Heaven

We will be with God and life will be beautiful.

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”  Colossians 3:16 (NASB)

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Let this be a time of worship to God.  Pray each prayer and add your own personal message to God.  Read each scripture as though reading it for the first time – listen carefully for the voice of God.  Listen to each song paying close attention to the lyrics provided.  These songs were carefully chosen.  Even if the music is not your favorite style of music, know that the musicians performing are sincerely making music to the Lord.  Try to feel the passion in their words and their musical expression.  Give thought to the message presented and confirm the truth therein by opening your Bible and taking some time to do your own personal study.  May you be greatly blessed.

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Let’s Pray Together

Heavenly Father, we stand in your presence in awe of your awesome power and love.  We seek that which is your will in our lives and look forward to the return of your Son Jesus Christ.  Please Father, wrap your arms around each of us and provide for us all of our needs.  Forgive us Father, for all of our mistakes and failures in our pursuit of righteousness.  Develop in us the ability to also forgive those who disrupt our lives.  Open our eyes Father, to the enemy who is in pursuit of our souls.  Let us see clearly the evil trying to control our lives so that we can avoid destruction.  We offer this prayer in the Holy name of Jesus.  Amen.

Heaven

There is some debate among Christians about when and where we will find ourselves in heaven.  While there is a lot said about heaven in the Bible, the details are somewhat vague.  One interpretation is that heaven is not so much a place as it is a spiritual realm which all believers are part of, once they have trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Philippians 3:20 (NASB)

While all believers are members of the Kingdom of Heaven, we currently do not reside there; we are at this time in residence of these earthly bodies.  We are spirits inside earthly bodies.  The apostle Paul implies in 2 Corinthians that when believers die they enter the spiritual realm of heaven with Jesus.

“Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight— we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.”  2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (NASB)

Paul is telling us that when we die, we are absent from our earthly body and at home with Jesus.  I’m expecting a personal greeting from Jesus and an intense moment of realization as to where I came from and where I now reside – in heaven with Jesus.  Of course, Jesus may return before we die, in which case I still anticipate a personal greeting.  The apostle Paul also makes it clear we all must stand before Jesus to give an accounting of ourselves.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”  2 Corinthians 5:10 (NASB)

I think you can see there might be a rather long line of believers waiting to have their personal meeting with Jesus; however, it seems more likely that the miraculous nature of God will allow the process of each believer’s meeting with Jesus to happen simultaneously.  I envision a very personal one-on-one meeting with Jesus where all of my inadequacies are laid bare and forgiven in the loving arms of Jesus.  There’s no question it will be an awesome moment.

Let this music stir your spirit.

I Can Only Imagine – MercyMe

I can only imagine what it will be like

When I walk, by your side

I can only imagine what my eyes will see

When you face is before me

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

Surrounded by You glory

What will my heart feel

Will I dance for you Jesus

Or in awe of You be still

Will I stand in your presence

Or to my knees will I fall

Will I sing hallelujah

Will I be able to speak at all

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine when that day comes

When I find myself standing in the Son

I can only imagine when all I would do is forever

Forever worship You

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

Surrounded by Your glory

What will my heart feel

Will I dance for You, Jesus

Or in awe of you be still

Will I stand in your presence

Or to my knees will I fall

Will I sing hallelujah

Will I be able to speak at all

I can only imagine

I can only imagine hey ya ah

Surrounded by Your glory

What will my heart feel

Will I dance for You, Jesus

Or in awe of you be still

Will I stand in Your presence

Or to my knees will I fall

Will I sing hallelujah

Will I be able to speak at all

I can only imagine

I can only imagine hey ya ah

I can only imagine yeah yeah

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine when all I will do

Is forever, forever worship You

I can only imagine

What Will Heaven be Like?

In the book of Revelation, chapter 20, we are told that when Jesus returns, believers will be raised from the dead and join him along with all the believers still alive to form the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth.  Jesus will reign over the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth for 1,000 years.  Later, in chapter 21 of Revelation, we discover that at the end of this 1,000 year period, Jesus will destroy evil forever and create a new heaven and new earth.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away.”  Revelation 21:1 (NASB)

Many believe that this means heaven and earth will be one.  Regardless of the interpretation of when and where we will encounter heaven, it is commonly understood that we will be with God and life will be beautiful.

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”  Revelation 21:3-4 (NASB)

Let this music stir your spirit.

Forever Jones – Heaven

Ooo every time I think about it HEAVEN

I’m overjoyed and overwhelmed

See the sound I hear is more than merely human praise

I know it shakes the gates of hell

I hear angels singing

Majestic are you, Lord!

Streams of glory flowing from your throne

Always and forever you reign

Holy Holy Holy yea yea yea ooooo!!

A place where sadness is forbidden and there are only tears of joy

And all rocky roads are smoothed away

Celestial being are rejoicing singing freedom songs

Along with those who’ve be redeemed

I hear angels singing

Majestic are you, Lord!

Streams of glory flowing from your throne

Always and forever you reign, Holy Holy Holy

Well, oh and I can see it now

The joy and laughter

The thought of your presence and the here ever after

Oh, I said that I can see it now

Smiling faces everywhere singing holy holy holy

Angels singing

Majestic are you, Lord!

Streams of glory flowing from your throne

Always and forever you reign, Holy Holy Holy

Oh my god is able, able, able, able, able, able

You are righteous, righteous, righteous, righteous, righteous, righteous

You are holy holy holy holy holy holy

Our Victory in Jesus

It is our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins that is our ticket to heaven.

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”  1 John 5:4 (NASB)

As a result of our faith in Jesus, we will be transformed into immortal beings living with him forever.  Death no longer has any power over believers.

“But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory”  1 Corinthians 15:54 (NASB)

Everything will be made new.  No more sorrow.  No more pain.  No more anxiety.  Death will be a thing of the past.  All of our questions about heaven will be resolved on that day.  While the details about heaven may be vague, the parts we are aware of sound pretty good.

“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Corinthians 15:57 (NASB)

Let this music stir your spirit.

One Day – Matt Redman

One day You’ll make everything new, Jesus

One day You will bind every wound

The former things shall all pass away

No more tears

One day You’ll make sense of it all, Jesus

One day every question resolved

Every anxious thought left behind

No more fear

When we all get to heaven

What a day of rejoicing that will be

When we all see Jesus

We’ll sing and shout the victory

One day we will see face to face, Jesus

Is there a greater vision of grace

And in a moment, we shall be changed

On that day

And one day we’ll be free, free indeed, Jesus

One day all this struggle will cease

And we will see Your glory revealed

On that day

And when we all get to heaven

What a day of rejoicing that will be

When we all see Jesus

We’ll sing and shout the victory

Yes, when we all get to heaven

What a day of rejoicing that will be

And when we all see Jesus

We’ll sing and shout the victory

When we all get to heaven

What a day of rejoicing that will be

When we all see Jesus

We’ll sing and shout the victory

Yes, when we all get to heaven

What a day of rejoicing that will be

And when we all see Jesus

We’ll sing and shout the victory

We’ll sing and shout the victory

Thank you for spending this time worshiping God.

His door is now open to you.  You are in God’s presence.  Don’t leave without Him.  Keep Him with you throughout your day.

Go in peace.

All scripture references are linked to Bible Gateway so that you can read each verse in context.  Bible Gateway allows you to change the verse to your favorite translation and compare it side-by-side with multiple translations.  In addition, you can select to hear an audio version of any verse by clicking on the speaker icon.  Keep the Bible Gateway App on your phone so that you can visit the Word of God at any time during your day.

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