Message from Scripture: 8/22/2020

Today our message from Scripture comes from 2 Cor. 5:7-8; “For we walk by faith, not by sight. In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

I read this thought recently, which I believe helps us in our daily Christian walk. “The point of contrast between this world and the next, is simply to stimulate us to see how much more wonderful than the present, is the future that awaits the Christian.” In other words, Scripture doesn’t give us exact details what the nature of heaven is, but only those that show us it is far beyond our ability to figure out for ourselves. The realm of the spiritual, outside of what the Bible reveals, is beyond our intellectual capacity to perceive, far greater, far more desirable, than anything this life has to offer.

But there are some things we can know about heaven. It is spoken of as being eternal life, life without end, so we know death will play no part there (1 Cor. 15:25-26). We know we will have a spiritual body that will never wear out, grow old, or be destroyed (1 Cor. 15:42-44). We know the experiences of heaven will be far better than anything here, as there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain (Rev. 21:4). Peter adds to this list heaven itself is imperishable (without wear, waste, or perishing away), undefiled (not polluted or soiled by sin), and unfading (always will be as it is, in all its glory).

Heaven is beyond description in its radiance and grandeur. By contrast, hell is beyond description in its unending pain and torment. If God is in heaven, we know it will be wonderful forever, in contrast to hell, where He will not be, and the suffering that will never stop there. Why exchange the joy of heaven for the tears of hell? Let’s recognize how great heaven is, and live so we can know it will be our forever home. God bless.

Robert