Preparing Our Hearts for ChristmasVoorbeeld

A Special Surprise Watching children open presents has the capacity to make even the surliest individual smile. I recently saw a touching video of a boy opening his birthday present from his soldier dad, who was stationed overseas. He opened a huge, wrapped box, only to reveal a smaller box, then another smaller box. This happened a handful of times, until he finally found a small handwritten letter with one word on it—surprise. As you can likely imagine, his father had gotten leave and surprised his son by stepping out from behind the doorframe. The child bolted for his dad, crying and telling him he loved him over and over. Then, the boy recovered enough to ask, “Why all the boxes?” The dad simply replied something along the lines of, “I wanted it to be an extra-special surprise.” I believe God thinks of His plans for us this way, as a particularly extraordinary surprise. In today’s verse, Paul, the author, was referencing Isaiah 64:4. He spoke of the revelation that Christ-followers have a future home in heaven, an unimaginable and glorious place. Those who’ve accepted God’s free gift of salvation through Christ Jesus have incredible things ahead. More than they can imagine. The surety of heaven as our final destination, a place we haven’t seen with our eyes or heard with our ears, is unfathomable, yet somehow real and true. A special surprise waiting for us from our Daddy in heaven. When you love God, you can rest assured knowing He has your future planned out perfectly in His divine way. When hard times come, cling to the promise from God of your future destination. Remember the special surprise He has prepared, and rest in its truth. ~Kristen Terrette