2 Corinthians 5:1-2, 5-9 – For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan,longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
God has a goal for all of us and that is for us to be with Him forever. It is our hope and dream. We look at all the pain in this world and long to be where the pain no longer touches us. God has prepared that place for us. However not having pain is not the best thing about heaven. The best thing is that we will forever be with our Lord. That is our hope and there is no greater hope.
The following verses tell of the heroes of the bible, those of great faith who didn’t settle for the things of this earth, but pushed on, through struggles, torture and death, to receive their reward of being with God in heaven. Hebrews 11:14-16 – 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Let us likewise remember the mortality we all share and pray that we might be used by our God to share what we possess…Jesus.
IHS 7/9/14