The True Reality

Shadowfeet by Brooke Fraser

Walking, stumbling on these shadowfeet
Toward home, a land that I've never seen
I am changing, less and less asleep
Made of different stuff than when I began
and I have sensed it all along
Fast approaching is the day

[CHORUS]
When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
When the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you

Theres distraction buzzing in my head
Saying in the shadows it's easier to stay
but I've heard rumours of true reality
Whispers of a well-lit way

[CHORUS]

You make all things new
You make all things new
You make all things new
You make all things
You make all things

[CHORUS 2]
When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
Every fear and accusation under my feet
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you

(You can listen to this song below on my playlist if you haven't heard it.)

Wow, does this song say exactly what I'm feeling. I feel as though my faith has grown exponentially over the last couple of years and particularly now. One of the things I have been learning is that the spiritual is the reality (the true reality) and the physical on this earth is just a type and picture or a shadow of that reality. As I begin to grasp this more and more, and believe me I have a long way to go, I feel more and more an alien in this place. Both Hebrews 11:13 and 1 Peter 2:11 refer to believers as aliens and strangers in the world.

Looking at the larger physical world around me I feel two things. The first is a deep sadness for all the ways that this man/I blow it. We are often so far from God's ways. In fact too many times we create a god of our own making and fancy rather than serving the God that is God. The God of the Bible, both Old and New Testament. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He doesn't change with the times, with the latest style, cultural norm or even the polls. He will not be conformed to my image of Him, but as His child, He WILL conform me to His image.

The second thing I feel as I look at the world around me is that I don't belong here. I love my family and my life, but at times living in this fallen world knowing (as much as humanly possible) what awaits me in eternity is almost too much. How I long for Jesus to return and take His children up with Him in the clouds(1 Thessalonians 4:16 - 17). Recently, we have been listening to Focus on the Families Radio Theater series on the Chronicles of Narnia. We have the entire CD set. I have read all the books, but there's also something about listening to them come alive. The Last Battle, the seventh and final book in the series, is becoming one of my favorite. I so identify with the characters at the end when they discover the "true Narnia" or the true reality as the song puts it. The absolute bursting joy the characters express is exactly what I imagine experiencing heaven to be like. I can't wait.

You may think after reading all this that I am just eagerly waiting to die. Not exactly. While I believe I can say that I don't fear death, I'm not ready just yet. I still have children to raise, teach and love. I still have a husband to love and, I hope, spend much more time with. I still have family and friends that are dear to me. Yes, this is the paradox. I can't wait to go, but I want so much to stay. And so my prayer will be to recognize and experience the kingdom of heaven on earth while I wait upon the true reality.

I have had people say to me over the course of the last month or so, "You are so strong." or "You are handling this so well." If I appear to be strong it is only Christ in me that makes it so. If I appear to be handling things well, you have probably seen me on those days that I have clung again to the hope that is my Lord and Savior and not on the days that I have tried to keep things under control on my own and failed. As this journey has begun, and not by my choosing I will add, I have stood at a crossroads. One path led to self pity, fear, anguish and despair. Another led to trust, faith, peace and hope. As I see it, there is only one path and by His grace I am on it. He does make all things new.