Heaven

I just finished teaching a six week Sunday school lesson from the book Heaven by Randy Alcorn. It’s a wonderful book and I condensed it down to about fifty pages for my lesson. But here’s one thought from it I really wanted to share. It’s from the section “Living in the light of Heaven”

Once we are saved we should ask ourselves what we can do today, tomorrow, next week or next year to live a life that pleases God and also stores up treasures on the New Earth to be laid at Christ’s feet for His glory. All of our choices and decisions should exalt Christ.

What will last for eternity? Every service to the needy, all money to feed the hungry, every cup of cold water given to the thirsty, every investment in missions, every prayer for the needy, every effort invested in evangelism and every moment spent caring for children.

Galatians 6:7-8 tells us we’ll reap in eternity what we’ve planted in this life.

What else will last for eternity? God’s Word and people. So invest in people and spend time in His Word.

Peter wrote: 2 Peter 3:11-14 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

Revelation 21:1, 3-5 1Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

We were all made for a person and for a place. Jesus is the person and Heaven is the place.