The Joys of Heaven – Part 1

“We are citizens of heaven.” Philippians 3:20 NLT

The story is told of a pastor who asked his congregation, “How many of you want to go to heaven?” Everyone raised their hand except one little boy. The pastor said, “Son, don’t you want to go to heaven?” He replied, “Yes, but I thought you were getting up a batch to go right now!” Let’s be honest, we don’t think or talk much about heaven until a loved one dies and goes there, or we grow old and feel like we have fulfilled our assignment here on earth. Then we feel a tug pulling us heavenward. And we should.

On average, we will spend about seventy or eighty years here, whereas we will spend eternity there. “We shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17 NKJV). Here on earth we get a mixed scorecard; sometimes we do well, other times not so well. But in heaven, we will be just like Jesus. “We are citizens of heaven…we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own” (Philippians 3:20-21 NLT).

C. S. Lewis wrote that in heaven each of us will be a “dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine.” All the patriarchs, prophets, and preachers in the Bible longed for heaven. Zechariah describes it in these words: “They’ll become…like gemstones in a crown, catching all the colors of the sun. Then…they’ll shine!” (Zechariah 9:16-17 MSG). Question: If you were to die today, would you go to heaven? You can, by receiving the gift of faith, then putting your trust in Jesus Christ.

PRAYER
Dear God, Your grace is so amazing that I can never understand it. I know only that you love me so much as to send your Son, Jesus Christ, to live, die, and rise again – for me. Thank you for granting me New Life in Christ today. Thank you for showing me the way to eternal life with You as a citizen of heaven. In Jesus’ Name. AMEN.