A Vision of Heaven

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“Tragedy, degeneracy, heartbreak, suffering, lies. Is there such a place where these injustices are nowhere to be found? Yes! Heaven!”

“Pastor resigns following affair revelations,” “Young athlete with wife and children dies after heart attack,” “Man murders college students,” “Nation at war accused of terrorizing its own people,” “Politician found guilty on all counts of election fraud.” Tragedy, degeneracy, heartbreak, suffering, lies. Is there such a place where these injustices are nowhere to be found?

There was once a man who had a vision of heaven. His name was John and one day he looked up and saw a door opened in the sky above. Then a voice spoke to him, “Come up here . . .” (Revelation 4:1) Then immediately, he was in the Spirit and taken up through the door.

What he saw when he first stepped into heaven was breath-taking. His attention was drawn to a large throne, with one seated on it. What he saw was no human physical appearance. Instead, there was a supernatural form described by John in terms of colors from the most beautiful gems. Surrounding the throne were 24 smaller ones with men like him sitting upon them called elders. Then from the throne came “flashes of lightening, and rumblings and peals of thunder . . .” (Rev. 4:5) In front of the throne were seven burning torches of fire, and a sea that was so placid and clear it looked like crystal. Then stationed around the throne were four creatures that kept repeating, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Rev. 4:8) Then John witnessed the 24 elders standing up from their thrones and falling down in worship before the Lord God saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Rev. 4:11)

John’s vision of heaven was of a place where Almighty God reigned. He was the chief figure, where all attention surrounded the Eternal One. John was the last of the 12 apostles, and his fellow co-workers were in heaven, yet his vision shows how he was gripped by the stunning imagery and presence of God.

And what makes this picture of God so stunning? His holiness and power. No person, no other force in all of heaven and earth could challenge the power of the Lord God. He sits on His throne exalted above all.

We see God being called “holy” repeatedly. The picture of heaven itself, and God in all His beauty reveals how He is separate from all evil and perfect in every way. And as He is, so is His dwelling, which begs the question, “Who can live in such a place?”

There is the presumption, that everyone who dies, goes to heaven. As a minister, I have led many funerals, and there is always the assumption that their loved one has gone to live in the celestial city. Since God is the guardian of heaven, what does He say about who gets in?

He states, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” (Rev. 22:14-15)

If you have placed your faith in Jesus and have been washed by the cleansing blood of Christ, you are welcomed in. However, if you continue in your practice of disobedience against God’s law, heaven’s door will be shut and you will be cast into hell for eternal judgement.

God desires you to be with Him and to enjoy the kingdom He has prepared for you, but you must turn from your ways, and place your faith in Christ alone.

A prayer for you. Lord God, the King of Heaven, draw people to yourself, that they might examine their ways. Bring them to turn from their disobedience and to you. Fill their hearts with the love of God, through your Spirit, and prepare them for eternity with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Time for Change. Will it Take an Earthquake?

 Photo by Sanej Prasad Suwal

“No matter what your 2022 was like, nor what you hope 2023 will be, God wants to bring a spiritual change in you this year.”

For some 2022 was a year of hardship. A year they do not want to repeat. For others, it was a year of success and they want 2023 to build on it. Whatever last year was like, or whatever you hope for in the new year, I pray the Lord God will bring a spiritual change, that will impact the rest of your life. Such is one man’s story from centuries ago.

According to the Bible, there was once an unknown jailer who oversaw the prisoners in the ancient city of Philippi. It was part of the Roman Empire. As he was working in the prison, he overheard an uproar in the city. Soon the doors were swung open and authorities brought him two men named Paul and Silas, and ordered them bound. He had never met the men before. They were from out of town and had been beaten and bloodied by officials. He learned they were arrested for promoting some type of religious customs that were foreign to the citizens of Philippi.

The jailer put the men in the inner prison and fastened their feet with stocks. Then he went back to his routine business, spent the night at the prison and eventually feel asleep.

Paul and Silas though, never slept. In the midst of the dreariness of the prison and the pain from their wounds, they decided to sing. They started singing hymns of praise and thanks to God. Their voices rang throughout the prison, so all the other prisoners were listening.

As they were singing, something happened. The prison began to shake violently, like an earthquake had hit. It was so violent, the cell doors of the prisoners broke loose, along with their chains.

The chaos awoke the jailer. When he saw what happened, he drew his sword to kill himself, believing all the prisoners escaped. When Paul saw what the jailer was about to do he called out, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” (Acts 16:28) The jailer then came to Paul and Silas, and fell before them trembling. He knew these men were different, and how the earthquake was a result of them and the God they served. He brought Paul and Silas out of the prison and urgently asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Ac. 16:29) For this is what they had been speaking to the people about in Philippi. The jailer wanted to have what they had.

Paul and Silas gave him a simple response, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Act. 16:31) They explained the gospel further, and after hearing more, the jailer and his whole household committed themselves fully to Christ.

Then immediately everything was new. The jailer became a new man. He also had a new family, new friends in Paul and Silas, a new joy, and a new future.

God sent two men, along with an earthquake, to carry the good news of Jesus to an unknown jailer, that he might have a new beginning. No matter what your 2022 was like, nor what you hope 2023 will be, God wants to bring a spiritual change in you this year. Will it take an earthquake? Will something have to so rock your world for you to finally listen to God? Will He bring some unknown people in your life with an important message? Will you listen to what God wants to say through them? Today, may your life have a new beginning like the Philippian jailer and his family.

A prayer for you. “Lord God, as we begin this new year may people commit themselves fully to you and be transformed like the jailer. May people finally stop resisting and willingly yield their lives fully to you, the One who died and rose again for them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

The City of Man or The City of God?

Photo by Alejandro Luengo on Unsplash

“Ambassadors from the city of God go out day by day into the city of man, warning and imploring the residents to flee the city.”

During 2022, the ravages of drugs tore through America, from the opioid to the fentanyl crisis. Inflation persisted, increasing the cost of goods and services and put immense pressure on households and businesses. Death also reigned upon us causing historically high death rates along with multitudes suddenly dying. In city after city, the lawless became more lawless; the evil, more evil.

Revelation is a book in the Bible that reveals future judgements to come upon mankind. It says, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.” (Rev. 18:2)

Babylon is the city we have all lived in during 2022.

This ancient city is famous for at least three historical points. First, it was the location of the infamous tower of babel. The place where the nations joined together to build a tower to reach the heavens and become like God, until He destroyed their tower and brought confusion to their language. Second, the most notorious leader was King Nebuchadnezzar, whom built Babylon into an expansive empire, conquering nation after nation. Third, Nebuchadnezzar led Babylon to lay siege to Jerusalem, destroying it and capturing its people.

Eventually, Babylon’s pride and glory in itself, brought about its own downfall. Babylon, which once was a servant of God, became His enemy. And 70 years after it conquered Jerusalem, Babylon fell to its enemies and was destroyed on the crucible of its own ego.

The historical city of Babylon eventually grew to become a spiritual picture of the godless cities of mankind. The city of Babylon is the city of man.

These are places where man joins together with others of like mindedness, to pursue the evil desires of his heart. The worldly success they enjoy becomes the envy of other cities. The city grows in all things evil and lawless, glorifying itself and feeling as if they are god-like.

The people of this world, live in the city of Babylon. They are places built on the foundation of man’s own wisdom and knowledge. The evidence of man as architect is clear. Confusion and chaos abound. Crime, immorality and division existing in neighborhood after neighborhood, while corruption lives in the halls of power.

But as we move into 2023, there is something important to note. There is another city, one that was built strategically in opposition to the city of man. It is the city of God, and was established by the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

This city serves the desires of the Lord God, the Creator of heaven and earth. The citizens have turned from their sin, placed their faith in Christ and walk in holiness and love for one another. The city is marked by truth, service, peace, joy, kindness and much more. The Lord indwells each of them through His Spirit and is always with them. Ambassadors from this city go out day by day into the city of man, warning and imploring their residents to flee the city. They plead with them to find refuge in the city of God, as each of them once did. Sometimes their message is received, other times it is rejected and they are cast out of the city.

In 2023, the city of God will continue expanding, seeking to rescue those from the city of man. One day Babylon will fall. The judgement of God will prevail and the city of man will be no more. Yet, the city of God will remain forever, as its Lord and King will. If you are part of the city of man, living for yourself and your own desires, leave at once! Come to the city with a sure foundation, whose builder is God Almighty. Come through His Son and the doors of grace and mercy will be opened to you.

A prayer for you. “Lord God, open the eyes of people to see what city they live in. Bring them to flee the city of man and run to the city of God. Let them leave behind their selfish ways and yield to the just and holy ways of their Creator. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”