I showed up at the hospital on the day that Jordan’s mom and dad were bringing him home. We ate and told stories and got excited about life after birth. The doctor came in and released them to go home as a family. Nothing is more exciting and anxiety-initiating than taking your newborn home and being a family without nurses watching your every move.

Then came the big moment.

It was time to go home.

First, we had to secure sweet Jordan in his car seat.

His dad buckled him in.

His mom checked to make sure he was buckled in.

The nurse came and checked to see if he was buckled in.

I checked it.

They checked it again.

They invited all the parents in the hospital to check the seat.

Then…

They drove away from the hospital the same way that I drove after the birth of my firstborn: hands at 10 and 2, driving five miles per hour, checking for traffic ten times before you accelerate, and exercising every caution possible…

There is a beautiful reason they were so careful.

They desire a future for Jordan.

Jordan’s parents are not content with his birth – they want him to have a tomorrow and they will go to great lengths to provide that for him.

John 5 tells the story of a man who needed to be healed. He could not move and nobody seemed able to help.

Jesus walked up to him and asked him if he wished to get well. The man’s reply breaks my heart.

He said, “There is nobody…”. Nobody to take me to the well. Nobody to feed me dinner. Nobody to comfort me. Nobody to date. Nobody to play monopoly with. Whatever I am involved with, I am alone in it.

I am alone.

Have you felt that? Do you relate? Empathize?

Jesus responds. Jesus answers a prayer that the man did not even have the hope to pray. This broken man could not even ask for healing. Instead he told Jesus that he had no one to help. But Jesus wants more for the man.

The first thing that God in the flesh does is restore: “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” (Verse 8)

That is a miracle on so many different levels. Christ is saying, “You are healed. You are not alone. You are loved. You are whole… You are ALIVE!”

But Christ is not content wtih ALIVE. Jesus wants a tomorrow for the man.

Just a little later, Jesus finds the man in the temple. He engages again and tells the man, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.” (Verse 14)

“Do not sin anymore.” These are the words of a God that has plans for your tomorrow; plans to sanctify you.

Jesus desires more than today for you.

Jesus desires more than tomorrow for you.

Jesus desires sanctification for you. (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

Even when you don’t have enough hope to pray, He is not content with healing you or loving you.

Jesus goes to great lengths (even death on a cross) for your tomorrow.

God, thank You for restoring me continually. Thank You for not leaving me alone. Thank You for the tomorrow I have, even when i die, You have plans.