I Would Rather Be...!

“I’d rather be fishing!” “I’d rather be sailing!” “I’d rather be golfing!” “I’d rather be hiking!” Etc. We all have probably seen such words on license plate frames or bumper stickers; displayed by people driving down the road or going about daily routines who would rather be SOMEWHERE ELSE doing something else. How many are not satisfied with where they are and thus have a deep longing to perhaps be anywhere else but where they are?

Paul had a longing.
“(21) For to me to live is Christ, and TO DIE IS GAIN. (22) If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. (23) I AM HARD PRESSED BETWEEN THE TWO. MY DESIRE IS TO DEPART AND BE WITH CHRIST, FOR THAT IS FAR BETTER.” ( Philippians 1:21-23
ESV)

That was a powerful longing. There was no place Paul would rather be than in eternity with His Lord. If he had placed a bumper sticker on his donkey it might have read, “I’d rather be in Heaven!”

This past Sunday evening we sang “How Beautiful Heaven Must Be”, by Bridgewater and Bland (© 1920). Though I have sung this hymn many times before, there was a phrase in the first line of the second stanza which really caught my attention as we sang -- so much so that I even underlined it in the book.
“In heaven ,no drooping, nor pining,
No wishing for elsewhere to be,”

Yes! “No wishing for elsewhere to be!” Satisfied! Home at last! No better place than right there! A time and place when there would be no longing for SOMEWHERE ELSE! What a wonderful thought regarding our heavenly home!

I don’t know what all Heaven will be like, but if there will be any place for a bumper sticker, mine will read “I’m Right Where I Want To Be!” I will be home and there will be no other place like it!

Have a great day ASSURED OF A GLORIOUS ETERNITY!
Carl

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