Eternal Family
God has, always has, provided for me with everything I need.
I was thinking, reflecting, on my family when I was a child. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and my sister.
Now, as a wife and mother with a new immediate family, many relatives from my earlier years have passed away or are out of touch. Still in the world, but not in mine.
God has blessed me with a new family. A loving husband, three wonderful children of my own, and two bonus boys (my stepsons).
In addition, I have a very close church family. Very special people that are close to me with bonds that have been built which are beyond flesh and blood. These are friends that I never would have known….the common bond of loving God brought us together.
So, when I look at the family that was there when I first entered the world compared to the family that I now have, I see very little remains the same….if anything. My original family has long-sinced dissipated. It hurts to say (and understand with a mature heart), that it served its purpose. Just as I too, one day, will have an empty nest. My husband and I will have served our purpose. Life will slowly pull our children away from our daily interaction, and attending to, and hands on, eyes on, away from needing us. Inevitably, my husband and I will grow older, and we will pass away.
Of course, my beloved children’s lives will follow suit. Hopefully, they will acquire their own precious, treasured families. And just like those before us, just like my own….their families will run their courses, evolve.
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:28)
But that was God’s plan. To give us temporary families of our own, to show us how precious each one of us are in His sight. Just as I wrote about the empty nest a moment ago, as it brought tears flowing down my cheeks…my love for my children, as intense and powerful as it is, does not and cannot compare to the love that God has for all of mankind, His children.
We love because He first loved us. (I John 4:19)
He teaches us now about family, through physical relationships, so we can become part of His eternal family. That is the destination for all people from the beginning of human kind—-to be transformed into something more than where we find ourselves at this moment.
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are the children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:1-2)
"Put off the old self, which is being corrupted by its selfish desires; and be renewed in the spirit of your minds. Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24)
We are always changing. We must always be changing. Embrace the changes of life recognizing that the Creator of life designed it to be this way. This life is temporary, but precious. Every minute of every day, we need to be Doing, Giving, Being. We have this life for a fleeting moment, so we must see the importance of making an impact on the ones in our lives while they are in our lives. After us, they can carry forth the torch.
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matt. 5:14-16)
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