Arrival in Heaven

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Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.                   1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV

Rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks put the circumstances of our lives, both good and bad into God’s hands and help us see them through His eyes. Last night our beloved daughter-in-law Melinda slipped from this world into the presence of Jesus. And while we are overwhelmed with grief and shock, these words are promises to which we cling. Melinda has finished her race. Her battle with cancer is finished. And while that pernicious disease claimed her physical life, it could not touch her soul. That remained fully and exclusively in the hands of Jesus with whom she now lives. Nancy and I didn’t know how to process the news that came in three words. “She is gone.” Yet as sadness rolls over my heart I sense the message echo back from Heaven, ” She has arrived!”

Running to the Finish Line

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I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 1 Timothy 4:7

Sharing this message at Life Care Center last week was a moving experience for me, both as I watched the faces of the residents and thought back over the years of God’s grace and faithfulness in my own race. In long-term care, we have so very few minutes to share the message of Jesus. Each minute matters. Run your race, not someone else’s, and be patient with the other runners. Run with all your strength. There is not another life in which you can give your best. Today is the day of salvation, healing and deliverance, and another day on this planet is not promised. Last of all, we are not running to the finish line. We are running to Jesus who waits beyond the end of our race. He is calling out, “Don’t give up! Don’t turn back! You can do it!” And He waits with the crown of righteousness, not only for those we consider, “The Saints”, but as Paul says, in 2 Timothy 4:8 “For all those who love His appearing.” I pray that the seven short minutes of this video will be an encouragement, a challenge and a blessing. Have a great week everybody!

Mansion Medley

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“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? John 14:1-2 NIV

When our boys were in high school woodshop, they both chose to make wooden plaques with their names engraved on them. These they brought home and placed directly over their bedroom doors, as if to say, “This is my place in the world. Entry by permission only!” I often think of those signs when I read this verse, except that in Heaven, it is Jesus writing my name over the door to my room. Now, I can’t prove that this is true, but it does give me a clearer picture of what Jesus meant when He left us the promise in today’s verse. It is a place in Heaven reserved exclusively for us, paid for by the precious blood of our Savior. When we sang these two songs about that place, the residents all heartily joined in on the chorus. They sing knowing that their first step across the line into heaven is not far off and the value of that mansion over the hilltop is greater than ever in their hearts. Have you met the Savior, repented of your selfish lifestyle and asked Him to write your name over the doorway of your Heavenly home? He gave up His own Heavenly home for a cross, so that we He write our names over the doorway to our forever home. There is no better time than now to close that transaction!