Richly blessed.

We had not long arrived at the Municipal Camping Site in Broucefranc-le-Chapas, in the Départmente of Charente-Maritim, on the west coast of France.  We had sited the 'van; connected the electricity; filled the water barrel and connected the pump; set up the awning; and were now sitting on comfortable lounger-chairs.  I looked around.  The sun was shining; there was a cool breeze blowing; we had a veritable mansion on wheels. 

Some words of David, the Psalmist-king of Israel, came to mind.  In Ps.16:6, he writes: "The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage." (RSV).  The 'lines' to which David refers were the measuring lines that were used to measure out one's inheritance; so he is basically saying that what he has received from the Lord is good and pleasant.

I consider myself to be richly blessed.  When I think of the privations of my brothers and sisters in Christ, whose earthly inheritance is nowhere near as pleasant as mine; when I think of those in the so-called 'developing world' (developing into what, one might well ask, as one looks at the state of the 'developed' world!) who have so little in material possessions; when I consider the way in which so many disciples of Jesus witness so clearly, positively, and willingly - even 'though they know that by doing so they may be signing their own death warrants - I am humbled, and ashamed at the paucity of my own faith.

Why should I have so very much, when those who are so much more faithful to Jesus have so very little?  That is entirely the grace of God.  Does that mean that I am more worthy of that grace than they are?  Most definitely not!  Does it mean that, ultimately, they have lost out?  No!  I believe firmly that there are 'levels' in that dimension that we usually refer to as 'heaven'.  And just as those who purchase tickets for the best box to see a theatre production, have a much better view than those who purchase the cheapest seats in the top balcony (the 'gods'!); so those who suffer for Jesus in this life - those who bear in their bodies the marks of Jesus (see Gal.6:17) - will be closer to the Lamb in that amazing place, than those of us who enjoy such relative ease and luxury here and now. 

Like those in the theatre box seats, they will have "paid the price".