Heaven
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At times when I am out in nature, seeing all of God’s wonderful creation, I praise Him because I enjoy what he has made so much. The wonder of a beautiful sunset. A walk in a forest with so many trees and flowers. The wild animals and birds, each with their own uniqueness. Nature adds so much to this beautiful world God has made.
But I wonder, If I find this so wonderful, then what will heaven be like? My imagination can't begin to envision it. The Bible tells of beauty that I find hard to comprehend. To know that is what awaits me is so awesome.
There is much that the Bible says about heaven but I want to mention two verses.
‘Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people,’ we are told in John 14:1-2. I once was told by a pastor that Jesus has been gone for two thousand years, so imagine what heaven must be like if he has been preparing a place there for us all this time. It must be something beyond beautiful, indeed. But, we must not forget that this end is for a prepared people – those who have had their sins forgiven and are cleansed from all evil by accepting that Christ is the Son of God who died for us and will forgive our sins if only we ask.
Next is Revelations 21:27 where we are told nothing unclean will enter Heaven, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false. Only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (an honour afforded to all if only we believe in Christ and follow as he leads), will find a place for themselves in paradise. There will be no sin or evil there. What a blessing to be where there is no evil to plague but instead only joy!
These two passages and many others paint a joyous picture of what will be but also they tell us that we must be prepared to go there. Only those who are ready will go to Heaven. Only those who are prepared, who believe Christ, can be assured that this is their destination.
If this is all true, I want all my loved ones to be in this place. As such, here and now I ask myself if Christ preparing a home for me in heaven is really what is important to me. If it is, I should be praying and putting the assignment Jesus left us into practice. Do I realize the seriousness of this task? For those who do not turn to Christ, Heaven will not be their end. Death will still hold its sting. As such, I ask myself, “How many rooms will be prepared because I followed as Christ led me?”
It’s so easy to get caught up in the things of this world, forgetting about what will come after. So I pray the Lord always reminds me and shows me where I can help others along.
Pray with me:
“O that you would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory.” (Am I ready to share my faith when the Lord brings someone to us.)
“May your hand be on me.” (May your anointing be on my life.)
“Keep me from evil that I cause no pain” (Keep me from saying the wrong thing. Guide my every word.)
