heaven

Draw Near to Him

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.’ ” – Luke 5:20 It’s interesting to me that many people today don’t genuinely know how to get into Heaven. I think most people in America believe in God and an afterlife, but they’re unsure what the “rules” are. They ask, “How do I get in?” Many Christians also wonder, “Did I lead a good enough life to still get in?” It’s not about you leading a good enough life, and that’s comforting news. It’s really about who you trust. If you lived an imperfect life but were friends with Jesus Christ, He will let you in. If you led a flawed life but knocked on His door and said, Can I come in? He will welcome you with a warm hug. The Bible says that if you draw near to Jesus, He will draw near to you.

December 30, 2022 No Comments

Where Am I?

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” – Romans 1:20 Yesterday we talked about the first of the four questions that a worldview must answer: “Who am I?” Today, we will speak of the second fundamental question of a worldview: “Where am I?” When you are in Christ, you are in the Kingdom of God spiritually, and you’re in the Father’s world physically. This planet belongs to Him, and it’s pulsating with life and teeming with growth and motion! Everything that you see happening — flowers blooming, animals playing, humans loving and being loved — is the demonstration of a spiritual reality in a material experience. In other words, what is visible is a shadow of the actual reality, which is divine and intangible. When you

November 25, 2022 No Comments

Enjoying God’s Presence

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ ” – Psalm 91:1,2 Did you know that you can live in the presence of God today? Heaven, while it is certainly a physical location, can also be defined as a place where the Lord dwells. Since He lives within you, it’s safe to say that many elements of that eternal place can be enjoyed here and now, especially with the undying love of Jesus. In His presence, there is complete fulfillment: total joy, total peace and total life. Psalm 91 is one of the most famous affirmations of God’s presence and protection (I encourage you to read the whole thing when you have a minute), and interestingly, it was not original to David

September 28, 2022 2 Comments

Heavenly Assignments

“In his defense Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.’” – John 5:17 As we talked about yesterday, non-work is not ideal, but our culture is bent towards thinking that leisure is King. We have come to believe that Heaven is a place where we sit around eternally and eat from a buffet, float on clouds, and fly. However, the truth is that there will be work for us to do there, too, but it will be the best kind of work. In the next life, we will have meaningful, life-giving assignments, the type that we were meant to experience before the fall. In short, it will be avodah. There are probably many of us who think seriously about the afterlife and at one time or another feared that it might be boring. The good news is

March 29, 2022 No Comments

God’s House

“And as he taught them, he said, ‘Is it not written: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations”? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” – Mark 11:17 Did you know that ancient Jews didn’t call the temple the temple? This description was given later, but in Jesus’ day, it was simply known as “the house.” Just like people, God has a dwelling, and though His permanent residence is in Heaven, He chose a particular location in which to contain His glory in Old Testament times. This means that the Spirit of Jehovah lived at the temple, and it belonged to everyone who followed Him. It was the center of Jewish life, and it was the place where the hurting, broken, and outcast could find safety and experience His heart. This is precisely why it upset Him so much when the money changers turned

September 4, 2021 2 Comments

On Earth as It Is in Heaven

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” – Matthew 6:10 Not only do I love the Lord’s Prayer because it’s the perfect model for us to follow as we approach our Heavenly Father but also because it reflects the heart of God. Jesus taught us to pray: “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” Though it’s easy to gloss over that phrase, it actually paints a very powerful picture of the manner in which the Lord of Creation wants His will, priorities, and power to prevail on this planet. Many of us get so focused on reaching eternity that we forget there is work to do here and now. While it’s tempting to discard the future of the world, especially when it looks chaotic and uncertain, it’s important to remember that as Christ’s disciples, we are

January 27, 2021 No Comments

His Life Is the Light of Men

“Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” – Matthew 2:11 Christmas Eve has arrived, and although it looks a bit different this year, my prayer is that you are embracing the power of the One whom we celebrate and that He is filling your life with the gifts of His Spirit. In that vein, today, I want to talk about the third and final offering the Magi brought to Jesus, and how it gives us a source of fresh hope in the midst of a tough season. While gold signifies that the Lord reigns over the kingdoms of earth and incense represents His authority in the Kingdom of Heaven, myrrh speaks to His victory over the grave. Used as an embalming oil in ancient times, this valuable gift foreshadowed His crucifixion, but more importantly, it revealed His greater plan and purpose. Though

December 24, 2020 1 Comment

Heaven, Here and Now

“Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them, for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will settle there and possess it; the children of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will dwell there.” – Psalm 69:34-36 Easter brings good news because it is the anchor of hope for every believer. We serve a God who believes in bringing dead things back to life by faith, and that’s good news! We believe that no matter what death or loss or tragedy you’ve experienced, we serve a God who turns those things into good. We serve a God who performs miracles. The resurrection matters because when Jesus was raised from the dead, heaven was opened up to everyone — to all who believed in Him then, and to all who believe in Him today. We

April 2, 2018 No Comments

“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” -2 Peter 1:11-12

January 15, 2017 1 Comment

Rooting for you…

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
-Revelation 21:4

April 7, 2016 No Comments

heaven

Draw Near to Him

Where Am I?

Enjoying God’s Presence

Heavenly Assignments

God’s House

On Earth as It Is in Heaven

His Life Is the Light of Men

Heaven, Here and Now

Heaven

Rooting for you…

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