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Our Greatest Longing and "Goal"

Posted on July 3rd, 2013

Most Christians are more focused on the here-and-now than on the then-and there, i.e., our future life that is anchored in heaven (Heb.6:19). Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini (1647-1652) and his sculpture of Teresa of Avila. and the angel with the spear, portrays the following episode from her autobiography where she describes her encounter with God. We see in her a picture of our greatest longing: I saw in his hand a long spear of gold, and at the iron’s point there seemed to be a little fire. He appeared to me to be thrusting it at times into my heart, and to pierce my very entrails; when he drew it out, he seemed to draw them out also, and to leave me all on fire with a great love of God. The pain was so great, that it made me moan; and yet so surpassing was the sweetness of this excessive pain, that I could not wish to be rid of it. The soul is satisfied now with nothing less than God. When we taste God, there is nothing else to wish for. Our human souls were built for a joy the world can’t offer. We were made for a feast that will last forever. As Thomas Aquinas wrote: “You cannot not want His massive love and joy.” This craving is so boundless that it is almost terrifying. If the whole world were given to us, we would say, “It is too little.” This puts our leadership, our earthly troubles, and all our goals in proper perspective. Heaven is our home and our citizenship papers carry the stamp of heaven (Phil. 3:20). How might a greater awareness of our greatest longing for Jesus and heaven change your life on earth today?

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