Toddlers are small enough to fit comfortably in the lap of a grandparent to read a book, watch a movie, or just snuggle. In other words, it’s not the activity or the environment that is important to the child; it is the presence of a beloved person.

The same could be said for the Christian’s anticipation of eternal life. While Revelation 21 presents a gorgeous preview of heaven, there is something more important to consider: the presence of the person of Jesus Christ. In a moment of introspection, the apostle Paul wrestled with something most Christians have thought about: Would we rather remain here or be in heaven? While he recognized his obligation to be present in service to the Church, he also had a great desire to “depart and be with Christ, which is far better” (Philippians 1:21-26). He knew that “to be absent from the body [was] to be present with the Lord”—which was his ultimate desire.

Is your ultimate desire to be in the presence of Jesus? The better you know Him now, the stronger that desire will grow.

May God grant us a desire for God that supersedes all other desires.
A. W. Tozer