Better by Far

Posted on by Jennifer Arimborgo

Flowers, light, girl

“Teach us how short our lives really are so that we may be wise.” (Ps. 90:12, NCV).

One of my highest joyful thoughts is to imagine the moment that I breathe my last breath in this body. Sometimes the Holy Spirit hovers over this picture in such an overwhelmingly beautiful way that burning tears spill out of my eyes. To imagine the sacred hour when I finally slip into the bliss of eternity… I wait for this with unspeakable anticipation.

Now don’t worry. I am not severely depressed or wishing for an escape. The truth is simply that Jesus has captivated my heart with the reality of heaven’s breathtaking goodness.

This is the place where my spirit lives:

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain… having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better” (Phil. 1:21, 23, NKJV).

– and –

“The day you die is better than the day you are born” (Eccl. 7:1b, NLT).

Meditating on our mortality is actually extremely life-giving. In fact, Psalm 90:12 (above) encourages us to earnestly pray for heart-level revelation of how brief and fleeting the span of our days is on earth. To carry around in our souls the awareness that our years will, indeed, come to an end – this is really living!

We are only passing through here. The real deal begins once our heart beats for the very last time. Whatever trial we are enduring, no matter how painful – will one day look infinitesimally small in the light of the immeasurable blessedness completely enveloping our beings. Whatever earthly joy we might be currently relishing – will likewise appear dim and colorless compared to the absolute ecstasy then flooding all of our senses ceaselessly!

We were made to live for heaven. I breathe in a deep sigh of relief when my spirit once again grasps this truth: there are a finite, measurable number of days between right now and when I see Jesus face to face. Each day that I live is one less that I have to wait to be in His arms!

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Is heaven real to you?

 

 

28 thoughts on “Better by Far”

  1. I love this! I’m the same way. Thinking about Heaven is one of my favorite daydreams! In fact, I can’t think about It too much or I find myself really longing to be there and getting too bummed about what still needs to be done here. Obviously I have work to do here or God would have already let me go home. So, I try to keep my head in the game and my heart knowing that one day will be the last and I will get to go home! What a day of rejoicing that will be! (To quote a great hymn)

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    1. I smiled big and immediately began hearing that hymn in my heart, as soon as I read this. What you share here reminds me of a number of testimonies I have read, of individuals that have had near death experiences, that sometimes they have felt down emotionally afterwards because it was hard to come back to our broken world after being in the wonders of heaven if even for a glimpse. I was just reading in my quiet time earlier this week, how we long to be clothed with our heavenly body!

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  2. Francis Chan noted with some sadness, “It is amazing to me how American Christians are so afraid of dying.” Even a ‘minister,’ when I noted to him how great it will be to die and go to Heaven said, “Well, it’s not something I like to think about very often.” (!!‼️!!)

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  6. I wrote a post several years ago that included the death-bed statements of several believers. The one from Willielma Campbell was especially memorable: “If this is dying, it is the pleasantest thing imaginable.” I don’t think we have a thing to worry about!

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  7. For believers this longing is a sacred truth. No fear of dying but the Strength and trust in Him to continue to live with the Joy of His Strength. I thank God I finished my memoir Shafts of Gold. This life journey I hope will express this Sacred TRUTH to others walking ON THE WAY. Thank you and blessings,

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    1. Thank you so much, Beverley. Yes, those moments when people we are connected to pass on to the next life are such important opportunities to reflect on what a vapor our life is and lean in for Holy Spirit’s help in living each day for eternity! I so appreciate and value your comment 🙂

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