Heaven

When you think of Heaven what comes to mind?  As a child I thought of heaven much like it was a magical place.  Where eternity resided, with endless tomorrows not bound by the grains of sand within the hourglass.

The concept of heaven has been placed in the minds and hearts of people throughout centuries.   Though it may be defined in many ways, the hope of heaven remains.    In the secular mindset Heaven is a place where everyone will  reside.   That all people get to inhabit despite their earthly choices and lifestyle.

Ephesians 2:8-9 is very clear about salvation.

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.

Individuals are only eligible for Heaven through the free gift bought and paid for through Christ the son of God.   It is not earned by good behavior or works.   It is a provision provided through Grace and obtained by faith.

Christ spoke a great deal about Hell.   It is believed he talked about the topic more than he did Heaven.

In today’s society we have warning labels on most every consumer-based product.   All to promote safety of those that use them.   Christ gave due warning about worldly pursuits and pleasures that were foundationally rooted in sin and contrary to his teaching.

Heaven is a real place.   A place the apostle Paul wrote about that was beyond earthly description.   The details of which were so great words could not capture its essence.

Hell has been described as a place of unquenchable fire, eternal torment, sorrow, weeping and despair.     Jesus warned about the path that leads to destruction.

In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus shared the following instruction within his sermon on the mount:

¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Understanding the true presence of Heaven and Hell should be ample motivator for us as Christians to spread the gospel with zeal.   The great commission is an invitation for us to be about God’s rescue mission for the world.

We have both the Hope of Heaven and the warning of Hell to motivate us to reach the lost in his name.  May we be encouraged to do so with passion and compassion.   Knowing that but for the Grace of God we too would travel the wide path that would lead to eternal sorrow and abandonment.

So today, take heart in all that God has done, take heart knowing all that God has won,  and take heart and share his love with someone today.

Pastor Dan Blakely