Friday, November 28, 2014

How Far Is Heaven?

(Continued from yesterday...)

The next truth that renews me is this:

On our very ordinary days, we know that heaven and our true home are only a heartbeat away. One. Heartbeat.  Just around the curve of this very plain and ordinary picture---like our plain and ordinary lives-- something breathtaking and beautiful is ahead.
 
Knowing life can change forever in an instant---I no longer fear that--The perspective and the truth I can walk in every day is this:


Like the saints of old, in Hebrews 11:16 "I….desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one." God is not ashamed to be called our God; for He has prepared a city for us.
How I wish I had time to tell you of that city! You know how some people make a bucket list of all the places to go and things to do before they die? My bucket list is for heaven ---in the new heaven and the new earth where things will be exponentially bigger and better than anything I’ll ever see here. I'm going to do oil painting in Tuscany, mountain climbing and dog sledding in Alaska, sing praises to the Lord with perfect pitch in the Alps and so much more! And I'll go and personally see all the places where I've heard from widows---like New Zealand, Australia, Vanuatu, Fiji, Malaysia, Phillipines in the Pacific; and Nigeria, Kenya, Germany, United Kingdom, Belgium, Holland and more... It'll be amazing! Read Randy Alcorn's book, Heaven and get started on your bucket list too.
This life is wonderful and full of beauty and amazement, but it’s only a smidgen of God’s kingdom to come. Just like our marriage might have been full of beauty too---but in Heaven it will be so much better. Even though we won’t be married anymore, we’ll still know each other, we’ll recognize our loved ones. We’ll still love them and we’ll still be "in love" with them--- but this time a perfect love, which is far better than marriage. Heaven will not be floating around on a cloud strumming a stupid harp and tipping your halo.
2 Cor. 4:17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison
Phil. 1:6  For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

And for right now---- "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jer. 29:11
Psalm 146:9  The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow.

Which one of God's promises is your favorite, and what are you looking forward to around the next corner of your life? I can't take comments today, but feel free to email me at WCplace@gmail.com or repost and talk about this on Facebook. Tomorrow is our final episode of Road Signs Along the Way. I hope you've found it helpful.
ferree