It would be impossible to name every source of the information included in my blog. It is a compilation of things I've read and learned through the years.
Rumors of Another World
Hebrews 12:22-24 "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel".
Going to heaven is the greatest adventure we can ever imagine. A point we work toward and a comfort we find on countless occasions as we progress on our journey.
1 Peter 1:4 tells us "God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay."
Lately I've been thinking a lot about Heaven. I don't Know if it's a side effect of my age or the illness that nearly took my life. Maybe it's just that life in general has been kicking me in the butt for a long time now. But I'm looking for a city not too far from here. In Hebrews 12:22, the apostle speaks of the "heavenly Jerusalem," and in Hebrews 13:14, he says, "here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come."
My ticket was paid for a long time ago and I've had it in my possession since I was nine. I'm putting the finishing touches on my packing, there's nothing here I care anything about anymore with the exception of my family. It's strange how I never dreamed of Heaven during all those months I lay in the hospital my life supported by tubes. Though there were times I did pray that I might die. But it is now when I am once again on my own two feet that I dream of Heaven. I guess this is because in those days the closest thing I could imagine to Heaven was my own back yard. And at that time my back yard was far less accessible to me than the celestial realm.
This world is a beautiful place, I've been a bit of an artist all my life and I appreciate the colors and textures and patterns we see everywhere. There is no doubt that it is the product of a grand design by a grand designer. There is music and laughter and children and ice cream. What's not to love about our glorious planet?
But there is also full measure of pain, heartache and tears. Sometimes it seems that whatever we do is not good enough. Whatever we attempt somehow falls short. We stand before our meager pile of accomplishments and hope it is enough. We get to heaven through our belief in Christ but we do want to make our lives here on earth count for something. As you get older it gets more and more important, to know that your life counted for something.
I truly believe that heaven is a real place. Revelation 21:23 describes some of it this way "The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. " Yep, it's all there in the Bible, gates made of pearl, golden streets the whole thing.
James 1:17 tells us "Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are like rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle." Heaven's bound to be a pretty big place too, if you consider there has to be room for all those who have loved and served God down through the ages. And we can't forget the innocents who have died by disease and abortion.
Going to heaven is the greatest adventure we can ever imagine. A point we work toward and a comfort we find on countless occasions as we progress on our journey.
1 Peter 1:4 tells us "God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay."
Lately I've been thinking a lot about Heaven. I don't Know if it's a side effect of my age or the illness that nearly took my life. Maybe it's just that life in general has been kicking me in the butt for a long time now. But I'm looking for a city not too far from here. In Hebrews 12:22, the apostle speaks of the "heavenly Jerusalem," and in Hebrews 13:14, he says, "here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come."
My ticket was paid for a long time ago and I've had it in my possession since I was nine. I'm putting the finishing touches on my packing, there's nothing here I care anything about anymore with the exception of my family. It's strange how I never dreamed of Heaven during all those months I lay in the hospital my life supported by tubes. Though there were times I did pray that I might die. But it is now when I am once again on my own two feet that I dream of Heaven. I guess this is because in those days the closest thing I could imagine to Heaven was my own back yard. And at that time my back yard was far less accessible to me than the celestial realm.
This world is a beautiful place, I've been a bit of an artist all my life and I appreciate the colors and textures and patterns we see everywhere. There is no doubt that it is the product of a grand design by a grand designer. There is music and laughter and children and ice cream. What's not to love about our glorious planet?
But there is also full measure of pain, heartache and tears. Sometimes it seems that whatever we do is not good enough. Whatever we attempt somehow falls short. We stand before our meager pile of accomplishments and hope it is enough. We get to heaven through our belief in Christ but we do want to make our lives here on earth count for something. As you get older it gets more and more important, to know that your life counted for something.
I truly believe that heaven is a real place. Revelation 21:23 describes some of it this way "The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass. " Yep, it's all there in the Bible, gates made of pearl, golden streets the whole thing.
James 1:17 tells us "Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are like rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle." Heaven's bound to be a pretty big place too, if you consider there has to be room for all those who have loved and served God down through the ages. And we can't forget the innocents who have died by disease and abortion.
There's a lot of talk about mansions when we think of Heaven. Probably because of the Scripture in John 14:2 and which says "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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am , there ye may be also." This is great, but truth be known I've never been big on Mansions and compounds and such, they just seem to be a lot of trouble to me. Especially when you realize I'm a lot happier when I'm outside than in. My nephew T.P. is a woodsman and bow-hunter and he told me once that for years he had trouble getting excited about heaven because of all the talk about cities and streets and such. He thought he would be miserable cooped up in a city. Then he said he realized that Heaven is a country, with not only cities but also rivers and forests and meadows, basically something for everyone. Heaven is suppose to make us happy, we are promised that. So wouldn't heaven be sort of like your town with a place for everyone according to his own choice of what makes him happy? This got me to thinking, then I read about a dream a woman had about heaven. In the dream she saw a lovely English cottage surrounded by a beautiful garden and I thought MAN that sounds like me. Only I think I'd want a little stream somewhere close or a raging river, I don't know, I just think water is the prettiest stuff, especially after a storm. No storms in Heaven? I don't know, there are those among us who love a good thunderstorm. We can find comfort in Revelation 22:1-5 where John tells a bit about what he has seen "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with it's twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship him. They will see his face and his name will be on their foreheads. And twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever".
In Revelation 21:2, John says that he "saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God, out of heaven," There is something out there, something we will be able to see and feel and touch. We know instinctively that there is life after death. C.S.Lewis said that "we are not a body with a spirit but we are rather a spirit with a body" We would do well to listen to the wisdom that transcends the awkward bumbling of the mind by coming straight from the heart.
Heaven is peace and security. I don't believe it's absence of labor because there is something in man that ever drives him toward new things. It's a big universe and I believe we will spend eternity learning all about everything. But the heartache will be gone, the tears will be dried and at last we will all get along with each other.
Hebrews 11:10 says "For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God."
That's me and you too I hope, you know He is waiting for us there now. I know Jesus is there and plan on meeting Him some day. It is our hope and without that hope how lost we would be.
2 Peter 1:11 And God will open wide the gates of heaven for you to enter into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Heaven is peace and security. I don't believe it's absence of labor because there is something in man that ever drives him toward new things. It's a big universe and I believe we will spend eternity learning all about everything. But the heartache will be gone, the tears will be dried and at last we will all get along with each other.
Hebrews 11:10 says "For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God."
That's me and you too I hope, you know He is waiting for us there now. I know Jesus is there and plan on meeting Him some day. It is our hope and without that hope how lost we would be.
2 Peter 1:11 And God will open wide the gates of heaven for you to enter into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
John Bradford who was burned alive for his faith July 1,1555 put it this way.
"I am assured that though I want here. I have riches there; though I hunger here, I have fullness there; though I faint here, I shall be refreshed there; and though I am accounted here as a dead man. I shall live in perpetual glory".
That is that city promised to the captives whom Christ shall make free; that is the kingdom assured to them whom Christ shall crown; there is the light that shall never go out; there is the health that shall never be impaired; there is the glory that shall never be defaced; there is the life that shall face no death; there is the portion that passes all the worlds preferment. There the world shall never wax worse; there is every want supplied freely without money; there is no danger, but happiness, and honor, and singing, and praise unto the heavenly Jehovah. "to Him who sits on the throne." "to the Lamb" that was led to the slaughter, that now "reigns"; with whom I "shall reign" after I run this comfortless race through this miserable earthly vale.
The Visitor
Death came to see me yesterday, he stood there by the door,
And asked me what I thought of life and if I'd ask for more.
For more than I'd been given, it didn't seem quite right.
To talk to death about such things, he gave me quite a fright.
I thought of joy and sorrow well blended through the years.
The laughter of my children, my pillow wet with tears...
Would I ask for more he asked? He sounded very tough,
I very quickly closed the door and said I'd had enough.-Jireh's girl
"I am assured that though I want here. I have riches there; though I hunger here, I have fullness there; though I faint here, I shall be refreshed there; and though I am accounted here as a dead man. I shall live in perpetual glory".
That is that city promised to the captives whom Christ shall make free; that is the kingdom assured to them whom Christ shall crown; there is the light that shall never go out; there is the health that shall never be impaired; there is the glory that shall never be defaced; there is the life that shall face no death; there is the portion that passes all the worlds preferment. There the world shall never wax worse; there is every want supplied freely without money; there is no danger, but happiness, and honor, and singing, and praise unto the heavenly Jehovah. "to Him who sits on the throne." "to the Lamb" that was led to the slaughter, that now "reigns"; with whom I "shall reign" after I run this comfortless race through this miserable earthly vale.
The Visitor
Death came to see me yesterday, he stood there by the door,
And asked me what I thought of life and if I'd ask for more.
For more than I'd been given, it didn't seem quite right.
To talk to death about such things, he gave me quite a fright.
I thought of joy and sorrow well blended through the years.
The laughter of my children, my pillow wet with tears...
Would I ask for more he asked? He sounded very tough,
I very quickly closed the door and said I'd had enough.-Jireh's girl
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