GOD’S WORD FOR AUGUST 28 ~ ~ Psalm 30:5 ~ ~ “For His anger is but for a moment,

His favor is for life;  Weeping may endure for a night,  but joy comes in the morning.”

Today we’re looking at a book by Ron Rhodes called   “The Wonder of Heaven”, as we continue on the subject of the wonderful eternal life we can look forward to if we are saved by the blood of Christ!

It’s in his chapter, “Looking Toward Eternity”

Ron Rhodes:

The Bible begins with “Paradise Lost”, at which time pain, suffering, and death first entered the human race.  The Bible ends with “Paradise Regained”, at which time pain, suffering, and death will be a thing of the past.

Once we are in heaven, the sufferings we experienced during our time on earth –  even extreme suffering – will be viewed as a momentary bother.  As Sister Theresa put it, “In light of heaven, the worst suffering on earth, a life full of the most atrocious tortures on earth, will be seen to be no more serious than one night in an inconvenient  hotel.”  Theologian John Wenham comments, “Not only is it certain that this life will end, but it is certain that from the perspective of eternity it will be seen to have passed in a flash.  The toils which seem so endless will be seen to have been quite transitory and abundantly worthwhile.”

It is with this in mind that Christian writer Philip Yancey comments:  “In the Christian scheme of things, this world and the time spent here are not all there is.  Earth is a proving ground, a dot in eternity.”

We need to have an eternal perspective.  I believe that such a perspective gives us the strength we need to withstand the punches that life often throws at us during this “dot in eternity.”   Especially given the things that are happening around us, and how quickly they are passing along.   This “dot” will soon be over.  Our destiny in heaven, by contrast, is an ETERNAL destiny.  We will live there forever, and it will be a pain-free and death-fee environment.  That is something to look forward to.

The incredible glory of the afterlife should motivate each of us to live faithfully during our relatively short time on earth.  Especially when difficult times come, we must remember that we are but pilgrims on our way to another land – to the final frontier of heaven where God Himself dwells.

J.I Packer once said that the “lack of a long, strong thinking about our promised hope of glory is a major cause of our plodding, lack-luster lifestyle.”  Packer points to the Puritans as a much-needed example for us, for they believed that “it is the heavenly Christian that is the lively Christian.”  the Puritans understood that we “run so slowly, and strive so lazily, because we so little mind the prize…..So let Christians animate themselves daily to run the race set before them by practicing heavenly meditation.”

How I have come to appreciate the Puritans!  How I personally seek to imitate their example!  The Puritans “saw themselves as God’s pilgrims, traveling home through rough country;  God’s warriors, battling the world, the flesh, and the devil; and God’s servants, under orders to worship, fellowship, and do all the good they could as they went along.”  We should have the same kind of attitude.

I’m particularly impressed with the writings of Puritan Richard Baxter, author of the classic “Saints’ Everlasting Rest.”  Truly he had some habits worthy of imitation.  His first habit was to “estimate everything – values, priorities, possessions, relationships, claims, tasks – as these things will appear when one actually comes to die.”  In other words, he weighed everything in terms of their eternal benefit.  After all, our life on earth is short;  our life in heaven is forever.  If we work only for the things of this earth, what eternal benefit will all of it have?

Baxter’s second habit was to “dwell on the glory of the heavenly life to which one was going.”  Baxter daily practiced “holding heaven at the forefront of his thoughts and desires.”  The hope of heaven brought him joy, and joy brought him strength.  He once said, “A heavenly mind is a joyful mind; this is the nearest and truest way to live a life of comfort…A heart in heaven will be a most excellent preservative against temptations, a powerful means to kill your corruptions.”  He offered encouragement:  “Be of good cheer, Christian, the time is near, when God and you shall be near, and as near as you can well desire.  You shall dwell in His family.”  What a day to look forward to!

J.C. Ryle, who seems to have been made of the same stuff as Baxter, urged:  “Let us not be afraid to meditate often on the subject of heaven, and to rejoice in the prospect of good things to come.”  Indeed, “Let us take comfort in the remembrance of the other side.”  We ought to “look up and look forward!  The time is short.  The world is growing old, and evil.  The coming of the Lord draws near.”

Heavenly mindedness can help us keep our heads “screwed on straight” as Christians.   Mark Buchanan put it this way “Heavenly-mindedness is sanity.  It is the best regimen for keeping our hearts whole, our minds clear….It allows us to endure life’s agonies without despair.”  It can also motivate us to engage in the work that really matters. 

J. Oswald Sanders agrees, noting, “A study of history, both secular and sacred, reveals that the Christians who have affected the most significant social change have been those who have been gripped by the ‘powers of the coming age’” (Hebrews 6:5)

Certainly a top-down perspective comes is handy when life throws us a punch.  I love the way Randy Alcorn says it:  “Anticipating heaven doesn’t eliminate pain, but it lessens it and puts it in perspective.  Meditating on heaven is a great pain reliever.  It reminds us that suffering and death are temporary conditions.”  He is SPOT ON in his assessment that “the Biblical doctrine of heaven is about THE FUTURE, but it has tremendous benefits HERE AND NOW.  If we grasp it, it will shift our center of gravity and radically change our perspective on life.”

(Tomorrow, Mr. Rhodes will have a modern-day parable for us as well as  more enlightening thoughts.)

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Psalm 89:15

Blessed and happy are the people who know the joyful sound [of the trumpet’s blast]!

They walk, O LORD, in the light and favor of Your countenance!

Colossians 3:1

 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Philippians 4:8

  Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Titus 2:13

looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,

Hebrews 12:2

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 11:26

considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.

 Philippians 3:20

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

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