Becky Brown

‘Are we there yet?’ asked my five year old daughter on another trip to grandmas for the weekend. We had just fastened our seat belts and pulled out of the driveway when she popped the question. She is now 19 and is away at college and there are days when she asks, ‘When will I get there?’–there, being adulthood, maturity, the whole grown up experience. Funny thing is many of us two and three times her age are asking that same question! We long for a sense of accomplishment or a place where we have finally arrived. In our work, home, relationships, weight and hairstyle! All of these areas and more we are looking for our destination to come into view.

Mark McMinn, a theology teacher at Wheaton explains, ‘we were created for Eden and we live east of Eden.’ This leaves us constantly searching for the perfect garden God created us for. Funny thing, I live in a subdivision called ‘Eden Meadows’ and the subdivision next to ours is called ‘East of Eden!’ I don’t think we realize how the fall of man affects our every day life. We also have to add to the mix the fact that from every angle we are being told what we are supposed to look like, feel like, achieve, and any number of things that really in the great scheme of things, don’t amount to much. Yet we struggle daily with that longing of being in the garden and having our relationship with our Creator.

If you are living in a state of wondering if you are there yet, let me put your mind at ease, no, you are not there yet. I am not referring to the state of utopia we all try to create on this earth, but our heavenly home. Until we reach the gates of heaven there are places to go, people to see, and things to do here and now. The confusion sets in when we allow the world to set our course and we begin to follow the rules of what the world tells us we need. A friend said the other day, ‘I wish God had a guidebook for my life, it would be so much easier.’ The truth is he has provided his Word and that IS the guidebook for our lives. As we get to know God through His Word, we begin to see how He guides us through every decision we are faced with. Sure it doesn’t have your name, situation, and multiple choices, but it does provide the truth, and Jesus said, ‘the truth will set you free.’

The freedom of the Christian life is available to all. The challenge we have is to LIVE it! Our destination is one where God wants us to enjoy the view and the ride, not struggle with when we haven’t achieved or received. Begin today by reading the Guidebook to your journey. Discover the love that the Father has for you! Experience His grace and mercy! You will experience the ride of your life and when its over you will say, ‘It was worth the trip!’

Need further direction or encouragement? Join us at our next New Life Weekend!