I enjoy heights. Even though I’m no hardcore hiker, I love a good vantage point. I first learned this when I helped my dad tear off old shingles on our three-story house.

There is something indescribable about an elevated view which lets you collect a tiny swath of a larger perspective.

These are some of my souvenir snapshots, captioned with what they’ve taught me about life below the Heavens.

Lately I haven’t flown over any oceans, or attended any conferences in Phoenix, or explored other cultures with all five senses. As thankful as I am for the above picturesque moments, they are all at least a year old. We have no itineraries to visit the Eiffel tower and no plans to gain lighthouse views or new passport stamps.

For multiple reasons, it’s a season of staying put, and I’ve been asking God to shape my view from down here. He’s been using my time in 2 Corinthians 5 to answer this prayer.

According to this chapter, we’re clothed with our earthly dwelling and groaning until “what is mortal will be swallowed up by life” (vs. 4).

So far we only have a dim mirror to see the specific splendors which await us above, but we can say with confidence along with Paul, “We are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord” (vs. 8).

We prefer to be in a home where we’ve never been. A place much higher than our loftiest thoughts.

Now we walk by faith, not by sight.

Since we have this clear preference, “Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him” (vs. 9).

We’re absent from home, but our vantage point shows us the reason why we’re not wearing our Heavenly dwelling yet:

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (vv. 20-21).

This is why we’re below, to be ambassadors for Christ and to please Him.

While Jesus is representing me in heaven,

may I reflect him on earth,

While he pleads my cause,

may I show forth his praise.

Valley of Vision

You are placed on your speck of the map (however lowly it may be) for a purpose. Lord, let us beg the people around us to be reconciled to You, so that they too may have eternal life and good courage amidst our view from down here.

Header PC: Adeline P.