Heaven. Just saying the word conjures up so many different images and thoughts for each one of us. It is difficult for us to grasp what heaven will be like. I wonder if we talk about it enough. Too often I am afraid that the main time it is discussed is at a funeral or in sharing the salvation plan. Maybe in so doing we have diminished heaven’s glory on this earth. Heaven is more than a place to meet loved ones who have died. It is the presence of God, always and all the time. It is beauty unimaginable. Heaven is the sweetness of
righteousness and truth. It is the joy of loving and being loved and it is so much more. The longing we have for heaven should be real. The bible talks of heaven as a real place, a place of perfect unity with God, no tears, and no wars. A place where the Risen Lamb with His Father reign forever! This is a place that we should talk about with our family and not just at funerals. It should be on our minds as we live for Christ.
It seems mankind has tried to make the pleasures of this world alluring to us and seemingly to be just as
good of a place as heaven. Living in the present, bombarded with this pleasure lies makes it difficult even for Christians to keep focused on heaven. Since it seems so far off maybe that’s why we do not talk about it. Over and over the scripture warns us of thinking and acting in such a manner. Thus we are exhorted to put off the pleasures of this world and to live with heaven in mind. So think about it, if the pleasures of this world tempt us because they are fun, enjoyable, exciting, etc. and God told us to put off doing them, then doesn’t it stand to reason that a loving, caring God would have a place for us better than what we have here? Of course
He does. We have beauty all around us here on earth. Believers have Christ indwelling here on earth. There is much to love here on earth, but heaven will be so much more of that which is good and no matter how long it is worth the wait.
Singing His Praises!
Mark