The Longing to Return to Normal
John Osborne
So, who hasn’t longed for “life to return to normal?” Remember the days when the schools were open and there were sporting events that you could attend in person both at the local level and beyond? Remember the days when you could walk into a restaurant or coffee shop and every table was available for use? Remember when one could look forward to a vacation and the term “staycations” did not even exist? Oh, for the days! Who hasn’t longed for them?
Yet, there is a problem with longing for the “good old days.” As Christians in the western world we can easily long for a subpar normal, because we have enjoyed such an extended time of prosperity and freedom. If we ever return to what has been referred to as normal, we will still be a far cry from what God originally designed as normal in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. God desires for us is to be in perfect harmony and fellowship with Him apart from sin and the effects of sin. That reality is unattainable here on earth. That “normal” is only available in Heaven.
Life will never be as God originally designed it until we are reunited with Christ in Heaven. Though it is ok for all of us to desire the normal that we once enjoyed, we should have a greater longing for the intimacy that God designed all of us to enjoy from the beginning of time. The Bible says heaven is a very real place where there will be no pain or tears. We also won’t have to worry about viruses, sicknesses or diseases. Jesus said He has gone away to prepare this place for us. That’s a far better normal than anything here on this earth.
In the meantime, however we need to look to impact our Oikos, those 8 to 15 that have been strategically placed in our lives with the love of Jesus so that they too can long and be prepared to enter God’s prepared place. So how can we do this? It’s as simple as B.L.E.S.S.ing our Oikos.
Believe in prayer for them
Listen to them
Eat together with them
Serve them
Share our story with them
May each person in our Oikos experience that intimate relationship with the God of the universe, and long for the “normal” God created.