Are We There Yet?

“And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” – Psalm 23:6

For many persons, the final words of the celebrated twenty-third Psalm speak to the heavenly abode of an eternal resting place.  But Psalm 23 is actually written from the perspective of a sheep. While sheep may or may not have visions of a celestial home, what they do have is a sense of security and satisfaction, as they abide within the flock of a good shepherd.

When the sheep know that they are guided by a shepherd who allows them to lie down in green pastures beside still waters . . . a shepherd who protects them from the infestation of parasites by anointing their heads with oil . . .  and a shepherd who prepares a place for them to graze on mountain table lands in the presence of their predators . . .  the sheep are content to remain within the household of the good shepherd’s fold forever.

For many of us, our best lives are always located in some distant place in the future.  But what if our best life is ready to be lived by us today, in the here and now?  Many of us are always reaching past our present and searching beyond our circumstances to find satisfaction.  But what if this really is as good as it gets?

It could mean that God is present and active, not just in our planning for tomorrow, but in how we show up today.   It could mean that a change for the better is much more dependent upon our present attitudes than our future aspirations.  It could mean that the hope of what we’ve been promised is directly related to the potential of what we already have.

Prayer

Lord beyond the joy of my destiny, please grant me real satisfaction along the journey . . .  every day.  Amen.

About the Author
Kenneth L. Samuel is Pastor of Victory for the World Church, Stone Mountain, Georgia.