From my earliest childhood, I was told when people died they went to heaven. Even pets died and went to heaven. Well, my thoughts were that they were gone forever. I didn't think of Heaven as a real place. It was just the sky and clouds. I didn't know that there were streets and rivers and houses and trees in Heaven. I was never told that Heaven is as real or even more real than the earth we are living on now. I guess I thought people died and were buried, their bodies returned to dust and their souls just floated away somewhere. I knew that Jesus rose from the dead and walked on the earth and appeared to many people. But I thought when He ascended into Heaven, He was gone again, just a spirit floating around out there somewhere.
One day, after I had accepted Jesus as my Savior, I was just thinking about Him and what I had been learning in the Bible and I came to the sudden realization that Jesus isn't just a spirit floating around somewhere, He isalivenot dead and in Heaven but ALIVE and in Heaven.
He is in His resurrected body, literally sitting at the right hand of God the Father. You know what He is doing right now? He is making intercession for us, you and me! Jesus Himself is praying for us, asking the Father to give us mercy and grace, to forgive us and sustain us. Jesus isalive and well!
The good news is, if we believe in Him and in His death, burial and resurrection and ask Him to forgive us of our sins and save us, He will. The earth is not home for a believer in Christ, we are just passing through. Our home is in Heaven and one day we shall be with the LORD forever and ever.
Heaven is a real Place. ( Rev. 21:14-21 ) Rev.21:14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Rev.21:15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. Rev.21:16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. Rev.21:17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. Rev.21:18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. Rev.21:19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, Rev.21:20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. Rev.21:21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
(Rev.22:1-5) Rev.22:1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Rev.22:2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Rev.22:3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. Rev.22:4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. Rev.22:5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.
(John 14:2-3) John 14:2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Shortly after my new revelation, I heard this song 'He Lives'. The words say exactly what is in my heart. I know that He is living, whatever men may say!!
He Lives
I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today; I know that He is living, Whatever men may say; I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, And just the time I need Him He's always near. -------------------------- Chorus:
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and He talks with me Along life's narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives: He lives within my heart. -------------------------
In all the world around me I see His loving care, And tho my heart grows weary I never will despair; I know that He is leading Thro' all the stormy blast, The day of His appearing Will come at last.
Chorus:
Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, Lift up your voice and sing Eternal hallelujahs To Jesus Christ the King! The hope of all who seek Him, The help of all who find, None other is so loving, So good and kind.
