No Other Place I'd Rather Be

I've come to the realization that while I have lived a good and blessed life up to this point (God's hand has really been on me and has guided me through), I have spent more time in this life away from God than with Him. He has really awakened me and showed me through His Spirit that there is no place to be other than in His presence. God is so great that he wants us to constantly be with Him, around Him, he cries out for us to be next to Him. It's so great to know that we serve a God who is attentive to our every thought an cares for us so much that no matter who we are, he wants us to be around him despite our shortcomings!

God is so good and his mercy endures forever. It has become clear to me in the recent weeks that God really does desire us to be close to Him. I was reading Revelations 2:12-17 last week and God revealed to me in his letter to the compromising church of Pergamum that he desires us to be with Him. He warns us to be careful and to hold on to our faith and overcome the temptation to compromise. This passage spoke volumes to me because life works so much better when we hold on to our faith and our relationship with Christ.

Also, in this word, Jesus speaks of giving a white stone with a new name written on it. That new name belongs to the one who overcomes, who remains strong, it speaks to me like a second salvation, he continuously wipes the slate clean for us and rewards us when we choose Him. That's wonderful. Praise God! All of these things assure me that there is no other place that I'd rather be, thank you God for saving me.

Revelations 2:12-17 (NIV) (courtesy of biblegateway.com)

To the Church in Pergamum

¹²"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. ¹³I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. ¹⁴Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. ¹⁵Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. ¹⁶Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. ¹⁷He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.