Corona Devo 140

In February, just before the Corona lock-downs began, I got to spend a few precious days with my Gramma before she passed. She had a long and lively life and she was spunky right until the end.  But it was the end, and as I sat by her bedside, it was a beautiful thing for me to sing her songs of comfort and hope, like Amazing Grace and I Have Decided To Follow Jesus.  I pray that she did.  

We also read scripture.  God's word is a gift that is perfect for all occasions, and Gramma and I read from Revelation about what heaven will be like.  

Heaven will be stunning on so many levels.  The very first thing to behold about heaven is that we will be in God's presence:  

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.  ~Revelation 21:1-3

The next thing powerful aspect about heaven is what it will NOT be.  All of the troubles and trials that plague us, hurt us, deplete us and worry us here on earth will NOT be in heaven:

 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”  5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!”   ~Revelation 21:4-5

Just let that soak in for a moment.  Not only will we get to be in the presence of the Lord Almighty, but He will take away all of the sadness and trouble from our hearts and minds and bodies.  

God encourages us (through His word) to know who He is and what is coming next for those who love Him:

5 ...And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” 6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.

8 “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

God doesn't put a list of parameters on our steps in getting to heaven.  He keeps it simple:  To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. (Revelation 21:6).  I am thirsty, how about you?  Thirsty for acceptance and unconditional love and proof that I was created for a purpose.  God knows that we are thirsty, and He is the refresher of our souls.  

And He keeps it simple: if we choose to accept Him in our hearts, and live for Him, our future with Him is secured:  7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.  Done and done.  God does not complicate our salvation.  We do.  Let's stop doing that.  

And then John (the Baptist, writer of Revelation) moves into describing the next layer of heaven: the lavishness, the luxuriance, and the royalty of heaven: 

10 So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal. 

18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. 19 The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.

21 The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass.  ~Revelation 21:10-11, 18-21

Wow.  Just in case we've never read a description of heaven in the Bible...WOW!

I don't even know half of the jewels listed here, but we can sense the rarity and value of them.  And something that we are familiar with is the value of gold. ...the city was pure gold (Revelation 21:18).  What?  We can't even grasp that, and I believe that is God's point.  His riches and royalties are unmatched and unequaled and He is worthy of it all.  Beyond worthy.  Our tiny brains can't really comprehend a city where God is appropriately honored but these descriptions give us a taste.  

Where will we go to worship in Heaven?  Everywhere. 

22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. 24 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. 25 Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. 26 And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. 27 Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  ~Revelation 21:1-27

Awesome, right?  Who would not want to spend eternity with God in heaven?  

But then why do we fear death so much?

Why do we run from it?  Ignore it.  Avoid discussing it?  

I think part of the answer is that most people don't know what is waiting for them after death.  For instance, have you read these verses about our eternity before?  God's love and plan for our lives is as close as our next prayer to Him right now.  Heaven will be amazing!  We should talk about it more!

But perhaps another angle of death and not-choosing to follow Christ's ways here on earth is the same answer previously stated, but with a different final reality: most people don't know what is waiting for them after death.  Heaven will be glorious and being in God's presence indescribable.  But don't gloss over the verses that mention the reality for those who will not enter heaven's gates (verses 8 & 27).  

Our decision to love the Lord and live for Him will have an outcome.  And just like my sweet final hours with Gramma, I believe it's only loving and fair to remind and encourage anyone that will listen of God's love for them.  His forgiveness of our sin, and the future that He has reserved for us with Him in the beautiful city of God (heaven) are our choice.

Today, maybe for the first time, or in a renewed commitment to Jesus: let's choose to live in the spirit of the old hymn: I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, No Turning Back, No Turning Back. 

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com/