by Pastor Douglas Brauner

More Than Taking Up Space

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

Growing up, I didn’t think anything about raising the red flag on our mailbox to let the letter carrier know that we had outgoing mail, even checks to pay bills.

That world no longer exists. Maybe I’m paranoid, but if I’m sending an important letter today, I drive to the post office.

It’s no wonder someone has painted, “Retired,” on this mailbox. It’s no longer of any use.

I laughed when I took this picture, but I’m not laughing anymore. I find this mailbox rather sad as it reflects an attitude that concerns me, one that I’m afraid of as I soon enter into that “retired” category.

All this box does is take up space. There is no mail either received or distributed from this box. It has no purpose.

We might question our purpose no matter our stage in life. It might feel some days that all we do is take up space.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
John 14:1-3 English Standard Version

This text has something to say about today, not just about our eternity with Christ. “Let not [our] hearts be troubled” because today we occupy space in the heart of God. We don’t need to wait until we join the Church Triumphant to find our place. Today we have a place in God’s heart.

Jesus wants us to be with him. Today, we are with him by faith. The day is coming when we will be with him by sight. The key is that we will always have a place in Jesus. And if we have a place with him, we also have purpose. We’re not just taking up space.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado