Is Our Heaven Too Far

Saturday, September 21, 2024

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day:  2 Corinthians 13:14

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Memory verse: Psalm 42:2(New American Bible )

"My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When can I enter and see the face of God?"

Today's reading: Ecclesiastes 10-12 Galatians 1

Is Our Heaven Too Far?

When Christ Jesus taught us to pray, He mentions Heaven twice.

"Our Father in Heaven-Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." Matthew 6:9-13

The question that we have today is, "How serious are we about Heaven?" Does Heaven dwell in our thoughts everyday or is it just an idea of a far-off place that we will go someday?

>Jesus told us to lay up treasures in Heaven in Matthew 6:19–21.

> God spoke through Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:18 and told us to train our minds on eternal things and not on the things we see in this world.

> Paul also writes(by the power of God) in Colossians 3:1–2 to seek things above and set our minds on things above instead of worldly things.

But since we can't really define 'treasure in Heaven'-all we have to go on is what we know of 'eternal things' - how the Bible describes Heaven and , oh yes, our Father, Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

In the book of the Revelation, chapter 21 and 22, the Bible says that Heaven has 'street of Gold', 'gates of Pearl', 'walls of precious stones'. Heaven is lighted by God's glory-no sun or moon needed. The River of Life runs from the Divine throne down the middle of the street of Heaven.

We lay up treasure in Heaven by Matthew 6:33 and 22:37-Seek God first and love Him totally and all these other things will be added.

The will of God for us in Christ is to "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."

Lay up treasures in Heaven? Rejoice in God-pray to God-give thanks to God-meditate on the street of gold, the gates of pearl, and walls of precious stones and live a sacrificial life to Him as you love and seek Him totally and love your neighbor as yourself.

Our Heaven is in Christ, here and hereafter.

Our hearts must be on Him. We need to continually hear Jesus say to us-as the soldiers in the field hear their commander say- "On Me!".

On Jesus-our attention and submission and obedience.

No, Heaven is not too far unless we choose to stand off at a distance.

Choose-Hear Jesus say, "On Me!"-and obey.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Your name is Heaven. My obedience and consciousness is bad. Forgive me and lead me away from evil so I can walk as Jesus walked.

Mighty commander and glorious God,

In the name of Jesus,

Amen