Ballad of Bathtub Lessons

“Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73

I read this yesterday during my quiet time (at a lovely little coffee shop) and then meditated on it some more while I shaved my legs in the bathtub (I know right? The Lord loves to teach me lessons in silly places. Why learn something at the coffee shop when I can learn it in the tub? :)

When repeating this verse to myself, I found that I would say “What have I on earth”  instead of “in heaven”.  It seemed to make more sense in my mortal head. I don’t know what’s in heaven—wouldn’t it be better for me to hear that the Lord is the only thing I have in this world? This is where the temptations are, this is where my idols are harvested. My sin will be no more once I walk into heaven and I need help now remembering the Lord is all I need.

But if you read the rest of the psalm, you’ll see the author is in great turmoil. He is burdened by watching the sins of people around him bring prosperity and success, while his own attempts at holiness seem worthless and futile. And yet, piously, he continues to strive. He already knows there is nothing on earth he can truly possess besides the Lord. This isn’t news to him; it’s deep rooted knowledge. He understands any wealth gained, power acquired, or health maintained is still under God’s good sovereignty and could be taken away at any moment. He is not in control of the world—God is.

Instead, the psalmist reflects on his eternal home and recognizes that even there, nothing is worth value besides the Lord. I believe heaven will have beautiful music, exuberant dancing, freaking amazing food, and any other pleasures our human imaginations can craft, but we will experience everything to God’s glory. If there was nothing in heaven but a bunch of fold-up chairs, God, and His Church—it would still be perfect. And we would still be entirely satisfied. Because that is the beauty of our good and perfect Father. Intimacy with Him is perfection. Being with Him is completion.

Of course there’s nothing on earth we have but Him! And the same is true for heaven. He created all things and it would be impossible for Him to create something greater than Himself. The reason God is worthy of worship is because there is nothing more righteous, nothing more loving, nothing more capable of bringing us joy than His goodness and care.

Anticipate with me the day when He will be our everything. ♥

... I should take baths more often :)

Agape,

CC

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