Friday, July 18, 2008

A Little Bit of Heaven

A little bit of heaven

After 3 grueling days of hell, thinking about and meditating on the reality of hell, I thought it would be appropriate to close out the week with some thoughts about heaven.

There are times in counseling when a person gets so weighed down by their suffering that they lose sight of their destination, heaven. I make the simple statement, "Someday Heaven." If we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, then we are destined for Heaven!Someday Heaven: "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.1

Someday heaven: "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."2

Someday Heaven: "...a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne...Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal...

Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."3

Someday Heaven: "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."4"

Quicken my hunger and thirst after the realm above. Here I can have the world, there I shall have thee in Christ; Here is a life of longing and prayer, there is assurance without suspicion, asking without refusal; Here are gross comforts, more burden than benefit, there is joy without sorrow, comfort without suffering, love without inconstancy, rest without weariness..."5

The bottom line is that Heaven will be wonderful because Jesus will be there!!! And we will reside in His presence forever.

Diane Hunt is Director of Addiction Recovery Ministries of America's KESWICK

1 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV2 John 14:23 Excerpts from Revelation 44 Revelation 21:45 Bennett, Arthur, "The Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions"

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