BY DON MCDANIEL                                                                                               

WEEK 1 – JANUARY 6, 2021                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

IS HEAVEN REAL?   YES!  Heaven is mentioned in Old Testament and New Testament, but greatest proof are Jesus’ own words.

          Scripture:  John 3:16-17; John 14:1-3; John 3:13:.Luke 23:42-43

WHAT IS HEAVEN LIKE?  A PLACE MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN ANY PLACE ON EARTH OR ANY PLACE WE CAN IMAGINE.   A PERFECT PLACE WHERE WE WILL DWELL IN PERFECT BODIES WITHOUT SICKNESS OR DEATH OR FATIGUE PAIN.   WITHOUT ALL THE EVIL OF SIN.  A PLACE WHERE WE WILL LIVE WITH GOD AND OTHER BELIEVERS FOREVER.  A PLACE WHERE WE WILL HAVE PURPOSE AND WORTHWHILE WORK  WE WILL LOVE DOING.  HEAVEN IS PERFECT BECAUSE GOD CREATED AND RESIDES THERE.

          Scripture: Revelation 21:1-4: Revelation 22:1-5:

VOYAGER LOOKING BACK AT EARTH FROM EDGE OF SOLAR SYSTEM

WHERE IS HEAVEN?  We are not told but does it really matter since we are not making journey alone?  However, Jesus ascended into sky at ascension, and the chariot from heaven came down from sky and took Elijah up when left. Yet, men have circled the earth, walked on the moon, and sent rockets to Mars and to far reaches of the solar system with plenty of evidence of existence of God but not of heaven.  Yet at death, heaven is an instant away.

Tower of Babel was man’s attempt to get to heaven by his own  efforts.

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Elijah went up to heaven in a chariot sent from heaven.  Chariot came down and took Elijah up into clouds.  2 Kings 2:6-14                                                                                  

Jesus ascended up into clouds into heaven.   Acts 1:9-11                                                                                                             

WILL WE KNOW EACH OTHER IN HEAVEN?   YES, BUT WE ALL WILL BE   DIFFERENT – LIKE JESUS IN BODY AND SOUL (BUT NOT DIVINE!)

          Scripture:  1 Corinthians 13:12

WILL WE REMEMBER OUR LIFE  IN HEAVEN?  YES.                                                             WILL WE REMEMBER OUR SINS AND MISTAKES – REGRETS?                    NO.                                HOW GOD ACCOMPLISHES BOTH MUST REMAIN A MYSTERY SINCE SCRIPTURE DOESN’T GIVE ENOUGH DETAILS FOR US TO UNDERSTAND.   YET, THE DEPTH OF OUR REDEMPTION AND LIVES HE TRANSFORMS ON EARTH SHOULD REMOVE ANY DOUBT OUR FORGIVENESS IS COMPLETE AND HIS DETERMINED WILL TO OVER COME ALL BARRIERS.                                                                                                            YES, WE WILL REMEMBER OUR EARTHLY LIVES AND PEOPLE WE KNEW ON EARTH BUT WITHOUT REGRETS AND  SADNESS.    WE DON’T KNOW HOW THAT WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED, BUT GOD KNOWS.

          Scripture:  Isaiah 43:25; Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21; 

WILL THERE BE ANIMALS IN HEAVEN?                                                        YES. YET SCRIPTURE DOESN’T SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY PETS AND ANIMALS WE LOVED AND CARED FOR ON EARTH, BUT DOESN’T SAY THEY WON’T BE.  Scripture tells us dangerous animals will be harmless.  They will serve a purpose and be of value to God and to heaven’s inhabitants.

          Scripture:  Isaiah 11:6, Isaiah 65:25, Revelation 19:11

                                       WEEK 2  – JANUARY 13, 2021                                 4

WHO WILL GREET US AS WE ENTER HEAVEN?  LOVED ONES WILL GREET US.  THOSE WHO DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY IMPACTED US  AND THOSE WE IMPACTED WILL GREET US.   BUT, MOST OF ALL JESUS WILL GREET US. Scripture:  REVELATIONS 21:4; 1 CORINTHIANS 2:9; PHILIPPIANS 3:20-21; LUKE 23:43; MATTHEW 18:10;  REVELATION 7:9;  1 JOHN 3:2; 1 THESSALONIANS 4:17;  1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-18; JOHN 14:2-4; REVELATION 21:22-27; HEBREWS 4:1-11;                                                             

Will we be able to see and know our friends and family?   yes

King Saul recognized Samuel when the witch of Endor summoned Samuel from the realm of the dead (1 Samuel 28:8-17). When David’s infant son died, David declared, “I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23). David assumed that he would be able to recognize his son in heaven, despite the fact that he died as a baby. In Luke 16:19-31, Abraham, Lazarus, and the rich man were all recognizable after death. At the transfiguration, Moses and Elijah were recognizable (Matthew 17:3-4). In these examples, the Bible does seem to indicate that we will be recognizable after death.

The Bible declares that when we arrive in heaven, we will “be like him [Jesus]; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Just as our earthly bodies were of the first man Adam, so will our resurrection bodies be just like Christ’s (1 Corinthians 15:47). “And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:49, 53). Many people recognized Jesus after His resurrection (John 20:16, 20; 21:12; 1 Corinthians 15:4-7). If Jesus was recognizable in His glorified body, we also will be recognizable in our glorified bodies. Being able to see our loved ones is a glorious aspect of heaven, but heaven is far more about God, and far less about us. What a pleasure it will be to be reunited with our loved ones and worship God with them for all eternity.

 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God^[a]; believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴ You know the way to the place where I am going.”            JOHN 14,1-3    ⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you really know me, you will know^[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”  JOHN 14,6-7                           

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The first and most important to greet us will be Jesus.  Our family and friends will know us and likely will be near by to greet us, but our first and immediate reaction to seeing Jesus will be awe and worship.  The contemporary song “I can only imagine”, by  Bart Millard, EXPRESSES THIS WONDERFULLY:                                      

I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk by your side
I can only imagine
What my eyes would see
When your face is before me
I can only imagine
I can only imagine, yeah

Surrounded by your glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of You be still
Will I stand in your presence
To my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the sun
I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

Surrounded by your glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of You be still
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you
I can only imagine

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WILL THERE BE MARRIAGE IN HEAVEN?                  NO NOT TO EACH OTHER

However, the marriage referred to in heaven will be believers to Christ.

 Revelation 19:7-9   Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

Scripture: Top of FormMatthew 22:30 ;Luke 20:34-36 ;Mark 12:22-25 ;Matthew 22:23-30 ; Romans 7:2 ;1 Corinthians 2:9 ;Romans 7:1-25 ;Mark 12:25; Hosea 2:19

HOW CAN I BE SURE HEAVEN WILL BE MY FUTURE?  SCRIPTURE GIVES US THE CONDITIONS OF SALVATION AND PROMISE OF SALVATION WHEN WE HAVE BELIEVED IN JESUS AND ACCEPTED HIS FORGIVENESS AND REDEMPTION AS A FREE GIFT.

          Scripture:  1 JOHN 1:9; JAMES 5:16; PROVERBS 28:13; ACTS 3:19; ROMANS 3:23-24.

4 Steps To Salvation (Romans 10:9,10)

1. Realize that you are a sinner. Romans 3:23.
2. Realize that the payment for sin is death. Romans 6:23.
3. Realize that Jesus died on the cross for your sins. Romans 5:8.
4. Repent of your sins; accept Jesus as your Savior, and ask Him to come into your life. Romans 10:9.

⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  1 JOHN 1:9                                                                                                           ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.  JAMES 5:16

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WHO WILL BE IN HEAVEN AND WHO WON’T BE?  ANY AND ALL WHO RECEIVE FORGIVENESS FROM CHRIST WILL BE IN HEAVEN.  THOSE WHO

GOD CAN AND WILL’s FOR ALL WHO PREMIT HIM.  HE IS ONLY LIMITED BY OUR WILLINGNESS TO YIELD TO  HIM.  GOD IS A GENTLEMAN AND WILL NOT ENTER AND CHANGE US UNLESS WE INVITE HIM.

          Scripture:                                                                                                          Those who will be:  JOHN 5:24; JOHN 3:3; JOHN 14:6; JOHN 3:16;                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               1 CORINTHIANS 2:9; EPHESIANS 2:8-9                                                                          Those who won’t be there:  HEBREWS 10:26-31; MATTHEW 7:21-23;  REVELATION 21:8;                                                                                             MATTHEW 6:9-14 ⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:                                                                 “‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,^[a]
    but deliver us from the evil one.^[b]’

¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

 LUKE 16:19-31      The Rich Man and Lazarus                                        8

¹⁹ “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and ^[a]fared sumptuously every day. ²⁰ But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, ²¹ desiring to be fed with ^[b]the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. ²² So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³ And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

²⁴ “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ ²⁵ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. ²⁶ And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’

²⁷ “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, ²⁸ for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ ²⁹ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ ³⁰ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ ³¹ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”

WEEK 3  –  JANUARY 20, 2021

WHAT WILL I DO IN HEAVEN?    WE WILL DISCOVER GOD’S HAND AT WORK DIRECTLY FROM THE FAITHFUL FROM OLD AS WELL AS THE FAITHFUL FROM ALL GENERATIONS.  WE WILL ALL HAVE WORK WE ARE DESIGNED TO DO.   WE WILL SPEND MUCH TIME IN PRAISE AND WORSHIP AND SONG WORSHIPPING OUR LORD TOGETHER.  OUR LIVES WILL BE FULL AND WILL NOT BE BORING.   

          Scripture:  CORPORATE WORSHIP – REV 5:13; FEASTING TOGETHER – ISAIAH 25:6; MATTHEW 8:11; LUKE 22:30;  LIVING TOGETHER WITH OTHER BELIEVERS ENJOYING EACH OTHER, ENJOYING SURROUNDINGS, AND ENJOYING FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST TOGETHER – REV. 19:9; REV. 21-22;    

WHAT WILL I BE AND LOOK LIKE IN HEAVEN?  HAPPY – FULFILLED – JOYFUL.       WE WILL BE SINLESS AND FULLY ENLIGHTENED.   WE WILL EXPERIENCE PERFECT LOVE.                                                                       

                                                                                                                      9                                                                                          WE WILL ENJOY PERFECT BODIES THAT WILL NOT AGE OR WEAKEN OR   HAVE PAIN OR SICKNESS.

          Scripture:  1 CORINTHIANS 15:43,49,53; 1 JOHN 3:2; LUKE 24:37-43; JOHN 20:19.

WEEK 4  –  JANUARY 27, 2021

  HE IS RETURNING SOON TO TAKE BELIEVERS TO HEAVEN  AWAY FROM SATAN’S EVIL MISCHIEF.

          Scripture:  WARS AND MAN CAUSED DISASTERS SO BAD THAT IF CHRIST DOES NOT RETURN, MAN IS AT BRING OF DESTROYING HIMSELF, DROUGHTS  AND FAMINE WORSE THAN IN PAST, EARTHQUAKES AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS WORSE AND MORE FREQUENT THAN IN PAST, DISEASE EPIDEMICS AND PLAGUES WORSE AND MORE FREQUENT THAN IN PAST –  MATTHEW 24; LUKE 21;  REV. 6:5.  ALSO, GODLESSNESS AND GOOD BEING TREATED AS EVIL AND EVIL AS GOOD ALONG WITH GREAT PERSECUTION OF CHRIST FOLLOWERS.

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.  

2 Timothy 3:1-17   But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. …

WHAT SHOULD WE DO IN THE MEANTIME TO PREPARE?  USE TIME WISELY TO LEARN AND SHARE THE GOSPEL BY LIFE EXAMPLE AND WORDS.

          Scripture:  WATCH, BE ON GUARD, STAY AWAKE – MARK 13:24-37; LIVE IN THE LIGHT (BE IN CONSTAND FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST) – LUKE 19:11-27; BE DISCERNING OF FALSE TEACHERS – MARK 13:5-6,21-22 , 2 THESS. 2:1-3;  ACCEPT UNCERTANTY OF NOT KNOWING DAY OR HOUR OF CHRIST’S RETURN – MARK 13:32-33; DON’T LOOSE HOPE – TITUS 2:11-13

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ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER – 1 THESS 4:13-18, 5:2; LIVE AS THOUGH HE WAS COMING TODAY, DOING THE WORK JESUS LEFT US TO DO, SPREADING THE GOSPEL BY ACTIONS AND CONDUCT AND WORD– MARK 13:7-11; Store food n water n guns / ammo?                                                                          Find a good hiding place in the country or mountains?

What would Jesus have us do to prepare?   READ 2 PETER 3 FOR THE ANSWER:  BE ON GUARD FOR COMING DECEPTION                                                                                    
     *   Put as much scripture – especially Jesus’ words – to memory                                   Warn others of Christ’s return and coming judgment – Tell the Good News – Gospel news so more will get ready.  Christ is coming to take us home.   Even if we suffer or even martyred before He returns, we still win.  READ MATTHEW 24  

• As we get closer to His return, respect for Christian values and those who believe in them and in Christ deteriorates to the point that evil will be judged good and good – evil.
  • What did the first century Christians do in midst of Roman persecution?  They hid at times and were bold in witness and preaching at times but endured and faced death with confidence and courage.   They believed what Jesus promised.  They decided to invest in the future instead of in the present.

WEEK 5 – FEBRUARY 3, 2021

  The above questions are some of the most common asked.  Heaven is the greatest mystery and unknown this side of the grave, but scripture doesn’t leave us clueless.    But truth is, the level of trust and faith in God we have determines if we can accept and believe what scripture tells us and trust He will be faithful and provide best for us when it comes to unanswered or partially answered questions.

So, let’s take a dive of discovered to find out what God has told us.

Heaven is real and accessible without delay when and to whom God choses to allow access.   No need for a map or provisions for journey because God  both when He says to us, time to come home.

A cute story comes to mind.    A Sunday school teacher asked the children in  her class to  raise their hand if they want to go  to heaven.  Everyone in the

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class raised their hand except one boy.   She then asked him why he didn’t want to go to heaven.  He then said he did but not yet.   We all feel the same way as that boy, especially when we are young and strong, but that changes as we age and life fades.  As family and friends pass on and our body weakens, heaven slowly becomes more real and home to us. 

So, what is heaven like?  Have you ever wondered.  I suppose such thoughts come to us as we get older and know more and more there, especially as we approach and pass the age of loved ones when they passed on.

A co-worker once defined “middle age” as knowing as many people dead as alive and old age is when most of those we know are dead and only a few are still alive.   As I see the years pass and realize I will soon be 70, I conclude I too know more people dead than alive, but also am discovering heaven is feeling more like home too because I know so many there and because my relationship with Christ and trust in Him are growing as the years pass too. 

So, let’s take a dive into scripture and determine what God has revealed to us about heaven and how that compares to what we imagine heaven to be like. Most of our thoughts about the future—even the near future—are punctuated by question marks.

                                            WEEK 6 – FEBRUARY 10, 2021

Scripture compares heaven to:

1. A place Christ is preparing for believers to dwell with Him.  John 14:2-3
2. A place of celebration like a wedding feast.  Rev. 19:9
3. A place like a many room house.  John 14:2
4. A city (New Jerusalem).  Hebrews 11:10,16
5. A city like none other – 1500 miles wide x 1500 miles long x 1500 miles high.  Revelation 21:9-27
   1. A new heaven and new earth unveiled at end of 1000 yr reign.  Immortal – glorified bodies believers receive will be able to navigate in the city, new heaven, and new earth perfectly.
   1. God will abide in the Holy City (New Jerusalem) to be accessible as “Emmanuel” to the earth.
6. A city with gates of pearl and streets of gold.   Rev. 21:21
7. A country with hills flowing with sweet wine.  Amos 9:13
8. A real physical place

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1. A place to eat and drink at Christ’s table.  Luke 22:17,29-30; Matthew 8:11
   1. Animals will reside there but will no longer prey on each other. Vs 25
2. A good place free of the pain and death and evil from the curse.
   1. God will wipe away all tears and sorrow and crying.  No more pain, hunger, fear, thirst, and past suffering.  Rev. 21: 4
   1. All will be restored in heaven to perfection intended at creation before fall.  Gen. 3:17-19; Rev. 22:3; Isa. 65:16
3. Heaven is a place of perfect fellowship with God
   1. We will perfectly know and be like Christ.   1 John 3:2
4. Heaven is a place of perfect worship of God
   1. Worship without distraction or fatigue.  Rev. 4:8-11, 5:9-14. 7:10-12, 11:16-19, 16:5-7.
   1. We will inhabit perfect bodies that will not fatigue or age or grow weiry. 1 Cor. 15:42; Psalm 16:11.
5. Heaven is a place of restored relationships
6. Relationships damage by sin will be restored in heaven. Mark 12:25
   1. The future God has planned and is preparing for us is more wonderful than we can imagine but only will be available to those who accept redemption Christ paid dearly but at no cost to us. 
   1. God wants us and our loved ones to be redeemed even more than we do but allows everyone to make their own “free will” choice. He also is asking us live and share His Good News so many more will repent. There is room for all.  Even just the New Jerusalem alone will be big enough to house many times everyone who ever lived since Adam, not counting the new earth and new heaven.

We have the recorded history of many generations of faithful men and women who followed God’s call and instruction and enjoyed blessing and close fellowship with God. 

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We also have recorded history of evil people who may have enjoyed success and prosperity for awhile but ultimately paid a terrible price for their sins   This information helps us understand past followers, understand how they communed with God and God with them as they navigated through life and obstacles and choices.   We see how God confirmed good choices and gave warning signs to avoid foolish choices and divert back from wrong choices.   We have evidence of fulfillment of promises God gave and preparation God provided to those He chose to be involved in fulfillment of those promises.

There are promises and prophecies yet to be fulfilled but so far God’s fulfilment history is 100%.   We also have the added blessing of personal history and history of our family and family ancestors to add to our confidence that God’s faithfulness and wise direction will continue.  All this to convince us that God can and should be trusted and followed.   To add to our confidence and sure success, God has promised to walk with us and does so by His Holy Spirit abiding and guiding us all the time.  Since the Holy Spirit is God, He can so abide with each of us at the same time and still give His full focus on each of us without distraction.  Our choices do impact our  path of obedience and how He interacts with others too because of the interactive impact of our actions on others and theirs on us.

He is also preparing a home and place for us.  He is preparing heaven for us as well as preparing us for heaven.   ALL ARE INVITED AND HAVE THE CHOICE OF HEAVEN AS THEIR SURE DESTINATION AND HIS ABIDING COUNCIL ON THAT JOURNEY. 

BUT NOT ALL WILL REACH THAT DESTINATION NOR FOLLOW THE PATH GOD WOULD HAVE THEM FOLLOW.  Why not?   BECAUSE NOT ALL WILL CHOOSE TO ACCEPT HIS INVITATION AND FOLLOW HIS BEST PATH.   WE ALL ARE PERMITTED TO MAKE OUR OWN CHOICE.  WE CAN CHOOSE PATH BUT WE CAN’T CHOOSE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT CHOICE.  ONLY GOD HOLD THAT AND WILL TRY TO ENCOURAGE US IN THAT CHOICE SO WE HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THAT DESTINATION – THE DESTINATION HE HAS PROVIDED FOR US.

Well, it seems like a “no brainer”, but satan doesn’t take defeat without a fight.  Satan wants to convince as many as he can to follow him to the judgment God has warned and promised will happen to satan and all who follow his resolve to fight God’s Will and Plan.

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So, let’s look at 3 of the reasons we have to give us confidence God is preparing a body and place for us to spend eternity.

1. In the midst of life’s storms and hardships and dangers and temptations, we have the confidence and assurance of eternal life.  Paul said it this way in Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”  Hebrews 6:19 “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”   I think it interesting Paul used the word anchor.  This word compares the anchor for a ship.   The storms and waves and wind all are capable of sinking the ship but the anchor holds the ship in place until the storm pass.   But the anchor remains on the ship ready to use until the ship docks in its destination port.   God passionately has our best interest at heart, so the destination and help available to us is His assurance to us we will get to our eternal home and will be all and more than we hope for.  All we have to do is keep our hand in His and follow the path He has set.  Not a path or destination we deserve, but one His forgiveness paid for so we have access to and assurance of heaven.  Heaven is a gift no one can take or rob from us.  Those who miss out do so by choosing to do so.  They do so by rejecting Christ’s sacrifice, so facing judgment will be their own fault, not anyone else.
2. Heaven is a real place so the reliability and skill of its builder gives us fresh purpose and meaning.  Why?  BECAUSE WE KNOW AND CAN SEE THE SKILL OF GOD’S PAST CREATIONS AND DESCRIPTION OF HEAVEN.   BECAUSE HE ALSO PROMISES NEVER TO LEAVE OR FORSAKE US.  All God’s promises and evidence of heaven gives us Good News to share so others and choose to join us in the journey to heaven.  God always has a free hand to give to new followers.  There is always room for one more. Psalm 90:12 “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”  Knowing this also helps us to number and use wisely the precious time on earth God blesses us with and become more aware of importance of spending that time doing things more important from an eternal perspective.
3. Heaven is a place of pure joy and freedom without the pain and suffering and death satan continues to pollute the earth and earth dwellers with.  So, God also assure us that by receiving Christ’s payment for our sins, we His redeemed people.   “…They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 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.” –Revelation 21:3-4

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So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time … and in the age to come, eternal life.”
Mark 10:29-30

 ¹⁶ “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ¹⁷ But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 6:16-18

It is human nature to want others to notice our good deeds but Jesus tells us good deeds should not be displayed or bragged about because God notices and desires exclusive privilege to bless and multiply and reward good deeds.  Fasting has been a valuable tool to help us focus on prayer and convince ourselves how important it is to seek and do God’s Will and not to indulge in our selfish will and nature.  However, fasting is to be practiced in secret without showing off.   Pride has a way of infiltrating and corrupting even good deeds and spoiling their benefit both on receiver and giver if left unchecked and unrepented.

I have often wondered about the reward scripture speaks of waiting faithful followers of Christ in heaven.   A mansion and streets of gold, for me, would be desirable for someone selfish and still carnal in nature as we all are to some degree on earth, not freed of satan’s temptations and lures and distractions as we will be in heaven.

Granted, I am not disputing the beauty of what God is preparing for us, but think the reward He has for us most precious to Him and to us is much different.  I believe the answer is revealed in a contemporary Christian song written by Ray Boltz “Thank you!”  Read the lyrics below and see if your conclusion matches mine:

 “I dreamed I went to heaven
You were there with me
We walked along the streets of gold
Beside the crystal sea
We heard the angels singing
Then someone called your name
You turned and saw a young man
He was smiling as he came

He said friend, you may not know me now
But then he said but wait
You used to teach my Sunday school
When I was only eight
Every week you would say a prayer
Before the class would start
One morning when you said that prayer
I asked Jesus in my heart                                                                                                                      Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed

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Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave

Then another man stood before you
And said remember the time
A missionary came to your church
His pictures made you cry
You didn’t have much money
But you gave it anyway
Jesus took the gift you gave
And that’s why I’m here today

Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave

One by one they came,
As far as the eye could see

Each one somehow touched
By your generosity
Little things that you had done, sacrifices made
Unnoticed on the earth, heaven now proclaims
And I know up in heaven
That you’re not supposed to cry
But I was almost sure
There were tears in your eyes
As Jesus took your hand
And you stood before the Lord
And He said my child look around you
For great is your reward

Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am a life that was changed
Thank you for giving to the Lord
I am so glad you gave
I am so glad you gave
I am so glad you gave

Did you notice the reward noted in the song?  The great reward described in this song, and the reward I believe we will enjoy most in heaven will not be riches or mansions or beautiful surrounding or even youthful never aging bodies, but in discovering how God used our humble and even half-hearted, at times, acts of obedience to transform the lives of others – the ripple and compounding effect of those acts that resulted in large numbers of people learning about and following Christ   I also believe we will be among that multitude

reaching out to our ancestors revealing to them how their faithfulness impacted our lives.  

                                                                                                                                                     17

I know within my own family my mother and father were instrumental in teaching and leading me to Christ.  Yet, my mother’s great grandmother and grandfather were equally instrumental on her and my father coming to Christ.  That influence drew my parents to attend their church in town.  They cared for her grandparents, inheriting their drafty old double boarded home but also their faith.  I too grew up in that old house and in the same church and the faith that preceded me.  That legacy will spawn many wondering stories being  told to heaven one day.  What stories are in your family’s past too?

So take a few minutes and read again the words to this wonderful song and worship the Savior who bought your salvation and redemption and is now preparing your eternal home for you.   Imagine that home also includes using your obedience to witness and persuade others to come to Him too and will continue to do so even after we enter heaven’s gates.

Well, keep in mind Christ has promised to return but has not told us when.  But the signs and circumstances describes sure sound like what today’s circumstances and godless behavior are approaching.

Personally, I believe Christ’s return will take place soon and believe the only way His return might be delayed would be if a revival and repentance of both unrepented and sinful people as described in 2 Chronicles 7:14 took place.  I believe such a revival took place many times through history and also believe Christ’s return and all the end time judgment described in scripture is soon.  It will be a terrible time but of limited duration.  Satan will orchestrate a full attack on Christians and upon God’s chosen people the Jews.  Many will suffer persecution and even martyrdom but Christ will return to first take his people home

and away from this terrible time.  Then He will come back again 7 years later to stop and judge satan and all who followed him.

So the big question is, will the dangerous path the world, and most people, are on continue?  A path that would cause the extinction of man if Christ did not return to stop it. 

So what are we to do.   Follow Daniel’s example and be and remain faithful to our Lord and nourish our relationship with Him through prayer and bible study and fellowship with other believers and by obedience in action and thought and in witness.   Christ is a rewarder of all who seek and follow Him, both now and in eternity (Hebrews 11:6).

We don’t follow Christ to be rewarded, but His grace assures us that His blessings will be ours.  Our primary motivation to follow Christ is because of His love and sacrifice for us.  To focus more on pleasing Him and less on thinking about the reward or worse to deceive ourselves into thinking we work to earn our reward.

WE CAN NOT WORK HARD ENOUGH OR LONG ENOUGH TO EARN THE REWARD WE ALREADY ARE GIVEN AT SALVATION – THE GIFT OF FORGIVENESS.   ON TOP OF THAT, HE GIVES US ETERNAL LIFE, A NEW ETERNAL BODY, An ETERNAL HOME MORE WONDERFUL THAN WE CAN IMAGINE, AND FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM PERSONALLY AND WITH THE HOST OF ANGELS AND OUR ANCESTORS.   AND THAT IS WHAT WE KNOW, NOT THE REST HE IS   WORKING TO SURPRISE US WITH.