"Love Lift Us Up Where We Belong." Because we have been redeemed, we are in fact lifted up to the Heavenlies where we belong—through no merit of our own. This song states that we do not know what "tomorrow may bring in a world few hearts survive." The human heart habitually condemns us. We are, in fact, condemned sinners worthy only of destruction but for the shed blood of Christ. So we are not surprised at this feeling of condemnation. Our hearts cannot survive the work of our heart.

Some may "survive" by focusing on the successes of yesterday, always being lifted up in their own cause and greatness. Some survive by focusing on their failures, creating a mood of doom and gloom, which they somehow manage to conquer. Their "conquest" is proven by the fact that they have not allowed the gloom to destroy them.

But if we want to attend to where the "eagles fly on a mountain high, far from the world we know and the clear winds blow," there is only one way. That way is the way of the cross. The cross of Christ is the burden of Christ, and we know that He said his burden is light. Why then do we make it heavy?

You see, any real success we enjoy is truly the Work of Him working within us. As soon as we take nourishment in "our" success, we deny and misappropriate His Work. This tendency to seek nourishment in the finished works of yesterday may have been why Paul forgot whatever was behind. He pressed onward. "How will Christ carry His burden in my being right now and right now and right now, and a thousand right nows which compromise a thousand futures," must have been his way of pursuing the Lord's mark for him.

"Time certainly goes by," leaving no "time to cry." We all have much for which we are regretful. Spending too much time fixated on our failures only serves to rob us of a pleasant, "easy," future. Christ never wanted us to focus either on our successes or failures, but on his activity and overriding strength and glory. We know He wants us to be successful. We know we make mistakes, we sin. By faith, may we acknowledge our sin, let it drown in the blood of the cross, and sit at his banqueting table of grace!