“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
Do you remember being in the kitchen when your mother baked a cake? You watched as she carefully added the ingredients into a bowl and then stirred them with a whisk, or electric mixer, or depending on your age, a wooden spoon. She may let you grease the pan or ensure the oven was on, and you were eager to do so because you wanted to help get that cake in the oven as soon as possible. When the cake was baking the smell would waft throughout the house playing with your senses teasing and creating anticipation of what is to come.
God offers something wonderful for those who choose to be true disciples of Christ. A true disciple is one who believes in Jesus teachings and seeks to learn more about them and apply them to their life. They want to know Jesus through a relationship with Him and they desire to tell others about Him. The reward for those true disciples is adoption into God’s family and eternity with Him. There will be a time when God will bring about the new heaven and new earth. Until then, His children eagerly anticipate the return of Jesus but not without tasting and experiencing some of the good He has to offer. Jesus spoke of a time to come when all of creation would be reconciled to God and brought back to the state God intended. However, He also said we can experience a taste of the Kingdom to come now. We are offered the joys of a relationship with Jesus and the power and wisdom to live out every day with hope on this sometimes, troublesome planet. He says we can be changed and experience fruit from our relationship which comes in the form of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
While the cake was baking you were often given the chance to taste something good while waiting for something even better. There were the spoons or beaters to lick for those who choose to stay beside their mother, listen and learn from her instruction and help prepare the cake. God offers something now while we await eternity and He wants you to have and recognize His grace and blessings daily while you wait for eternity’s call.