The Conclusion of the Matter – Part II

definitely worth thinking about...

"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." (Hebrew 9:27)

Without any doubt, this life will come to an end, at some point, for everyone of us. EVERYONE, without exception. With every passing day, we get closer to the day we will breath our last breath, and then, eternity.

Eternity, for those who are holy:

Holy men and women, put simply, are those who are in Christ Jesus. No man, no woman can attain to any measure of true holiness without the salvation of the Lord; it is an utter impossibility. We are born totally depraved sinners and the only way anyone of us can be made holy is by the finished work of the Cross.

When Jesus said "It is finished" (John 19:30), what He was referring to was the redemption of His people. Jesus had suffered the wrath of God for the sins of His people; all the sins of all His people. He took the curse of sin upon Himself, and His elect were made positionally holy in Christ (His holiness was imputed to His people).

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." (Galatians 3:13)

"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." (Ephesians 1:4)

For all of eternity, God's holy people will enjoy God forever in a place called Heaven. Heaven is the place where God manifests Himself in a great way; it is where His glory shines greatest. That is why God's people all have a yearning for Heaven. It's riches, it's "natural beauty", it's abundance... all these things are good, but the true Christian looks forward to Heaven because that's where Christ is.

"Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:20)

"Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey." (Deuteronomy 26:15)

Primarily, Heaven will be all about worshipping God. Just as there are plenty of misconceptions about what Hell is really like, there are plenty of faulty ideas about what Heaven is like. Heaven is NOT a "Walt-Disney-World-in-the-skies". Heaven is a holy place where the holy worship God day and night. Think of it as an eternal church worship service! That's why unbelievers don't have a place in Heaven: they hate the very concept of glorifying God on Earth, why should they then enter an eternal place that will be all about worshipping God?

"And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." (Revelation 4:8-11)

Heaven will be perfect in every sense of the word. There will be no pain, no loss, no death, no hate, no sin of any kind. Everything in Heaven will be awesome (and I'm not using this word flippantly). The beauty and glory of God Himself will be in everything, for His presence is first and foremost in this place called Heaven.

"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." (Revelation 21:3-5)

"And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Revelation 21:23-27)

Aren't these passages glorious? I mean... I read these verse and I'm telling you... I tear up! That's my home! That's where I want to be... ASAP! And that's the natural, normal reaction of a faithful saint of God. An unbeliever, or a compromising Christian have a natural affection to this fallen world. Oh! they'll all have some complaints, but all and all, their affections are on this present wicked world. Not so with those who are being conformed to the image of Christ. They have no love for this fallen world, and their hope, their comfort is in the promise of Heaven.

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (1 John 2:15-17)

"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3:20)

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

So, is this your spiritual destination? Are you on your way to Heaven? Is this the kind of place, with all it's holiness, that you want to be in eternally? It's what I want. It's what all born-again saints of God want. What say ye?

I leave you with this EXCELLENT picture of God's future kingdom... enjoy:

"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." (Isaiah 11:6-9)


Rand

"He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."(Revelation 22:20)