How to Look Towards Heaven When It Seems Like Earth Is Falling Apart - iBelieve Truth - November 2, 2023
“I lift up my eyes to You, to You who sit enthroned in heaven.” Psalm 123:1
It seems more and more like the world is falling apart, in disarray, chaotic, and without hope for recovery. As women, wives, and mothers, we may feel overwhelmed and hopeless at times, hearing and seeing all that is taking place on the earth.
Although we may try to manage our lives and all things surrounding it, it’s impossible for us to do so. If we think we are in control of our surroundings, it’s mostly an illusion and we’re mistaken. So where do we turn? Who do we look to for hope?
Our Only Hope
In the film, Star Wars Episode VI: A New Hope, Princess Leia pleads, “Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.”
As Christians, the answer for us is easy. Jesus. He’s our hope. He’s our promise. He’s our future. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Timothy 1:1 confirms where our hope lies, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope.”
Look Up
God calls us to look beyond what we see on earth, to look past the chaos occurring in the world, “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing” (Isaiah 40:26).
When we feel discouraged and hopeless over what is happening around the globe, we’re to look up. “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?” (Psalm 121:1).
The World Is Passing Away
The sad truth is the world is passing away. It’s not going to get better or recover. It’s suffering sins’ effects, too, along with all of creation.
Romans 8:19-22: “The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time.”
Even though it may be sorrowful for us to consider, as Christians, we’ve read how God’s story goes and the future of the earth we live on now. We also know His good plans for us, of how we will be taken care of for eternity, in His glorious presence.
Because we do know of His perfect provisions for us, we can live fear-free now, even in a fearful world. Revelation 21:1 reveals the future to come, “Then I saw a ‘new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.”
Jesus Is Our Forever Home
Although some plan to have a “forever home” on earth, 1 John 2:17 explains, “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”
God urges us to put our confidence in Him and His future for us because “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
John 14:2-3 records Jesus’ words and promises to us, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.”
As believers in Jesus Christ, our forever home is with Him. Isaiah 51:6 instructs us to “Lift up your eyes to the heaven, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But My salvation will last forever, My righteousness will never fail.”
Let’s Pray:
Dear Father,
Instead of focusing on the chaos in the world today, help me to look up to You for my help, to see You are where my hope lies, and to look forward to Your promise of life forever with You.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Greg Rakozy
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith
Kerry Washington, Andrea Bocelli, Reba McEntire, Mark Wahlberg, Tony Dungy, and Matthew McConaughey—what do all of these people have in common? They are all people of faith who have leaned on God in both the good and challenging times—and they’ve shown up to tell their stories of faith on The Jesus Calling Podcast. The Jesus Calling Podcast provides a place for people from all walks of life to share the heartaches, joys, and divine moments that keep them going.
Inspired by Sarah Young's classic devotional book, the Jesus Calling podcast has brought encouragement and peace to millions. New episodes drop every Thursday! Listen today on LifeAudio.com or wherever you find your podcasts.
