I wish to encourage you to look toward your greatest reward, Heaven!
As the children of God, we enjoy many of His graces in this life, having had the love of God lavished upon us (1 John 3:1). However, this earthly life is only the first steps in what Jehovah intends for His redeemed. After all, “our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself” (Philippians 3:20-21).
In a believer’s spiritual DNA, is the inclination to “groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:23). The anticipation of having our mortal bodies upgraded to be with and like Christ, develops an ever increasing and compelling hope that enables us to “wait for it with patience” (Romans 8:25).
The Wonder of Heaven
However, the most wonderful thing about Heaven is not the relief; it’s not escaping from the pains of this life. It’s not the absence of heart aches, or sickness, or relentless tiredness. No, Heaven’s allurement is the presence of Christ, who, is seated at the Father’s right hand in absolute authority (1 Peter 3:22).
Being in Heaven shall fulfil God’s will, which has always been “according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth” (Ephesians 1:9-10). The certainty of this heavenly hope is not self-generated, nor is it wishful thinking. Rather, our hope is entirely because “those whom he (God) predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” (Romans 8:30). This hope is rooted in the certainty of God fulfilling His Word, for “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfil it?” (Numbers 23:19).
Heaven is About God
Therefore, we look forward to that time when “this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53). A time when the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying ministry shall bring to completion this stage of work within the redeemed. When eons of sovereign foreknowledge will have been worked out completely, bringing to consummation God’s redemptive mission as the full number of Saints join the heavenly hosts for worship without end. For now however, we Saints long for our final Christ-likeness to be accomplished (2 Corinthians 3:18). We yearn for the time when the years of personal spiritual discipline and training shall culminate in our ultimate elevation. This is the final promotion of redeemed sinners to their eternal place of spiritual citizenship, Heaven.
Looking Forward to Heaven
As we look forward to our eternal home, I encourage you to give “thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light” (Colossians 1:12). Our future as Christians is a foregone conclusion, secure in the immutable character of Yahweh.
Today, as I celebrate my 54th year in this world, I’m compelled more than ever to declare the wonders of the certain hope we have in Jesus Christ the Lord. I encourage you to rejoice that Heaven is the believer’s home! Nothing can change the sovereign will of God in this matter. Today, rejoice! Speak well of the Saviour! “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). Come Lord Jesus!