Our most enlarged ideas of our future glory, are faint and imperfect. Who can describe or conceive the happiness of heaven? It will be as unlike as possible--to this wilderness of sin and sorrow where we are now confined. Here on earth, we are in a warfare--but then we shall enter into perfect rest. We now cry out, "O that I had wings like a dove! For then would I flee away and be at REST." (Psalm 55:6)
Heaven will be a rest from all SIN. No 'unclean thing' shall ever defile or disturb us forever! We shall be free from all indwelling sin. This alone would be worth dying for! Indwelling sin is a burden under which all the redeemed must groan, while they sojourn in the body.
And those who are most spiritual--are most deeply affected with shame, humiliation, and grief, on account of their sins--because they have the clearest views of the holiness of God, the spirituality of His law, the love of Christ, and the deceitfulness of their own hearts! Therefore the Apostle Paul, though perhaps in grace and talents, in zeal and usefulness, was distinguished above all saints--accounted himself the 'chief of sinners,' (1 Timothy 1:15) 'less than the least of all saints,' (Ephesians 3:8) and cried out under the disparity he felt between what he actually was--and what he desired to be, "O wretched man that I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin!" (Romans 7:24)
But we shall not carry this burden of sin beyond the grave. The hour of death shall free us from our inbred enemies (the inseparable attendants of this frail perishing nature) which now trouble us, and we shall see them no more forever!
Heaven will also be a rest from all outward AFFLICTIONS, which, though necessary, and, under the influence of Divine grace, are profitable--yet they are grievous to bear. But in heaven, they will no more be necessary. Where there is no sin--there shall be no sorrow. Then, "God will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever!" (Revelation 21:4)
Heaven will also be a rest from SATAN'S TEMPTATIONS. How busy is this adversary of God and man--what various arts and schemes he employs! What surprising force, what constant assiduity does he employ to ensnare, distress, and terrify those who by grace have escaped from his servitude! He says, like Pharaoh of old, "I will pursue, I will overtake, I will destroy!" (Exodus 15:9) He follows them to the last stage of life--but he can follow them no farther. The moment of their departure out of the body--shall place them beyond his reach forever!
Heaven will also be a rest from UNSATISFIED DESIRES. Here on earth, the more we drink--the more we thirst. But in heaven, our highest wishes shall be crowned and exceeded! We shall rest in full communion with Him whom we love; we shall no more complain of interruptions and imperfections, and a careless heart.
Here on earth--we obtain a little glimpse of His presence, when He brings us into His banqueting-house, and spreads His banner of love over us! And how gladly would we remain in such a desirable frame! How unwilling are we to 'come down' from the mount! But these pleasing and holy seasons are quickly ended, and often give place to some sudden unexpected trial, which robs us of all that sweetness in which we lately rejoiced. But when we ascend the holy hill of God above--we shall never again 'come down'! We shall be forever with the Lord, never offend Him, and never be separated from Him again! "I will see Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be fully satisfied with Your presence!" (Psalm 17:15)
Here on earth--we find a mixture of evil in our most holy moments! When we approach nearest to God, we have the liveliest sense of our defilement, and how much we fall short in every branch of duty, and in every temper of our hearts. But when we shall see Jesus as He is--we shall be fully transformed into His image, and be perfectly like Him!
"Yes, dear friends, we are already God's children, and we can't even imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when He comes--we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He really is!" 1 John 3:2
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined--what God has prepared for those who love Him!" 1 Corinthians 2:9
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11 comments:
I hope He hurries it up a bit!
(I know He won't - He is patient...unlike me)
lol......yes, come quickly Lord Jesus!
Sounds boring.
I prefer the Ragnarok version of the afterlife, myself.
/pot stirring
I'll have to look that up Matt.......
Ok - Wikipedia : "The Old Norse word "ragnarök" is a compound of two words. The first part is ragna, which is the genitive plural of regin ("gods" or "ruling powers"), from the reconstructed Proto-Germanic term *ragenō. The second part is rök, which has several meanings, such as "development, origin, cause, relation, fate, end". The traditional interpretation is that prior to the merging of /ö/ and /ø/ (ca. 1200) the word was rök, derived from Proto-Germanic *rakō.[6] The word ragnarök as a whole is then usually interpreted as something like "final destiny of the gods.""
"In Norse mythology, Ragnarök (pronounced /ˈræɡnərɒk/;[2] Old Norse [rɑɡnɑrøk] "final destiny of the gods"[3]) is a series of major events, including a great battle foretold to ultimately result in the death of a number of major figures (including the gods Odin, Thor, Freyr, Heimdall, and the jötunn Loki), the occurrence of various natural disasters, and the subsequent submersion of the world in water. Afterward, the world resurfaces anew and fertile, the surviving gods meet, and the world is repopulated by two human survivors. Ragnarök is an important event in the Norse canon, and has been the subject of scholarly discourse and theory."
As long as were stirring the pot.....I guess it all boils down to if one can be forgiven of sins and has been supernaturally changed by the entity one believes in.
Anything like that in the Ragnarok version of things?
Nope, but in the afterlife there is endless, glorious battle and then, each evening, the dead are resurrected for feasting and drinking throughout the night...and the next morning it starts all over again; what more could a young warrior want?
That doesn't do it for you? How about the Pastafarian heaven? There's a beer volcano and everyone is allowed in, even the people who don't believe (although they have to do the dishes!)
Or reincarnation? Multiple tries at life, each time (perhaps) getting a bit closer to Nirvana where you get to jam with Cobain for all time.
Or the atheist version of things where you just die.
Not very appealing, is it? You. Just. Die.
I imagine some people would find that thought terrifying enough that they'd invent anything to believe in, rather than accepting that death is the end...
When we get our first glimpse of His glory there are no words to describe it. Our second glimpse will exceed the first....and on and on throughout eternity. What a future!
Seriously Ike, that sounds so boring I can't even tell you.
Without pain, how can pleasure have any meaning? Without sadness, what does 'joy' mean?
The whole concept of Heaven seems really weird to me. I mean, what's the point of living forever? Yeah, the first million years, or so, might be a blast - you'll get to hang out with all the greats and learn from their wisdom (plus Jesus too, which would be pretty cool!), but after those first million years, what then? Another million years? And another?
No thanks.
Matt,
You will bow your knee to the Lord in this life....or He will break your knee's and make you bow to His Lordship in the next. What you think or feel isn't the point. You either want truth or you don't.
I'm not a friend of yours if I do not tell you the truth. It pains me to tell this to you. Matt....I'm not sure why you keep coming back to this blog...I hope it is because the Lord is doing a work in your heart and someday He will save you. But let me warn you.....if you keep hearing the truth and continue to trample over the precious blood of Jesus Christ....you will not only go to hell.....you will be one who recieves "many" lashes. The more truth you know.....the more responsibility lays upon you.
Ike,
Wow! Worship God or He'll kneecap me? What is He, IRA?
I come back here because I like you guys, I like chatting with you. That's it, no mystical Force compelling me to return, I just enjoy the conversation.
Oh, and please please please tell me how you can have "many" lashes in an infinite Hell; this I've got to hear!
Like I get to Hell, where I will be tortured for all eternity, but because I heard the True Gospel a few more times than some other people, I get it worse than they do? To quote Monty Python; "Worse? How could it possibly be any worse?!"
You see, this is why I keep coming back!
Regards,
We will always be finite people chasing after an infinite God. That's why eternity is so long. If you want to go to heaven because there is no pain...that's one thing...but the main reason we want heaven is because our Savior is there. Eternal life or eternal death? It's one or the other.
I see you didn't respond to anything I wrote....
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