Thursday, June 5, 2014

Heaven and Gary Plueger, III



eDevotion
Encouragement for your daily walk with God DEVOTION FOR 

There are many references to heaven in the Bible, two of which are my favorites. One of them allows my imagination run wild when it says we can’t come close to figuring out what heaven is like [a loose translation of 2 Corinthians 2:9]. The other is an encouraging word from Jesus to not get discouraged while we wait for our heavenly reward [another loose translation of John 14:1].

As I’ve been thinking about my friend, Gary Plueger who went to his reward this week, my mind has replayed many of our conversations. And in the last few weeks, our talk seemed to center around how easy it is to get discouraged, even weary, as we are waiting for the day of heavenly celebration, especially when this old body of ours is wracked with disease. But that is really the point of our Savior’s encouragement. The old King James Bible begins John 14:1 by saying, “Let not your heart be troubled...” Easier said than done, right? To be sure, many things in life can make for a “troubled heart.”

The apostle Paul wrote a letter to Christ followers in Corinth, Greece, which included these powerful words of encouragement:

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our inner strength in the Lord is growing every day. These troubles and sufferings of ours are, after all, quite small and won't last very long. Yet this short time of distress will result in God's richest blessing upon us forever and ever! So we do not look at what we can see right now, the troubles all around us, but we look forward to the joys in heaven which we have not yet seen. The troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever [2 Corinthians 4:16-18 - The New Living Bible].

To be sure, heaven is not an “extreme makeover” of Beverly Hill or La Jolla, California, but it is a place of many residences that Jesus has been “preparing for us.” What they must look like — after all, He has been working on them for a couple of thousand years.

I can only imagine!

No mere man has ever seen, heard, or even imagined what wonderful things God has ready for those who love the Lord. 2 Corinthians 2:9 - The Living Bible 

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 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. 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. John 14:1-3

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