“A person will always reap what they sow” (Galatians 6:7).
The attitudes, desires, and inclinations of our soul that will one day be perfected in heaven will not suddenly appear as something new and unfamiliar. They must be developed, nurtured, and practiced throughout our entire life here on Earth. It is essential that we understand this truth: the perfection of the saints in eternity does not mean a magical transformation into another being, but rather the completion of a process that began here, when the soul chose to surrender to God and obey His holy and wonderful Law.
The starting point of this transformation is obedience. When a soul that was once disobedient humbles itself before the Creator and decides to live according to His commandments, God begins to work in a deep and continual way. He draws near, teaches, strengthens, and leads that soul along a path of communion and growing holiness. Obedience becomes the fertile soil where the Spirit of God works freely, shaping the character and refining the affections according to His will.
Thus, when we finally arrive in heaven, we will not be beginning something new, but simply continuing a path that was begun here—a path that started the moment we decided to obey the powerful, tender, and eternal Law of God. The perfect holiness of heaven will then be the glorious unfolding of the faithfulness lived out on Earth. Therefore, there is no time to lose: every step of obedience today is one step closer to eternal glory tomorrow. —Adapted from Henry Edward Manning. Until tomorrow, if the Lord permits.
Pray with me: Dear God, I thank You because You reveal to me that the perfection awaiting me in heaven will not be something strange or distant, but the continuation of a life of surrender that begins now, at this very moment. You do not expect me to become another being at the end of the journey, but to allow Your Spirit to transform me, step by step, as I choose to obey Your holy and wonderful Law. Thank You because every faithful act here on Earth is part of the process that prepares my soul for eternal glory.
My Father, today I ask You to plant within me a constant desire to obey You. May I neither postpone this choice nor disregard the value of small acts of faithfulness. Help me understand that it is through obedience that Your Spirit works freely, shaping my character and refining my affections according to Your will. Strengthen me so that, even amid struggles, I may remain firm on the path of Your Law, for I know that it is in this soil that true transformation takes place.
O Most Holy God, I adore and praise You because You are preparing me from this moment for that which is eternal. Your beloved Son is my eternal Prince and Savior. Your powerful Law is like a road of light that guides me with tenderness and firmness toward perfect holiness. Your commandments are like divine seeds planted in the heart, which blossom here and reach completion in eternity. I pray in the precious name of Jesus, amen.
