Heaven – Your best is yet to come!

Sometimes we get so caught up in our earthly lives that we forget about what our eternity holds. The truth is, God made you to live forever. You will either spend your forever with God or you will be separated from God, and the decisions you make regarding the way you live your life, and what you do with Jesus will determine your eternal destiny.

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DO YOU REALIZE WHAT JESUS DID FOR YOU?

Jesus is real. He is alive. He is the son of the living God. 2000 years ago, Jesus walked the earth. He cared for people. Wherever he went he brought breakthrough. He delivered the oppressed and healed the sick. He even raised the dead. He offered life-giving wisdom, he set captives free and helped people whose lives were in a mess. And according to Hebrews 13:8, Jesus is “the same yesterday, today and forever.”

Although Jesus did so much good, he came for one purpose and that was to die on the cross, so that he could pay for the price of sin, the very sin that cuts you and I off from a holy God.

Jesus had done no wrong, but he was falsely accused and sentenced to death on the cross. He was beaten, whipped, stripped naked, spat on, and had a crown of thorns hammered into his head. Thick nails were driven into his hands and feet and he was left to die. Jesus shed his blood for you and me and paid the full price so that we could find eternal life.

We all fall short of Gods standard. God sent Jesus to die in our place. Do you realize what Jesus did for you? Do you realize how much he loves you?

Jesus died on the cross for you and me. He was buried in the tomb, but three days later he rose from the grave, conquering death, paying the full price for sin and every vile curse of hell, so that we could be forgiven and have everlasting life.  

All you need to do to receive this marvelous gift of everlasting life is to turn from your old way of living, turn to Jesus, and by faith accept him as your Lord and Savior. 

Today, Jesus is not hanging on the cross. The cross is empty. Jesus is not buried in a tomb. The grave is empty. He is alive and is coming back again. 

One day, Jesus will return. He will come like “a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2).

He is going to judge the world. 

I wonder what the time on God’s watch is…

DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU WILL SPEND YOUR ETERNITY?

If Jesus returned, do you know where you will spend eternity?

Every day around 150 000 people die. This equates to 104 people dying every minute. 

If you die, do you know where you will spend your eternity?

One day you will meet Jesus either as your Lord and Savior, or as your judge. 

So many die without a Savior. But it is not too late. If your heart is beating, if there is air in your lungs, you can call on Jesus. 

John 1:12 tells us the good news, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” 

Life does not end at the grave. You will spend eternity either with God in his kingdom (HEAVEN) or banished from his presence (HELL) forever. 

WHAT AWAITS US IN ETERNITY?

Jesus spoke a lot about eternity. 

He warned us that hell is a place of choice for all who reject Gods free gift of life. Jesus referred to hell as a place of “torment.” (Luke 16:23), a place of “lost hope.” (Matthew 25:41), where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:42), a place of “eternal punishment, where the worms that eat them do not die, and where the fire is not quenched.” (Mark 9:48)

Galatians 5:19-21 warns us that, “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

However, Jesus does not want anyone to perish in hell. He gave his life and paid the full price so that we can share eternity with him. He made a way for all people to come into a relationship with him, a relationship that can start today and go right on into eternity. 

In John 11:25-26, Jesus told us, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Jesus made a way for all people to spend eternity with him. That includes you. 

Jesus told us in John 14:1-2, “Don’t let your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 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.”

Jesus has gone to prepare a place for you and me. 

Jesus continued in John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Jesus is coming back to fetch his people. 

Jesus continued in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to The Father except through Me.”

Jesus is the way to heaven. 

Just as hell is the final destination for all who live and die in sin without a Savior, so heaven will be the final resting place for all of those who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. 

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN 

According to the Bible, heaven is a real and permanent place. It is God’s home. The Kingdom of heaven seems to consist of a city, a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1-2) 

God will one day fetch his children and they will spend forever with him in the Kingdom of Heaven. 

Revelation 31:3 tells us, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.”

In heaven there will also be no more heartache or stress or regret or sadness. 

Revelation 21:4 tells us that God will “wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

Heaven will be a place of perfect love and perfect rest. The troubles and calamity that we face on earth will be done away with forever. 

In Revelation 21:6-7 God continued, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.”

God the creator of life, the one who is all powerful and all knowing, offers you his living waters. He offers you the opportunity to share forever with him. He wants to be your God. He wants his children to inherit these blessings. 

Revelation 22:3 tells us, “No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him.”

And we will “see his face.” (Revelation 22:4)

In heaven we will know God intimately. We will live in His Kingdom where we will be blessed beyond our wildest imagination. God’s Kingdom will be holy and pure. There will be no more sin, no more fear, no more temptation, no more oppression, no more bondage, no more sickness and no more destruction. We will be with God. We will know God’s peace and his exceeding joy. 

All wickedness and evil will be banished from heaven.

In Revelation 21:8 God continues, “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

If you find yourself living a life devoid of God, I urge you to consider your eternity. If you are living an immoral life or if you are living in sin, you can turn to God before it is too late. If you have left the path to eternal life and if you are following another philosophy, turn back to God and save yourself before it is too late. 

Revelation 21:27 also tells us that, “Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

There is still time to get right with God. 

Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? If not, I implore you to humble yourself before God, repent of your sin and by faith, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. 

If you want to start or restart your walk with God, click here to pray a simple prayer we have set up for you.

John 3:16 tells us the good news, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (Jesus), that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Heaven will be the home of all believers. It will be a home of beauty and everlasting peace. 

The Book of Revelation gives us an incredible glimpse of what heaven will be like. 

Talking about the City of Heaven we told that “It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal. The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels.” (Revelation 21:11-12)

Again, we are told, “The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass.” (Revelation 21:18)

And again, “The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass.” (Revelation 21:21)

The City of Heaven shines and sparkles. The city is like pure gold. The main road is made of pure gold. The city has these huge high clear as crystal jasper walls that surround the city, with 12 pearly gates. 

We are told that heaven is built on a “foundation of 12 precious stones”, that reflect all the colors of the rainbow. (Revelation 21:13-14)

“The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.” (Revelation 21:19-20)

There is a River of Life that flows through the Kingdom of Heaven. 

In John’s vision about the Kingdom of God he shared that, “the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.” (Revelation 22:1-2)

What beauty! The city is spectacular!

According to the Bible we even know the size and dimensions of the City of Heaven. 

“The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick.” (Revelation 21:16-17) 

Heaven is like a square cube. In today’s measurements, the length and width and height of the City is 1400 miles or 2220 km’s, and the walls are 65 meters thick.

We are told that the City of God has no temple, “for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.” (Revelation 21:22)

And, “the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light.” (Revelation 21:23)

We are told wherever you are in the Kingdom of heaven, you will be able to enter the city at any time for the gates into the city “will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there.” (Revelation 21:25)

Again, we are told, “And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:5)

In heaven, we will also be given new bodies. 

2 Corinthians 5:1-4 tells us that “For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.”

On earth our bodies get sick and grow old, but in heaven we will be given new glorified, incorruptible bodies. 

We will know who we are. We will recognize one another. Our new heavenly bodies will be perfectly suited for a new life in a sinless environment – heaven. 

2 Corinthians 5: 8-10 continues, “Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.”

Are you God’s child? Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If not, please consider your eternity and call on Jesus. 

As God’s children, we will be set free from all pain, sadness, sin, and death. We will enjoy a life of never-ending purpose, happiness and satisfaction. 

If you want to start or restart your walk with God, click here to pray a simple prayer we have set up for you.

HEAVEN BOUND 

I know that I am heaven bound. Do you? 

I know that I am a child of God, that my sin is forgiven and that I have eternal life. I will share eternity with God in heaven. 

I do not deserve it. I could not earn it. It is a free gift from God, available to all, because Jesus paid the full price on the cross.

Acts 4:12 tells us concerning Jesus that “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

CONSIDER YOUR ETERNITY

You have freedom to live life the way you want to, but please consider your eternal future. 

If hell is your future destination, then your best life is now. If you reject Jesus, you may as well live only for pleasure and not care about the consequences. If you don’t want to take God’s free gift of life, then your life on earth is as good as it will ever be. But know this, in eternity you will be separated from God. 

But if you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then your greatest life is to yet to come. 

If heaven is your future home, then the struggles and pain you face now are temporary. In heaven you will be more at home than you ever felt at home in the world. 

You may be stressed out and weighed down by the calamities of life. Your burdens may be heavy. Your pain may be great. You may be in anguish. But, if you are a child of God, your future is bright. 

In heaven you will be whole, healed, content, at complete peace, and your life will be filled with exceeding joy. 

Billy Graham said, “Heaven will be a place in which its inhabitants will be freed from the fears and insecurities that plague and haunt us in the present life … Will be free from the economic and financial pressures that burden us down here, free from the fear of personal and physical harm … There will be no fear of personal failure … Our relationship with him will be intimate and direct. I’m looking forward to that glorious day of going to heaven.” 

The glory of Cape Town, New York, London, Barcelona will one day fade, but the glory of the Kingdom of Heaven will never fade. 

I want to be there. How about you?

WHERE DO YOU STAND WITH GOD?

Revelation 22:12-15 says, “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.”

Today you can call on Jesus. You can know that you are God’s child and that your eternity is secure. Yes, you can know that you are heaven bound. 

BE HEAVENLY MINDED

Keep your eyes on eternity. 

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

If you are God’s child, then the best is yet to come. 

“For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. (Philippians 3:18-20)

Heaven is the home of blessedness from which all sin is removed. There will be no more tears and no more death. There will be no more pain and no more crying. There will be no more sorrow and no more night. There will be no more bondage or curses. We will know God perfectly. We will worship and serve God, and we will reign, and we will be with him.

If you are God’s child, then one day, you will enter the City of Heaven, through the pearly gates and you will walk the street of gold, with the clear as crystal river of life flowing. You will share eternity with God.