is done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.  To the thirsty, I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.  Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.”

Ok, I’m curious now, how can I get there? 

That is the most important question!   Prayer and Worship!  Worship is not just a Sunday thing and prayer isn’t a twenty-second toss-up on my way to work to ensure things go well.  In the beginning, was the Word; similarly, in the end, is the same Word.  So what exactly comes between the beginning and the end?  It’s the chasm I call life.  Prayer and worship are the bridge from beginning to end and the gateway to His Throne room!.   When we begin to cry out to Him and worship Him for who he is, not what He does, we cross that bridge.  

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness…” It is as simple as it sounds.  Before you seek anything else, seek God. 
Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.” Ask Him, and He will answer.  Seek Him, and you will find Him.  Knock on His door, and He will answer!  

Allow me to be personal; after all, this is my goal.  I set out to be intentional; I intended to crave God.    I desired to hunger and thirst for His righteousness but had no clue how.  I needed to feel His presence. It was the only place I felt home.  My whispered prayer transitioned into a roar, “Holy Spirit, cause me to crave, stir within me until I am famished.  You said, “to the thirsty, Lord, and I’m parched.”  Like the deer that pants for water and the deep that cries out to the deep, you must come to the place where nothing satisfies but Him and Him alone. 

So, I have a goal.  As with any goal, to attain my dream, I must practice every day.  Or, as my dad would say, “perfect practice makes perfect!”  Through prayer and worship, I practice His presence.  I cross the bridge over the chasm of life and enter His Throne Room, my forever home, so I can cultivate and grow my familiar relationship with The Almighty, one and only, God.  

Once again, I double-dog dare you!  Let the depth of who He is be the place you begin to get to know Him and step into His presence.