Desiderio Domini – I Dearly Long for My Lord

After the ascension of Christ, it was often noted by the saints that the Apostle Peter would cry. When a cock would crow, it would often move the apostle to tears. But, there were other times, too, when, for no apparent reason, the big framed fisherman would sob. One day, a young believer dared to approach the mighty man of God and ask the question that was on everyone’s heart. Peter, why do you cry? The Apostle looked at the young man and said, “Desiderio Domini.” Peter’s actual words were not latin, but this is how history has preserved his famed utterance – this is the grief-strained words that have passed down through Christian history and have moved so many that have read them. For, in English, the phrase Desiderio Domini means, “because, I dearly long for my Lord.” ~ Eric Ludy’s paraphrase of a footnote in Martyr’s Mirror

Recently I’ve been going through the New Testament during my morning devotions and  have noticed how often the New Testament writers urge the churches to look forward to the return of Christ with eager expectation. Reading this challenge repeatedly has caused me to ask myself  “do I long for Christ? Do I eagerly look forward to eternity with Him?” If I’m honest, most of the time I don’t.

I’m not alone in this absence of longing for my Lord. I don’t know many Christians who are exuberant about the return of Christ. Why don’t we long for Jesus Christ?

After praying about this question I’ve uncovered 3 big obstacles that keep us from longing for Christ and His return – unbelief, earthly attachments, and sin.

Unbelief

Let’s start with unbelief; the opposite of faith in the word of God. Most christians don’t believe what the Bible tells us about heaven and eternity. If we did we would sympathize with Paul having “a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better [than remaining on earth].” Instead we try to preserve our lives here on earth for as long as possible.

Movies, kids books and pop culture have shaped our thinking about this topic and as a result we no longer believe scripture about heaven, God and eternity. For most Christians Heaven is more of a mythical golden city in the clouds than a very present reality.

If you’re anything like me you love fun, deep relationships, beautiful colours, and new music. Heaven, Jesus and eternity don’t seem to fall into those categories.

Well get ready to take a sledge hammer to your mental image of eternity. Because the Bible describes heaven and our future with Christ as mind-blowing incredible!

For starters, we’ll get new bodies just like Jesus did when He rose from the dead. (1 Cor 15:49) Like Christ’s, these bodies will presumably be able to “teleport” from one location to another and walk through walls.

Additionally, our relationship with Christ will be intimate, not simply a student teacher or servant master relationship. Scripture describes it as a husband wife relationship. The deepest possible intimacy, friendship, love and affection in existence will be experienced by the church with Jesus Christ in eternity forever.

Heaven will also be amazing. It’s a real place with real sights and sounds. A pure river of water, clear as crystal, flows through it. The streets are lined with fruit trees whose leaves bring healing and life to everyone. (Rev 22:1-2) The colours are so vibrant and exotic that John, after seeing a vision of Heaven had a hard time describing them. All kinds of animals live there; normal ones like lions, sheep and horses as well as heavenly animals that can’t be described with earthly words. Some of them are full of eyes and have four different faces. Others have wings.

And as a side note for those of you who are worried about the music, listen to this:

“They sang a new song … and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands … and every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea and all that are in them, I heard.” Revelation 5:9, 11, 13

There’s going to be new music in heaven. And the choir sounds epic!

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

~ 1 Cor 2:9

As I’ve wrestled to gain a longing for Jesus I’ve had to determine that what awaits me is absolutely better than what I’m hoping for on earth. I’ve had to reckon God’s word as fact and tell myself to believe it, even when that seems impossible. If you begin believing the truth about heaven and eternity, the desire and longing for Jesus’s return will naturally be birthed.

Earthly Attachments

After looking at eternity I find it incredible how easily we lose perspective. Even though we know one day we’ll die, we live like we’re going to exist forever on this earth.

You will live forever, but not here on planet earth. And eternity is not just hundreds of years, thousands of years, or even billions of years. It’s forever. Never-ending. It hurts my head to think about!

In light of eternity, how long is the average 80ish years most people spend on this planet? In September I spent a weekend at camp with my church. In preparation for this one weekend I spent hours choosing music and practicing with the band for worship services, preparing a devotional, packing. Even before preparing I had been excited about it for months. My church basically looks forward to this weekend all year long. While there, the days were full and long – waking up at 6:30 for devos and morning prayer and then staying up until midnight around the campfire or playing games. But looking back on that weekend, it seems like it flew by! In light of my whole 20 years of life that one weekend feels like it only lasted seconds. The dilemma of wether or not to go back for another plateful of roast beef and potatoes feels utterly insignificant.

That’s how your whole life on earth is going to feel when you get to eternity.

Earthly attachments are huge barriers to desire for Jesus Christ and His return. If you’ve invested your whole life into this world you’re going to find it hard to get excited about eternity because your heart and mind is here. The Bible tells us that where your treasure is there your heart will be also.

This is why belief is so important. If you truly believe that everything in eternity is better than earth, you will find freedom to forget about earthly pleasures. Paul counted all things rubbish, utter garbage, in comparison to Christ. They’re not just lesser joys, but actually can’t even be compared to the joys of heaven.

Get rid of your earthly attachments, what awaits you in heaven is better!

Sins

The writer of Hebrews exhorts us to “lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Heb 12:1) Weights are the things of this world that steal our focus and tie us down. But something else that keeps us from running earnestly toward eternity is sin.

“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment.” (Heb 10:26)

We all want to hear God say “well done good and faithful servant” when we enter into heaven. But we have an instinctive understanding that unrepented sin might cost us that longed for affirmation.

Sin separates us from God. And unrepented sin hinders our fellowship with Christ. Rather than ignoring the reality of eternity, deal with your sin. Repent and turn from it. God is faithful to forgive and cleanse you from all unrighteousness if you ask Him.

Are you beginning to believe what God’s word says about eternity, and understand that the things of this world are temporary and will one day be destroyed? If so, “what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.” (2 Peter 3:11-14)

If  you want to be able to say with Peter, “desiderio domini, I dearly long for my Lord” then search the scriptures to find out what they say about heaven and eternity with Christ. Believe that it is better than earth, fix your eyes upon this truth, and repent of sin. As you do may God give you faith in what is real, hope in what is to come, grace for holiness now and longing for your Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Let’s Talk

• What usually comes to mind when you think about heaven?
• Are there things in this world that keep you from longing for Jesus return? (being able to drive, getting married, finishing school etc.)