We live in a fallen and broken world. A world filled with sadness, hurt, deceit, lies, hypocrisy, sickness, death, and all sorts of evil. We navigate this life trying to find the best in it and enjoy all that we can during our short time here. Something better lies on the horizon for those who place their faith in Jesus Christ though. A place of which the glory of it can hardly be imagined by those who have yet to see and experience it. The place I’m referring to is, of course, Heaven, and God’s word reviles its glory to all mankind.
Scripture describes the glory of Heaven by using the things we see as nicest here on earth to describe it. For instance, in Revelation, we read that the gates of Heaven are made of pearl and the streets of pure gold. All which we can hardly begin to imagine the beauty of.
Revelation 21:21 (ESV)
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
However, their glory of Heaven extends far beyond what we can see. For Heaven will be vastly different the world we currently inhabit. Violence will be put away never to be seen again. Animals that would have once lived as predators will live in perfect harmony with their former prey.
Isaiah 65:25 (ESV)
25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;
the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
and dust shall be the serpent’s food.
They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain,”
says the Lord.
Isaiah 11:6–9 (ESV)
6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;
and a little child shall lead them.
7 The cow and the bear shall graze;
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,
and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den.
9 They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain;
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
All those things that daily fill our minds will worry and even worry itself will pass away. God will make all things new casting away sadness, pain, and death. Repelling those old things of the world with everlasting joy and peace.
Revelation 21:4 (ESV)
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Isaiah 35:10 (ESV)
10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain gladness and joy,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
You’ll also notice that the above verse from Revelation states that God himself will wipe every tear from our eyes. This points to one of the most amazing facts about Heaven. That God, our creator, the alpha, and the omega, will dwell among His people in all His glory. No longer will we even have to rely on the sun, moon, or stars for light. As everything will be lit by God’s glory.
Revelation 21:3 (ESV)
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
Revelation 21:23 (ESV)
23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
Isaiah 60:19–20 (ESV)
19 The sun shall be no more
your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon
give you light;
but the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
20 Your sun shall no more go down,
nor your moon withdraw itself;
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your days of mourning shall be ended.
The glory of Heaven will far exceed what we have been able to imagine here on earth. In fact, it will exceed what our Bible is able to tell us. As words will not be able to describe the greatness and beauty of God’s kingdom.
The greatness of Heaven will even greatly outweigh even the worst things we face in this life. Causing this present surveying to seem like nothing on the scale of a perfect eternity. As Paul says not even worthy to compare with what will be revealed unto us. Heaven’s glory will so outshine this present world that it will all become a forgotten memory. As we are overcome with the place God has made for His people.
Romans 8:18 (ESV)
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Isaiah 65:17 (ESV)
17 “For behold, I create new heavens
and a new earth,
and the former things shall not be remembered
or come into mind.
There is no place more glorious and no place I would more want to be than the Kingdom of God. But the only way I or anyone else will get there is by living life according to God’s word. Which starts by placing your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior. For those who believe and are baptized will be saved. While those who don’t believe shall perish.
Mark 16:16 (ESV)
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Receiving salvation and gaining entrance into the eternal kingdom of Heaven requires faith to be put into action. We must use the Keys Jesus gave Peter to the kingdom of God. The very keys he revealed to all people on the day of Pentecost when he laid out the plan of salvation. Which is that everyone must repent, be baptized in Jesus’ name, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Matthew 16:19 (ESV)
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Acts 2:37–38 (ESV)
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Following the plan of salvation is only the first step on to the path of living for God though. Those who are saved have revived freedom but that’s not the freedom to sin. As Scripture makes clear those who live sinful lifestyles will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Even if they have followed the initial steps required to be saved.
1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (ESV)
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Many will come and claim to know the Lord stating all they had done in His name. But He replies depart from me because they didn’t live righteous lives. The truth is just as easily as we were grafted into the family of God we can be removed. That is if we don’t continue to do good.
Matthew 7:22–23 (ESV)
22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Romans 11:19–22 (ESV)
19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.
The glory of Heaven lies on the horizon for all those who trust the Lord God Almighty. Placing all their faith and hope in Him. It will be a place of great joy, peace, and beauty. The likes of which no man has ever seen or will ever see anywhere else. If we hope one day to enter the place God has prepared and soak in all the glory thereof. Then we must do all that His word tells us to do and live in the manner He has called us to live. No matter how hard it is at times or what it cost you it will be worth it all and more when you step through those pearly gates.
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