Heaven Can't Wait

Heaven is a place that may or may not exist. We cannot prove it is there; although several people say they went there during a near death experience, came back to life on this earth and wrote a book to tell about what they saw.

If heaven is not a real place, then our view of eternity is dim and our troubles on earth are intensified and depressing. Paul mentions that, in Christ, our trials on earth are a drop in the bucket compared to eternity (2 Corinthians 4:17); but if there is no heaven, then tribulation is hopeless.

Believing in Heaven takes faith, which is hope for unseen things (Hebrews 11:1). Yet, we have more than blind faith. Jesus lived on earth, suffered crucifixion, died, rose again, lived on earth for about 40 more days, and then was translated to heaven in His immortal body in front of eye witnesses.

When we surrender our life to God in salvation, we are joint heirs with Jesus of everything pertaining to God's Kingdom, including heaven. We are freed from the penalty as well as the penchant to sin and freely given the righteousness of Christ in exchange (Romans 3:22; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

God calls us to remove from our life the distractions on this earth, which compete with our relationship with Him. He invites us to draw nearer to Him each day as He fills us through our entire being with all of His fullness (Ephesians 3:19, Amplified Bible).

We will finally grasp the reality of heaven when we pass from this life into eternity. First, we have the privilege of abiding in the presence of God moment by moment for the rest of our life on earth. He satisfies our longing and fills our hungry soul (Psalm 107:9).

Prayer:

Father God, as we grow spiritually, our intimacy with You increases daily, and our unity with You is more focused and dominates our thoughts, words and deeds. When You are our delight, You put Your desires in our heart (Psalms 37:4), and You shower us with Your love and blessings. As we commune with You each day, Your Spirit fills us with the divine nature and character of Christ who dwells within us (Galatians 2:20; 2 Peter 1:4). We decrease and He increases as we surrender our life, goals, plans and desires to You (John 3:30).

You help us to reject a life imprisoned in the here and now on this earth. We no longer concentrate on the temporal, but keep the eternal in constant focus; give us a consuming love for eternal rewards; fill us with Your Spirit and Your presence and walk in us through every trial we face in this life. Help us to draw nearer to You, and to live in eternity now (John 17:8).

Thought for the Day:

Eternal life is knowing God and Jesus whom He sent, which begins with the moment of salvation and continues in everlasting life in God's presence. - John 17:3

More Than We Can Bear

 


Jesus brings us into right relationship with God, by bearing the ransom for our sins and giving us new life in Him both now and for all eternity (Romans 4:25; 1 Timothy 2:6; 1 Peter 2:24). We have more than blind faith that His love is ours.

Although God will not give us more temptation than we can resist, because He always gives us a way to repel it (1 Corinthians 10:13), there is no verse in the Bible, which guarantees that God will not give us more tribulation than we can bear.

In fact, God actually does give us more tribulation than we can bear. That may sound pessimistic and you may not believe me, but just look up the verse and see that it refers to temptation, not trials (1 Corinthians 10:13).

The good news is that God never gives us more negative circumstances than HE can bear, and He lives within us (Colossians 1:17; Galatians 2:20). He has compassion on us and is only a prayer away (Psalms 103:13).

We also have one another when we experience tribulation. God’s Holy Spirit orchestrates all of our lives as His Body. When we work together, each one doing his/her part (Ephesians 4:16), then we all flourish.

When one member of His Body suffers tribulation, we all suffer; and when one is honored, we all rejoice (1 Corinthians 12:26). There is no jealousy in the body of Christ. We strengthen one another and bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).

Prayer:

Father God, You are the one constant in our life. You never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). We can count on Your presence in our life to comfort, direct, encourage and abide within us. We love knowing You in a personal, intimate relationship. We hunger and thirst after a holier life and a deeper connection with You (Matthew 5:6; Psalm 107:9). Thank You for giving us a taste of eternity right here on this earth (John 17:3).

Thought for the Day:

We live in continual communication with the One in whom we place our hope; and He gives us strength to victoriously overcome the trials we face.