Max Lucado describes 4 characteristics of our journey through life toward our ultimate heavenly destination by drawing parallels with his traditional 6-hour drive to his parents for Thanksgiving, accompanied by 3 children under the age of 7:
1. In order to successfully reach our destination, God has to say no to some of our requests. Things would be quite chaotic if God indulged all our desires. Max asks, “If God must choose between your earthly satisfaction and your heavenly salvation, which do you hope He chooses?”
2. We have no concept of God’s time frame. In the midst of adversity, we’re prone to ask “How long . . .?” Since God is omniscient, He could give us a time-specific answer. But then we would never learn to trust.
3. It’s hard for us to envision the reward. God will guide us through the darkness of our adversity so that we get a clear vision of our reward. Paul encourages us in 2 Corinthians 4: 16-17: “Therefore we do not lose heart . . . . For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
4. The journey is worth it, even if it isn’t easy. While God may not do what we want, He’ll do what’s right and best for us, and get us to our heavenly home.
