Today's Devotional Thought
September 28, 2010 by Rachel Piferi
Heaven
Have you ever been somewhere and you said to yourself, “This must be what heaven’s like???? I’m sure we’ve all done it. We feel a temporary sense of euphoria, joy, or fulfillment in a place or situation and we think that this must be what heaven is like.
But guess what? Even the most amazing event on earth doesn’t come close to what heaven will actually be like. And, it is indescribably amazing. In I Corinthians we read, but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him??? (I Corinthians 2:9). John describes heaven to us in Revelation, And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. And on either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:1-2).
Heaven is described as a beautiful place. But, the place is actually secondary to the person. Heaven is about being reunited with and constantly in the company of God. We see this in I Thessalonians, “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord??? (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Similarly, as John tells us, there is no need for a temple, because God is directly present, “And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple??? (Revelation 21:22).
We really should spend time focusing on heaven. Interestingly enough, there has been more attention and description of hell than of heaven among Christian scholars. But, it is important to focus on heaven. While hell and eternal suffering for our sins may be a good motivator for us to pursue salvation, it is not the basis of our hope and faith. The basis of our hope is the promise of heaven, not just the avoidance of hell.
Can you imagine it? A day is coming where you can sit in the presence of God and directly feel the joy and love and glory that is God. You will spend time worshipping Him with other believers and will experience the euphoria of eternal communion with the Lord.
Can you imagine it? I can’t. I try to, but I just can’t fully imagine it.
Focus on heaven today. Heaven is more spectacular than you can even imagine. And, there are no words to describe how amazing it will be to spend eternity with our Lord. Focus on that today. As you trudge through the trials, suffering, boredom, or malaise of your day, think of the glorious reunion with the Lord that awaits you as a daughter of the King. Gain your hope and faith from that.
December