Articles
Hope Of Heaven
You may have given thought at some time to a possibility that could occur, although not very likely. In fact, we all know it is something that positively will never happen. What I am talking about is living in a place where everyone OBEYS THE WILL OF GOD. What would that kind of place be like? God has no part with sin. As long as sin is in the world There will be those who disobey God's will, and refuse to repent.
As Christians we may like to think about living in a world like that (without sin, every person loving one another). But we know its never going to come about, Satan works hard and never tires.
A place without sin, without hate, without bitterness and desire to hurt and destroy others. Sin is the obvious cause of such behavior as we know.
If ALL PEOPLE obeyed God's will then sin and its terrible result would cease, and we would all live in harmony, each loving his neighbor as Jesus teaches.
"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And He said to him, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND. This is the great and foremost commandment. And a second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. " ( Matthew 22:36-39)
As Jesus teaches, LOVE makes the difference. Love is what put and kept Jesus on that cross. Love is the basis for all our behavior as Christians. Paul wrote almost a whole chapter in the Corinthian letter about this very subject. (1 Corinthians 13) Notice a passage from the Apostle John"
"A new commandment I give to you, that you LOVE ONE ANOTHER, even as I have loved you, THAT YOU ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER." (John 13:34)
As much as we may hope for a place without sin, a place that everyone loves each other, we know that will never by possible in this life. So where can we find a place like this. Only God Himself could provide such for us. A place where the faithful will be, a place called HEAVEN. A realm called eternity, with God and His Son. No sin, no suffering, no unfaithful who refuse to do God's will.
"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself" (Philippians 3:20,21)
"If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." (Colossians 3:1-4)
We may find it hard to live in this world of sin at times, and be what He wants us to be. But as Christians we have something others in the world do not have -- our faith and HOPE. Remember what Paul wrote in the 2nd letter to the Corinthians:
"Therefore, we do not love heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, which we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
"For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that YOUR FAITH AND HOPE ARE IN GOD." (1 Peter 1:20,21)
So, God has gone to great lengths to confirm His promises in His Word for us. Many, many inspired Scriptures tell us of His love and desire for us, only if we obey Him and His word. What a loving Father and Son would love us enough to work out a way for us to live faithfully now and have the hope of HEAVEN when life here is over. (2 Peter 1:3,4) Are we listening? Thanks for a bit of your time.
Ross
