Welcome to Eagle Rock Baptist Church's Daily Devotional RSS Feed, starting October 5, 2009.

Revelation 21:1-5a (ESV)

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.  And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.  He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."  And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new."

There are not many things in life that can make me cry.  I can't even remember the last time I wept.  But, there is a song by Michael Card which has brought me to the brink of breaking down many times.  It's called The New Jerusalem.  It is almost verbatim from the above passage.  When I hear it and reflect on the words I get a lump in my throat and I can barely resist the urge to weep.  The feeling that I get when I hear these words is not depression or sadness but intense homesickness. It's the unbearable pain of separation from the place where I truly belong - a place where God himself dwells with me and will dry every tear from my eye.  I find myself longing for the destruction of this fallen world and the rebirth of a new one where mankind no longer need be separated from God.  I find myself longing for even my own death so that I might be resurrected into new life with God in heaven. 

We don't belong here.   Do you realize that?  We are resurrected with Christ and belong to a different world.  But how often do we succumb to the pleasures and trappings of this meager, dark existence.  We are here as representative of the Kingdom of Heaven which is our true home.  Do you miss it?  Are you ever homesick for heaven? 

Dear Lord, forgive us for forgetting that our treasure lies in you.  Show us what it is to be homesick for our home, Heaven.  Place on our hearts a passion for your kingdom and a longing for the new life you offer us.  And set our hearts on fire that we might share this new life with those in our lives who have fallen prey to the enticements of this world.  We humbly ask these things in the name of Christ, Amen

Matthew 8:11 (NIV)

"I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven."

I love to travel.  As a young girl I lived in Madrid, Spain and my parents traveled around Europe with my brothers and me.  Maybe that is the source of my wanderlust.  I have been to many parts of the U.S., but my favorite travel destination was outside of this country, when I went to Jamaica.  The people I met and the rich tropical scenery left a lasting picture in my mind that brings a smile to my face.  I can't wait until my daughter and her husband are in Africa as missionaries.  I will gladly visit them and experience the culture there.

Heaven will be populated with people from all over this great planet.  I think about how enjoyable it is to visit with all of my family and friends at a wedding reception.  Then I compare that to the wedding feast God will prepare for us when we get to heaven.  Not only will we get to mingle with people from every tribe and nation, but we will also get to chat with people from every age.  Thankfully we will have eternity to do this! 

Lord, help me to do all that I can today to share the gospel with people in every part of our world.  Show me creative ways that I can reach out to unbelievers so that more people will be able to experience the joys of living with you in heaven forever. Amen.

 Psalm 37:9-11 (NIV)

"For evil men will be cut off,
       but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
       though you look for them, they will not be found.
 But the meek will inherit the land
       and enjoy great peace."

When I was in elementary school there was a boy named Patrick who was always picking on my brother.  He chose to wait until we were on our way home when there were no teachers around to harass my brother.  I decided that I would take matters into my own hands and show Patrick that he shouldn't mess with my brother.  I definitely wanted Patrick to "not be found".  I wanted to look around and not see him bugging my brother.

Sometimes we have to deal with the affects of evil in this world.  We may work alongside an evil employer or co-worker.  Unfortunately, some people have evil family members whose actions bring great pain into the lives of their relatives.  As long as we inhabit earth evil will abound, but God says that there is a new reality coming and that it will be realized when we get to heaven.  He tells us that we will enjoy "great peace."  Experiencing heaven and realizing great peace are available to all who "hope in the Lord."  Do you daily put your hope in Him?

Lord, cause me to daily put my hope in you.  Thank you that someday evil people will not be found and that you will grant me a place in heaven.  Help me to extend this message of hope to all those that I come in contact with.  Amen.

Mark 19:29-31 (ESV)

"Jesus said, 'Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last first.'"

In a purely philosophical way I have a problem with the whole idea of rewards in heaven.  I can't see how someone can say they truly follow Christ if they are working for rewards in heaven.  So needless to say I have a hard time understanding this passage, that is until I talked with a friend of mine whose parents are not believers.  I asked him how he was coping with the situation and was dumbstruck when he quoted me the passage where Jesus says, "For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.  And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.... Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." (Matt 10:35-37)  It was clear that my friend loved Christ far more than even his own family.  I could tell that he was hurting for his parents to come to Christ, but his loyalty to his Lord outweighed that hurt. 

This is what Christ is rewarding in this passage from Mark.  He is not rewarding a decision we make in our minds or a prayer we pray in our hearts. He is rewarding our sacrifice.  He is rewarding our pain, loss, and suffering for His namesake.  Who have you lost in following Christ?  Who has abandoned you?  What suffering do you experience?  What pain has come from your decision to follow Jesus?  He knows your pain and he has promised to repay you a hundredfold both in this life and the next.     

Our most merciful Lord, poor in spirit we offer up our voices in worship of you.  Let it be not long until our sorrow is turned to joy and our suffering to delight.  Despite the pain we bear we know that you are a loving and merciful Lord who will not leave us as orphans.  We wait eagerly for you and the coming of your kingdom.   
Mark 19:29-31 (ESV)

"Jesus said, 'Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last first.'"

In a purely philosophical way I have a problem with the whole idea of rewards in heaven.  I can't see how someone can say they truly follow Christ if they are working for rewards in heaven.  So needless to say I have a hard time understanding this passage, that is until I talked with a friend of mine whose parents are not believers.  I asked him how he was coping with the situation and was dumbstruck when he quoted me the passage where Jesus says, "For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.  And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.... Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." (Matt 10:35-37)  It was clear that my friend loved Christ far more than even his own family.  I could tell that he was hurting for his parents to come to Christ, but his loyalty to his Lord outweighed that hurt. 

This is what Christ is rewarding in this passage from Mark.  He is not rewarding a decision we make in our minds or a prayer we pray in our hearts. He is rewarding our sacrifice.  He is rewarding our pain, loss, and suffering for His namesake.  Who have you lost in following Christ?  Who has abandoned you?  What suffering do you experience?  What pain has come from your decision to follow Jesus?  He knows your pain and he has promised to repay you a hundredfold both in this life and the next.     

Our most merciful Lord, poor in spirit we offer up our voices in worship of you.  Let it be not long until our sorrow is turned to joy and our suffering to delight.  Despite the pain we bear we know that you are a loving and merciful Lord who will not leave us as orphans.  We wait eagerly for you and the coming of your kingdom.   

Psalms 42:1-2 (NIV)

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When can I go and meet with God?"

I normally consider myself a pretty mellow and even-keeled guy. You know, the type of guy that doesn't get too excited about things or freak out when things go wrong. But, when my brother called me last October to tell me that I'd soon be an uncle, I think he had to put down the phone because I was screaming so loud with excitement. I mean, sure, I knew this day would probably come. But I never factored in the joy and pleasure I'd feel when it actually did. Somehow in the two year waiting process between the time he got married and him telling me I'd now be an uncle, I lost sight of the reality. But, now, all I could think about was the day I'd meet the tiny person growing inside my sister-in-law...the day I'd hold this baby girl...the day I'd finally be known as "Uncle Jo-Jo." The thought brought a big smile to my face.

Sometimes, we need that phone call...that wake-up call...to re-ignite our passions and re-orient our perspectives. In fact, we often need more than one call. We need a choir of voices consistently calling us to return to passions and guide us to focus on things that really matter. In the midst of all the stuff in our lives...the events, the meetings, the challenges, the relationships...we ever-so-slightly (and sometimes unknowingly) let our heavenly perspective give way to earthly concerns. We focus so much of our thoughts and energies on the issues of the day that we forget why we're here and what the future has in store. We desperately need those individuals in our lives who aren't afraid to call us out and point us back to God. Who's doing this in your life?

Lord, re-ignite our passion for you. Give us courageous individuals in our lives who are willing to speak Your truthful and life-giving words to us at exactly the right time. And may your words continually renew our hearts and minds, while we wait to see you face-to-face. In Christ's name, Amen.

Luke 6:20-23 (NIV)

"Looking at his disciples, he said:
 'Blessed are you who are poor,
      for yours is the kingdom of God.
 Blessed are you who hunger now,
      for you will be satisfied.
 Blessed are you who weep now,
      for you will laugh.
 Blessed are you when men hate you,
      when they exclude you and insult you
      and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.
 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy,
because great is your reward in heaven.
For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.'"

My parents weren't the type to give us money or treats for the good things that we did, but they did reward us greatly with their love and attention.  I recall with great joy the times they provided comfort and satisfied my heart with their presence.  I remember the music that filled our house each evening as we lay down in bed.  My mom and dad blessed my brothers and I with their presence, with their time.

Someday we will enjoy the continual presence of our perfect Father.  He knows every injustice and pain you bear now or have borne in the past and he will wipe every tear from your eye and give you reason to celebrate.  Lots of people try to find ways to avoid the pain of living life on this planet, but none of those escapes comes close to the permanent healing that we will receive when we see Jesus. This life isn't the end of the story.  There's more coming and it will outshine the very best day here.

Lord, please help me to remember that my present life on earth is not all that there is.  Help me to remember that as your child I have heaven to look forward to and that the experience of living there with you will be like no other.  Thank you for the place you are preparing for me.

Philippians 3:20 (NIV)

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,"

Recently, I was having a telephone conversation with a very dear friend, Pastor C. John Steer.  In the course of our conversation, John shared something with me that I never thought I would hear coming from his lips. He shared that he had just become an American citizen. I was puzzled by this revelation; first of all, because John has lived in this country for well over 30 years all the while retaining his English citizenship; and secondly, because I wondered why now, when he was almost 60 he would make the decision to transfer citizenship. John explained to me that one of things that compelled him to resist becoming an American citizen for so many years was the fact that his family of origin - his mother, his father, and his brothers - were all English citizens living in England. He shared with me that although there were many things about this country that he loved, he still for most of his years here regarded England as his home. I asked John what had changed, and he told me that as the years had passed and those in his family who were older than him had graduated to glory, he realized that he had reached a point where he now has more family here in America than he has in England. He felt that if he was going to maintain a dual-citizenship, he had reached the point where it would be as a citizen of heaven and a citizen of America, rather than as a citizen of heaven and a citizen of England.

If you have done much travel overseas then you know that citizenship is important. When you travel to another country, it is essential that you have a passport that proves your citizenship. The name of the person who has Christ in him is written in "the book of life" and this is what determines his final entrance into the heavenly country (Rev. 20:15). Are you sure that your name is also written in the book of life?  If not, confess that you are a sinner and commit your life to God. Then you can become a child of God and your name too would be written in the book of life.

God, thank you for your promise that, "As many as received Jesus, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (Jn. 1:12). In Jesus' name, amen.

John 14:1-3 (KJV)

"Let not your heart be troubled; ye 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

A few years ago I started a new job and for the first time in my life I had my own office. The office had been previously occupied by a man and the décor was distinctly masculine. However, in the midst of learning and doing my new job responsibilities redecorating was really low on my list of priorities. I brought in a few pictures, books and other personal items but the office remained largely unchanged. My coworkers encouraged me to make the office my own but, frankly, I not only didn't have the time I also didn't have the inclination. Interior decorating is not my strong suit! Realizing that if left up to me the style of the office would never change, some of the ladies I work with took matters into their own hands. While I was away at a conference they came in and redid the office. In fact, they did the job so thoroughly that when I returned and first entered the room I thought I had been fired and someone else had moved into my office! As I sought out my friends to thank them, I heard the story of how they had been planning and scheming for weeks. They told me they had tried really hard to make the office look like me, choosing colors and styles that would reflect my personality. They said they know I'm not "foofy" and tried to honor that in their decorating. My office was beautiful and I spent time each day just sitting and admiring the new look. I was so touched at the trouble and expense my friends had gone to in order to "prepare a place for ME".

You can see where I'm going with this. As wonderful as it was for my friends to prepare my office, it is infinitely more wonderful that the Creator of the universe promises to "prepare a place" for each of us who know Him as Savior. It boggles my mind! And not only is He preparing that place but He promises to take us there Himself and to remain there with us forever. Spend some time today reflecting on this promise. It will soothe your troubled heart.

Father, thank you for sending your Son so that I could be a part of your family and live with you forever in the place you've prepared for me. When my heart is troubled, help me to hold on to your promise. In the name of Jesus, who died so that I might live, amen.

2 Corinthians 5:6-9 (NASV)

"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, and 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. Therefore also we have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him."

Webster's dictionary defines ambition as "an ardent desire to achieve a particular end." In 2 Corinthians 5 Paul says that his ambition, his "ardent desire," is to please God. Even though at this point in Paul's life he states that he would rather be in heaven, he still wants God's pleasure to be what motivates him for as long as he is in this world. Reading these verses prompts me to ask myself: what is my ambition? What motivates me as I get up each morning? Do I want wealth or fame or personal satisfaction? Is my "ardent desire" to be successful or popular? If I say that my ambition is to be "pleasing to the Lord" what would my life look like?

One indicator might be my "to do" list or my daily planner. Is my time taken up by things that reflect a desire to please God and serve His purposes or is it filled only with things that serve to maintain my lifestyle? How do I react when faced with a "Divine interruption" in my day? Another indicator might be my check register or my bank statement. Are my resources used to further God's kingdom or my own? Do these documents reveal that I have an attitude of stewardship over my possessions or ownership of my possessions? Unlike Paul, we may be in a place in life where we're happy that we are still "at home in the body." Nevertheless, we need to examine what motivates us: our "ambition" and our "ardent desire." Is it self serving or God serving? Is it based on things that are temporal or things that are eternal? Is it worthy of the one we call Lord?

Father, you are worthy of all that I am and all that I have. Help me to be ambitious, not for myself, but for you and for your kingdom. Help me to follow the example of Jesus who lived and died to do your will alone. In His name, amen.

1 Timothy 1:15-16 (NIV)

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." 

Pride of ownership! You may have felt that several years ago when you first drove off the lot with that slick new SUV. The quadraphonic sound system, the spinning rims and the fine Corinthian leather upholstery all combined to leave you with the feeling that you were piloting the sweetest ride in town. How quickly things can change. Now they're calling that beautiful car a "clunker" and they're offering cash incentives for you to retire it and get it off the road. Eight-miles-to-the-gallon wasn't a problem when you bought it, but today your vehicle is considered an ecological insult and you've been told that your carbon footprint is just too big.

Your life is kind of like that. At one time, it seemed like you had a never-ending fuel supply. You lived fast and hard and spent without worrying because you always seemed to have more energy, more earning-power and an unlimited future ahead of you. But now that a few years have passed you've got a better sense of what matters and what is valuable. Your mileage seems less efficient, you feel like your resources are running low and what was once regarded as a popular model now seems more like a clunker. I've got good news for you. God's spiritual stimulus program is still in effect. He takes trade-ins! The moment you give control of your life to Jesus Christ he begins a new work in you that starts here and now and will conclude when you stand before him face to face. Ask yourself: What is there about the present 'me' that I'm most glad God won't be taking with me to heaven?

Father, thank you for the promise that, "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come" (2 Cor. 5:17). We can see that you are making all things new. In Christ's name, amen.

Matthew 25:41-42 (NIV)

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink." 

We've all seen (or at least heard about) those guys with the bullhorns who stand outside of concerts and football games declaring, "The end is near!!"  It is no secret that one of Christians' favorite tactics in evangelism is fear.  "Repent or Burn." I'd like to believe that these guys are completely off base with their methodology but then I read passages like Matthew 25:42-42.  Hell is real and it is a reality for many of the people that we meet on a daily basis.  But, what place does hell have in our proclamation of Christ's Gospel? I suppose the larger question is what place does hell have at all in our conception of heaven and eternal life? Because that is what the Gospel is really about. 

As much as I recognize the truth in a lot of what that guy with the bullhorn is saying, his message is missing the core ingredient of the Gospel - love. The truth of the Gospel is not that God is angry with humans and wants them all to go down to hell. The truth of the Gospel is that God is madly in love with his creation and wants them to spend eternity with Him. If this was not so, why would He send His one and only son as a sacrifice for us? The darkness that hell and eternal punishment creates is only the black backdrop against which the precious and glorious jewel of the gospel can shine. It is the contrast of heaven and its eternal happiness against the bleakness of hell and its eternal torment that makes the gospel truly meaningful. We should not hesitate to lay that backdrop down as we present the jewel of the gospel but we would fail in our presentation if we neglect to make God's love and sacrifice for us the emphasis of our message. 

Dear Lord, I confess that I do not fully understand the fullness of your love and the fullness of your justice. I confess that I do not like the idea of hell and I have a hard time knowing how to communicate it to people around me. Please show me how to be a witness to the fullness of your love even when that fullness includes being a witness for your perfect wrath and justice. Help me communicate your love in everything I do. In Your Son's name, amen.

Philippians 3:20 (NASV)

"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;"

I grew up in the church. Literally! I was born on a Sunday and the next Sunday I was in the church nursery; and I've been there ever since. Well, maybe not in the nursery but definitely in the church. Because of this background, heaven has been a part of my vocabulary basically since I could talk. But being in my vocabulary is different than being on my heart. If I were to be honest, I haven't spent most of my life "eagerly" waiting for the Savior to take me to my heavenly home. As a child, I liked the idea of heaven but I wanted to grow up before I went there. As a teenager, I understood the concept of heaven a bit better but I hoped I would have the opportunity to get married first. As a young wife, I believed that, because of heaven, not even death would truly part us. But, still I wanted to have children before walking the golden streets. As I grew older and knew more people who had died and gone to heaven, it became more precious to me; but my desire for heaven paled in comparison with my desire to see my girls grow up.  Now that I am in the latter half of my life and I've had so many opportunities to see the evil and sadness of this world I must admit heaven is definitely more appealing; but I do hope to see my grandchild before I go. :) It's weird isn't it? My finite mind cannot really grasp that heaven is infinitely better than anything in this life, including my marriage, my children or even my grandchildren.

So what do I do? How do I cultivate an eagerness for heaven? I think it starts by cultivating a passion for Christ. I need to spend time in His Word. I need to make His priorities my priorities. I need to look at the world around me from His perspective. It's fine to enjoy the relationships and the things of this life. They are gifts from the hand of a good God, but I need to remember where my home really is. My citizenship is in heaven. I shouldn't get too comfortable in this world. William Wilberforce, the Christian reformer and abolitionist of the early 19th century is said to have put a pebble in his shoe when he got dressed in the morning. Why? He wanted to be intentional about not getting too comfortable here on earth. He wanted a tangible reminder to look forward to his real homeland. He wanted to develop an eagerness for heaven. Pebbles anyone?

Father, help me to take joy in the fact that my citizenship is in heaven. Help me to look forward with eagerness to spending eternity there. In the name of the Savior, whose return I await, amen.

Psalm 90:12 (NASV)

"So teach us to number our days, that we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom."

Psalm 90:12 (New Living Translation)

"Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom."

This afternoon I watched a miracle from my office window.  His name is Mario, he's a senior in high school and he was playing soccer. That may not seem like much of a miracle to you until you hear the rest of the story. Mario was in fourth grade when he began to complain of a terrible pain in his head while playing soccer at recess. It seemed especially unusual because he hadn't sustained a head injury. He was taken to the nurse and his mom was called. Mario ended up in Children's Hospital with a burst blood vessel in his brain. He underwent surgery. It was touch and go for awhile but, finally, Mario began to recover. He was unsteady on his feet and had to receive therapy for movement and speech but eventually he was able to return to school. If you just watch him today you would never know the journey he's taken; but for those of us who walked with him on that journey we see a miracle. Mario's mom believes God healed him for a purpose. I think she's right. Mario is a great kid. He loves Jesus. He helps take care of his younger siblings and is active in his church. Last year he raised money to purchase an ambulance for a small town in Central America where some of his relatives live. Mario seems to understand that life is brief and so we need to use the time we have here to impact the world for eternity. I think he's developing a "heart of wisdom."

We've been talking a lot about cultivating a heavenly perspective and realizing that this life is not all there is. That's really important! But part of developing that heavenly perspective is understanding that while we're here on earth God has a purpose for us. We need to learn to use the time we have with wisdom, for the glory of God and for the enlargement of His kingdom. I think Mario gets that. The question is, do we?

Father, teach me to "realize the brevity of life." I want to live today with wisdom. Help me to make this day count for eternity. In the name Jesus, who gives me this day, amen.

2 Corinthians 5:5 (NIV)

"Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."

All of us are familiar with the idea of putting down a deposit on something we want to purchase. If I want to send Christopher to Sacramento for his fifth grade trip I have to make a deposit by the first week in October. As you well know, that doesn't mean that the trip has been paid in full. We understand that this is just a promise that there is more to come. In this case...a fantastic field trip.

The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit lets us know that there is more to come. His comfort, direction and power point to the final prize which is much, much better than a Sacramento field trip with a bunch of fifth graders. God made us to be spiritual beings, indwelt with the Holy Spirit while on earth as a deposit for what is ahead. Heaven! We will be in the presence of our Father for eternity and know fully the blessing of that reality.

Father, thank you for the hope of heaven, and thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit as a deposit of what is ahead. Help me to live in accordance with the direction of the Holy Spirit and rely upon His guidance and not my own. Amen.

Revelation 22:5 (NASV)

"And there shall no longer be any night; and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever."

How do you feel about night time? I don't mind it if I'm cozily tucked in my house with all my family accounted for. But, I must admit that it causes a certain amount of anxiety if my girls are out driving or if I'm lost in an unfamiliar area of town or if I'm hearing the "things that go bump." How do you feel about darkness? Many people are afraid. That's why flashlights and night lights are great gift ideas! I remember a vacation we took that included a trip to Boyden Caverns up in the Sequoias. We enjoyed looking at all the formations, stalactites and stalagmites. The Park Service had installed lights along the path so we were able to see despite the lack of natural light in the caves. At one point on the tour the ranger told us the story of the discovery of the caverns and he demonstrated what happened when the discoverer's candle went out while he was in the cavern. He warned us that it was going to get very dark and not to panic and then he turned off the lights. Because there was absolutely no light in the cavern there was nothing for your eyes to adjust to. You literally couldn't see your hand in front of your face! The darkness was palpable. It felt like the lights were off for an eternity although in reality the ranger turned them back on in just a few seconds. What a relief!

The Apostle John writes of heaven, "there will no longer be any night" because, "the Lord God will illumine them." Isn't that a tremendous promise? One songwriter put it this way:

No more night, No more pain.
No more tears, never crying again.
Sing praises to the great "I Am"
We will live in the light of the risen lamb.

Father, I await with anticipation the day that you will be our illumination. Thank you that you are victorious over all types of darkness. Please help me, for as long as you choose to leave me here, to let my light shine for you. In the name of Jesus, who is the Light of the world, amen.

Psalms 73:25 (NIV)

"Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you."

It was a Friday morning, and I had many things planned for my students. One of the things I had hoped to share with them was an instrument which had brought me so much joy in my life: the electric guitar. As a guitarist, one begins to develop a myriad of accessories—an amplifier, effect pedals, a pedal board, and, of course, more guitars. It was going to be an exciting day, and my students were excited to learn all about my equipment. As I walked towards my car, breakfast in hand, I noticed something a little strange. My rear passenger door was open. (The night before, I had put my amplifier and pedal board in my car so that I could save some time in the morning while I was getting ready.) The open door instantly made me realize what had happened. Three thousand dollars worth of equipment had been stolen from my car. The instrument which had brought so much joy to my life was suddenly taken from me.

Having things stolen is no fun. But, at least, events like the one above help us realize that the things we have on earth don't last forever. We face finiteness in our occupations, homes, automobiles, families, and more. Everything we have here is confined by time and decay. The money that we work so hard for has an end. The car that we love so much has limitations. The house that we call home breaks down and needs repair. Even the ones that we love so very much do not live forever. If we live life with a solely finite-mentality, we are bound to live life depressed. But, thanks be to God, there is something more...something more lasting.

Heavenly Father, this is not our home. May this place where we breathe and walk not take precedence in our minds. May there be a passion in our hearts to live life with an everlasting perspective, to truly say in our hearts, "And the earth has nothing I desire besides you." Amen.

Romans 3:28 (NIV)

"For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law." 

A poll for U.S. News & World Report a few years ago asked 1,000 adults who they thought was most likely to go to heaven. Sixty-five percent said Oprah Winfrey and Michael Jordan were "very likely" to go to heaven. Seventy-nine percent believed Mother Teresa would go to heaven.  Only one person scored higher than Mother Teresa. Can you guess who might score higher than Mother Teresa? The individuals surveyed pointed to themselves overwhelmingly. Eighty (80%) percent felt it "very likely" that they would go to heaven. I can't help but wonder what qualifications for admission into heaven these people had in mind.

People have many erroneous ideas about what God requires. Some think that the way to get there is by living a good life. Others think it's by giving generous contributions to deserving charities.  Some think it's by attending church and being involved in religious activities? As commendable as these qualities may be, they miss by an eternity the one thing God requires for entrance into heaven—a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord (John 1:12; 1 Timothy 2:5). Although the Bible tells us that faith in Jesus will show itself in a person's actions (James 2:14-20), the fact remains that moral living, charitable giving or religious activity will never serve as a substitute for trusting in Jesus' sacrificial death for our sin. Are you confident that you're headed for heaven? You can be—but only if you're trusting in Jesus. 

There aren't many ways into heaven;
The Bible says there's only one:
Confessing Christ Jesus as Savior,
Believing in God's only Son. —Sper

Jesus, thank you for taking our place on the cross to secure for us a place in heaven. In Your name, amen.

Romans 10:9 (NIV)

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

It may seem like a strange way to be buried but last month a 90-year-old North Carolina man was buried in his car with his hunting guns in the trunk, and a $100 bill in his pocket. Lonnie Holloway loved his 1973 Catalina so much so that when it was his turn to enter the pearly gates he wanted to drive through in style. Holloway was placed behind the steering wheel of the hunter green car with a hat on his head and all of his guns in the trunk. He had the guns placed in the trunk, not because he was planning on doing some hunting in heaven, but because he didn't want them to fall into the wrong hands after he was gone. Holloway's friends were not at all surprised by his unusual funeral request. They describe him as a "stylin' and profilin' kind-of-man."

In one sense you can admire Lonnie Holloway for trying to disprove the old adage, "You can't take it with you." He was right in his belief that there is a highway to heaven, but he was wrong in thinking you can travel it in a Catalina after you die. You must get on this highway while you are still alive, and you get on it by placing your trust in Jesus Christ. In Romans 10:1-13, Paul declared that the road to heaven is not difficult to find or hard to access. It is right in front of us in the Word of God. Jesus Christ said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (Jn. 14:6). Whether or not you're buried in your car makes no difference. The highway to heaven starts on this side of death, and the entrance is easy to find. The Bible says, "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom. 10:13). Are you on the right road? If we're looking at the world through God's eyes then we'll realize that we should use things, and love people. Lonnie Holloman wanted to take his car to heaven with him because it was one of the things that he loved most. Who are you hoping to take to heaven with you?

Father, thank you that there is one road to heaven and you've revealed it in Jesus Christ. Help me to live my life in such a way that I can point others to Him. In His name, amen.

Isaiah 25:6-8 (NIV)

"On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples...on this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The Lord has spoken."

I've only seen my mother cry a handful of times, but one memory has remained truly vivid in my mind. Several months after returning from the Czech Republic to visit my grandmother, who was steadily growing weary of life, we received the inevitable news that she had passed away. I never had a very close relationship with my grandmother, so hearing of her death had about the same impact on me as watching a story on the news. A few days later, I overheard my mother playing guitar and singing. I couldn't remember the last time this had happened, so I began to listen intently. However, the strumming suddenly stopped and was replaced with sobs. Although hidden from my mother's sight, I sensed the gravity of the moment, saturated with hopelessness, a disgust of death, perhaps even a question of faith. Even though she knew my grandmother had placed her faith in Christ, at that moment my mother did not seem to be comforted by this reality. Somehow, I knew that the only cure for this separation was reaching heaven.

Pain. It is the ultimate consequence of sin. Violence, hatred, frailty, imperfection, death, separation from God—all of these stem from or produce an underlying pain in our lives. Despite this reality, we have reason to rejoice. As Isaiah tells us, the Lord promises to eradicate the curse of death and wipe away every tear from the faces of His people. As children of God, we partake in that promise. Yes, pain will still exist on this earth. It is the unfortunate result of a fallen world. Even so, we are able to look forward to the renewal provided to us in Christ, a renewal fully realized once we meet Him face-to-face.

Lord, allow us to be individuals who delight in your promise to eliminate death and remove pain. Remind us that the hardships of life are small in comparison to the eternal reward to come. And may this message of hope reach those around us as we strive to live with heaven on our minds. Amen.

Colossians 3:1-2 (NIV)

"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth." 

A couple of weeks ago I was watching the Kevin Costner movie, Field of Dreams. It's the story of an Iowa farmer who plows under his field of corn in order to build a baseball field on his farm.  Soon after, the ghosts of eight Chicago White Sox players banned from the game for throwing the 1919 World Series appear on the new field. One of those players, Shoeless Joe Jackson asks Costner's character, "Is this heaven?" Costner's character replies, "No, this is Iowa." 

It's not hard to understand the ballplayer's mistake. Many of us when we think of heaven just think of the best experience we've ever had on earth (for a baseball player it might be playing baseball) and we extrapolate it - we envision it going on forever and ever. This might be the best we can do when it comes to trying to imagine heaven, but the Bible tells us that it doesn't come close to painting an accurate picture. The Bible tells us "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Cor. 2:9). And, "Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity" (1 Cor. 13:12).

What do you think of, when you think of heaven? Chances are, whatever it is, it still falls short of what God has waiting for us. Is your picture of heaven based on what God tells us in His Word, or is it based on something else? We're spending 40 days thinking about heaven and my prayer for you is that as we go through this study the reality of heaven would grip your heart and change the way that we live our lives here on earth.

Lord, thank you for the promise of a home in heaven. May the reality of what is waiting for me there make a difference in the way that I live my life here. In Jesus' name, amen.

John 14:1-4 (NIV)

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

It is an extraordinary thing that Jesus, for whom there was no room in a physical dwelling upon His entrance to our world, makes sure that the same is not repeated when we enter His world. He gives His followers the promises that there are many rooms, and in fact some translations read, "In my Father's house there are many mansions." I'll take a mansion, how about you? A friend takes me to the Pasadena House Tour every year and I love going. The fine gardens and well appointed rooms are a joy to see and they are made by human hands. Imagine what a mansion made by God looks like!

However, the most amazing thing about this passage is not just the promise of mansions or many rooms. Rather, it is the reality that we will dwell with the God who made the universe. He is the almighty God, worthy of our praise and we will be where He is! That reminds me of the lines from a praise song..."I just want to be where you are, dwelling daily in your presence. I don't want to worship from afar, draw me close to where you are."

Father, please make that the cry of my heart. Magnify the desire I have to be in your presence each day. Help me to be concerned about that more than anything else. Thank you for the place you are preparing for me. In Jesus' name, amen.

Philippians 3:14 (NIV)
 
"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

For me, athletic competition is so much fun. I almost like watching sports as much as I enjoy playing them. Cheering a team on to victory, supporting the underdog, the mystery of who's going to win...it's so very fun and exhilarating. Like many Texans, my two favorite sports are baseball and football. I still try to catch as many games as I can on TV. Growing up, I can remember many games where I was so thrilled to be a part of the action on the field. Although I was never the best on the field, I tried hard. Yet, as I recall, consistency in performance was my struggle. In football, one game I'd be the "go-to" wide-receiver and catch five passes. The next game I'd drop everything and thus be the last option for the quarterback. In baseball, one game I'd hit 3 for 3 and the next I'd strike out like it was going out-of-style. Maybe it was the type of day I was having? Or, maybe it was how well my relationships were going at school and at home? Whatever the reason, sometimes I'd be focused and I'd usually do well. Other times, my head was anywhere but on the field and I'd never do anything good. On those bad days, I could hear a voice in my head saying,

"Why are you here. You know you can't do it. Just give in and give up already."

Have you ever heard that voice...that one that tells you can't do it and you can't make it through? God's voice is nothing like that. His words are sweeter than honey and they bring life. He's the One calling you home and equipping you to get there. Listening to God's voice inspires hope, and God builds us up to accomplish every good work. With God's strength, the goal is never out-of-reach. But by listening to our own voice and relying on our own strength, we inspire in ourselves fatigue, and we fail to accomplish any good. Do you trust God's Word?

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Son and your life-giving words. Help us trust in you and not ourselves. By your mercy, guide us to the goal of your heavenly rest. Amen.

Luke 23:42-43 (NIV)

"Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'"

Although I don't necessarily agree, some people think my brother (Jared) and I look alike. So much so, I guess, that I've often been mistaken for him. In the past, I didn't really see the close resemblance. I think we're completely different shapes. He's taller and has bigger eyes and a bigger smile. But, recently, I was caused to reevaluate my thoughts. While I was traveling to see Jared in Lithuania, we stopped by the college that he teaches at so he could show me the layout of the school and explain what he does on a day-to-day basis as a missionary. While walking past his office, a young man approached me and gently asked, "Hey, Professor Schumacher, do you have a minute? I've got a quick question." While I had the distinct feeling that the young man had just mistaken me for my brother, I was curious as to what Lithuanians thought about how similar my brother and I looked. So I said, "Sorry, my name is Jordan. I'm Jared's younger brother. But if you don't mind me asking, do you think we look alike?" He immediately responded, "Oh, my bad, as you were walking by his office, I just saw your side-profile." "Really?" I said. "You guys have identical features," he continued. "Yeah, you both have the same type of skin, large noses, and most of your hair is gone." Apparently, not much has changed...Jared and I are still confused for each other. But, now, it's because we're both showing signs of aging.

With God, there's never confusion. God not only remembers everything but also everyone. He knows each of us by name...and as Christians we are all known as God's children. And as God's children, He promises us to lead us into His presence forever.

Lord, although we so easily forget and become confused, we are so grateful that You, through Your Son and by Your Spirit, remember us always as Your children. Amen.

John 20:29 (NIV)

"Then Jesus told Thomas, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'"  

We've all heard the old saying "Seeing Is Believing."  No one is quite certain where the saying originated but even if he wasn't the first to utter it, the disciple Thomas (aka 'Doubting Thomas') lived a life that personified it. You remember that Thomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus first appeared to them right after his resurrection.  The others told Thomas of what they had seen and what they had heard and what they had experienced.  And yet, in spite of their united testimony, Thomas' attitude was that unless he saw the resurrected Jesus for himself there was no way he could believe that He was alive.

A lot of people today have the same attitude when it comes to issues of faith.  If they can't see it, touch it, taste it or handle it, as far as they're concerned it does not exist. The problem with that philosophy is that it runs one hundred and eighty degrees opposite to what God promises us.  To the penitent thief dying on the cross who trusted in Jesus, our Lord said, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise"  (Luke 23:43).  To the father who came to Jesus pleading for him to heal his son our Lord said words to the effect "If you believe you will see a healing" (Mark 9:20-27).

Our problem is we want to reverse the order.  We want to see first, and then once we have seen, we may be willing to believe.  This approach may sound logical but it entirely removes faith from the equation.  The writer to the Hebrews defined faith as "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see"  (Hebrews 11:1).

When we live by the adage "Seeing is Believing" we wind up not seeing so many things that we would see, if only we had believed.  Do you remember what Jesus said to Mary and Martha right before he raised their brother from the dead?  He told them, ""Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God" (John 11:40)? The same thing that Jesus said to Mary and Martha he says to all of us in regard to seeing heaven: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life"  (John 3:16). What are you believing God for that only He can bring to pass?

Father, thank you for the promise that it's not the size of our faith that accomplishes great things, but the size of our God. Amen.

Proverbs 14:12 (NIV)

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."

There is an old adage that says that "Lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place."  I reminded myself of that this morning as I booked reservations on a Northwest Airlines flight headed for Minnesota.  The reason for my hesitation was that just a week ago the lead story on all the news channels was about another Northwest flight headed for Minnesota on which the pilots became distracted and somehow overshot the airport by 150 miles before realizing their error. There's still uncertainty about what caused the mistake.  The initial speculation was that the pilots had fallen asleep.  The next theory was that they were involved in an argument that became so heated that it caused them to ignore the radio calls from air traffic controllers.  The most recent speculation is that the pilots were busy doing work on their personal laptop computers and just failed to pay attention to the job they were supposed to be focused on. 

If "texting while driving" is more dangerous than "driving under the influence," I wonder where "typing while piloting" ranks on the list of behaviors that may be hazardous to your health. The NTSB is still working to identify the exact factors that caused the snafu, but the incident reminded me of an important truth and that is that if you're not paying attention to where you're going there's a good chance you'll wind up in a place that you never intended to be.

Jesus said that if your destination is heaven, there is one right path to get you there and it is the road less travelled. "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.  But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). Are you going through life on auto-pilot, or do you check regularly to make sure you're still heading toward the intended destination?

Lord, thank you for the roadmap you've given that points clearly toward the highway to heaven.  Thank you also that you are a God who allows mid-course corrections each time I deviate from your flight plan. Amen.

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."

Last Saturday God gave me a "do over". You see, one day last fall while I was hurrying to my car I met an elderly lady who was taking a walk in the neighborhood. I said hello and was anxious to get on my way but she wanted to have a conversation. I listened briefly as she told me she was visiting her son. Then she went on to tell me that getting old was hard—she couldn't get around as well as she used to, she didn't sleep very well, etc. She ended by saying with resignation, "But that's life, there's nothing you can do about it." I murmured something in sympathy and agreement, said my good byes and jumped in my car. While I was driving I began to feel badly about my conversation. God had given me an opportunity to share that we don't have to be resigned to a "That's life, there's nothing you can do about it" mentality; and I hadn't taken it.

In the days that followed I watched for that lady around the neighborhood, determined to make the most of any second chance God provided; but I never saw her again... until last Saturday. Once more I was hurrying to my car. I wanted to get to the Saturday night service a little early. Just as I reached the sidewalk in front of my house, there she was! I said hello and listened while she told me she was visiting her son. I asked her a few questions and she answered concluding with a shrug, "That's life, what are ya  gonna do about it?" It was a déjà vu moment!

This time, though, instead of polite agreement, I shared with her a little about my belief in a God who helps us here on earth and is waiting for us in heaven. We didn't have a long conversation but when she left she said, "It's good to have hope, isn't it?" The apostle Peter urges us to, "always be prepared" to give an answer for the hope that we have. Is your answer ready?

Father, thank you for giving us the hope of heaven. Help me to be prepared to share that hope with others. Amen.

P.S. Thanks for the do over!

John 14:6 (NIV)

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.'"

There's an old song we sometimes sing with the children that says, "I've been redeemed, by the blood of the lamb, I've been redeemed, by the blood of the lamb, I've been redeemed by the blood of the lamb, His child forever I am, all my sins are washed away I've been redeemed." What a great truth for children to learn: it's through the blood of the perfect lamb, Jesus Christ,that we have redemption and come into a familial relationship with God!

The song goes on to have some pretty silly verses:
"Oh, ya can't get to heaven in a putt putt car..."
 Why? "cause putt putt cars can't go that far"
"Oh, ya can't get to heaven on roller skates..."
Why? "you'll roll right past those pearly gates"
"Oh, ya can't get to heaven in a rocking chair..."
Why? "cause a rocking chair just won't get you there"
Each verse ends with the same refrain, "All my sins are washed away, I've been redeemed!"

We would all agree that it would be foolish to think that we could actually get to heaven in a putt putt car, or on roller skates or in a rocking chair. No one really believes that! Unfortunately, however, there are some equally foolish things that people really do believe will get them to heaven: "I've lived a good life," "I've given a lot of money to the church," or "I've tried really hard." Jesus said there is only one way to the Father, and that way is through Him. When Jesus took our punishment on Himself by dying on the cross He made a way, the only way, for us to get to heaven.

What are you relying on to get you there?

Father, thank you that through your Son you have made a way for me to spend eternity with you in heaven. Help me to rest in the fact that it's what Jesus has already done that secures my place with you. In the name of the One whose blood washes away my sin, amen.

Acts 4:12 (NIV)

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

The Rev. Billy Graham tells of at time early in his career when he arrived in a small town to preach a sermon. Wanting to mail a letter, he asked a young boy where the post office was. The little boy replied, "Just go straight down this street a couple of blocks and turn to your right."  Rev. Graham thanked him and said, "If you'll come to the Baptist church this evening, I'll tell you how to get to Heaven." The little boy replied, "How are you going to do that? You don't even know the way to the Post Office!"

The boy brings up a good point. We need directions to find our way to heaven.  If you wanted to get somewhere you have never been without getting lost, what would you do? You would either ask a person who has been there and who knows the way, to write down directions - or you would find a map, right? Why not do the same thing for finding the way to heaven? Why not ask someone who knows the way because they have been there and who can give you a map that shows you the way? You say you don't know anyone who has gone to heaven and come back to tell you the way. The Bible says that there is only one. "No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man" (John 3:13). Throughout history others have promised that if you follow them they will show you the way.  Jesus alone is the way. He said, "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture" (John 10:9). How certain are you of the way to heaven? If someone asked you for directions, could you tell them clearly so that they could find the way?

Father, thank you that Jesus has clearly made known to us that way of salvation and that he has given us the promise that "Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed." Amen.

Revelation 3:11 (NIV)

"I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown."

In junior and senior high, when I'd stay after school for various sporting events and practices, my older sister would often pick me up. She was definitely generous for being willing to drive home after school, only to drive back a few hours later to come get me. I really did appreciate it. But it seemed like every other day I'd get a call from her letting me know that she was gonna be a few minutes late. "I'm on my way," she'd say. Or, "I'll be there in a few." When I got off the phone with her, I'd sit around and wait. It was so boring. Being exhausted, all I wanted to do after seven hours in class and two hours of practice was get home, eat, and go to bed. But, instead, I'd have to wait for twenty minutes and fill the time with a blank stare and an occasional glance at my watch, counting down the minutes. While I knew that my sister was being nice to pick me up, I couldn't help but be a little frustrated when she was 'running late.' I never understood why she couldn't just make it a point to leave the house twenty minutes earlier and show up on time.

If patience is a virtue, I was not very virtuous growing up. I wanted things to be done in my timing and, usually, that timing was immediately. If I had to wait for twenty minutes (even if someone was doing me a favor), that was way too long. Yet Jesus calls us to wait...he's "coming soon," He tells us. We might not always understand why Jesus doesn't just take us home right now but God is never 'running late.' He asks us to "hold on" to the things we have and be patient. Jesus promises that He'll return and that we'll be rewarded in the place He's preparing for us in Heaven. But, can you, like the psalmist, say: "I wait for your salvation, O Lord..." (Psalm 119:166)? Is there an area of your life where you're impatiently waiting on God's deliverance? If so, won't you lay it at the feet of His Son?  

Heavenly Father and merciful God, teach us how to live within your timing. May we be people marked by patience, yet always eagerly expecting the return of Jesus Christ. Amen.

John 14:1-2 (NIV)

"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you." 

A kindergarten Sunday school teacher was seeking to discover how clear she had been in communicating the truths about heaven to her students. In order to discover how much had gotten through, she asked them a series of questions. She began by asking, "If I was kind to animals and gave candy to all the children in my neighborhood and loved my husband, would that get me into heaven?" "No," the children answered. "If I cleaned the church every day, dusted the pews, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would that get me into heaven?" Again they answered, "No, that won't do it!"  "Okay, what if I sold my house and my car, and I had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church, would that get me into heaven?" Once more, they all answered in unison, "No way!" The teacher began to feel pretty good about herself.  She continued, thinking, "These kindergarten kids are a lot more theologically sophisticated than I gave them credit for." She decided to ask the most important question, "Then how can I get into heaven?" From the back of the room, a boy shouted out, "FIRST YOU GOTTA DIE."

Kids tell it like it is. Their lack of any inhibition allows them to shout out the obvious - "You gotta die!"  It's our unavoidable fate. We have to die to go to heaven, and nobody that I've met is too excited about making the trip. Benjamin Franklin said, "Two things in life are certain, death and taxes." Why is it that we spend a lot more time preparing for the latter than the former?  Maybe it's because April 15th rolls around at the same time every year as a forced reminder, but there's nothing on our calendars that force us to think about the fact that one day our lives here are going to end. Jesus has prepared a place for us in heaven. Are we prepared for that place?

Lord, thank you that you have something waiting for us in heaven that is far more beautiful than we can imagine. Help us to live our lives here in anticipation of what's waiting for us there. Amen.

John 14:3 (NIV)

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

If there's one thing I don't like, it's packing. Please don't get me wrong. I love vacations and traveling—to see the sights and spend time with friends and family. But I don't enjoy the process of getting ready for the journey. Why? Because I'm kinda particular and I never know exactly what to bring. It takes me forever to decide. I think about all the possibilities of what we might do on the vacation....Will we go dinner? Will we go to the beach? Will we go to church? Will we??? I spend way too much time trying to think of the right clothes and shoes to bring along for all the different scenarios. Deep down, I know that I can never be fully prepared for all the possibilities. Even still, I spend hours racking my brain, trying on different outfits, walking in and out of the closet and bathroom to get different items, and I either put them right back where I found them or throw them in the suitcase, if I think there's even a remote possibility of me using them on the adventure. Needless to say, I always bring too much stuff. On one level, I think the possibilities excite me and make me want to be extra-prepared. On another level, I think I don't want to be the one who has to wear swim trunks to a nice restaurant.

If life was a vacation, what would you be bringing along for the journey? Would you be packing your suitcase full of things like peace, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control? Or, would you be bringing bitterness, jealousy, hostility, slander, and pride? The process of filling our suitcases full of God's goodness is not always enjoyable or easy, but we're not the ones' who are doing it. By God's Spirit, He is shaping us now for our eternal homes with Christ in heaven. And to be at home with Jesus is to be at home with things like justice, forgiveness, generosity, mercy, love, joy, and peace. As Jesus is preparing our home in heaven, He's also preparing our hearts to be at home with Him. The preparation has begun and each day we learn to live more like Jesus. Is there anything in your suitcase that you don't need for the journey?

Lord, we thank you that You're preparing a place for us in the future and You're with us here and now. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Matthew 24:36 (NIV)

"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

In 1972 Larry Norman released a song called, "I Wish We'd All Been Ready."  The lyrics said:

"Two men walking up a hill
One disappears and one's left standing still
I wish we'd all been ready
There's no time to change your mind
The son has come and you've been left behind
I wish we'd all been ready."

Whenever it comes to the subject of "The End Times" there are no shortage of opinions as to how exactly the sequence of events described in Scripture will play out. Regardless of what position you hold to, one thing is clear - the world in which we are living right now will not go on forever. There is a day coming when all men and women will stand before God and give an accounting for the lives we've lived. The Bible says that day will be a day of great joy for some and great sadness for others. 

Throughout history many have looked at the events going on around them and, based on the things they saw happening, have attempted to set a specific date for the return of the Lord.  In each case those dates have come and gone, and we continue to wait. If we can learn anything from those failed predictions it is that we ought to believe the Scripture when it tells us to, "Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.  . . be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him" (Matthew 24:42-44). Is there anything about your life that you would change if you knew that the Lord was coming back in the next 30 days?  If you answered yes, why not change it now?

Thank you, Lord, that You have given us instruction to get ready for Your return. Help us to take that to heart and be prepared. Amen.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 (NIV)

"And the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it."

Receiving a loan can be scary. Why? Well, at least two reasons come to mind. Inherent in the idea of loaning is uncertainty. How long will the loan last? Will the goods that are loaned be damaged? Will there be enough? Etc. Whether it's something small (like renting a parking space or movie) or something big (like leasing a car or house), we want to know that everything will turn out okay. And, secondly, we flat don't like being on the receiving end of things because it lets us know all too clearly that we can't take care of all of our own needs.

Our lives are on loan from God. Our verse for today helps us remember that. In the opening chapters of Genesis, we're told that God reached down and formed the first human from the dust of the ground. Then, He breathed His life-giving breath into Adam to infuse him with life (Gen. 2:7). The creation of our bodies and the life that's in them are gifts from God on loan. We're given them only for a period of time in this world. At a moment's notice our bodies can fail and the life that we have can be taken from us. As Christians, we are not exempt from this. Yet, in Jesus Christ, dying is not the end. The Apostle Paul explains that, with the resurrection of the dead, the body that was once perishable is raised imperishable..."it is raised a spiritual body" that lasts forever (1 Cor. 15:42-44). Those who've placed their trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord have this hope that overcomes death. Because we serve a gracious God, He's given each of us freedom to use the borrowed time on this earth for His glory. How are you using yours? 

Lord, we thank You that everything in the world is Yours and You graciously rule over it. Help us live each and every day in service to You alone. Amen.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
John 3:16-17

There was a little boy who wanted a special watch for Christmas. He kept pestering his parents about it.
One day his father said, "Son, you are driving me crazy. If you so much as mention that watch again, you are not going to get it."

A couple of days later the family gathered for dinner; the first time in quite a while the whole family was at the table together—dad, mom, and the three children.  Dad said, "Before we eat let's go around the table and share our favorite Bible verse, I'll start."  The little boy was the last to speak.  When they finally got to him, he said, ""My favorite verse is Mark 13:37 'What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch.!'"

Like that little boy, there are some who are easy to shop for at the holidays, because they make it very obvious as to what they would regard as 'the perfect gift.'  There are others who make it much tougher because they don't give you any clue as to what they want or need.

God is the greatest gift giver.  He knows what we need even better than we do.  Romans 5:6 tells us that "At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly."

Aren't you glad that God didn't wait for us to realize our need before providing the gift that would perfectly meet it?

As you begin to think about getting ready for the holidays, set aside some time to thank the greatest gift giver, for the greatest gift ever received.

"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"  2 Corinthians 9:15

"Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope."
1 Thessalonians 4:13

Some well-meaning people have made the mistake of telling others that as believers we should not grieve.   That's not a position that you can support with scripture.  The Bible is filled with examples of godly people who grieved.   Abraham mourned the passing of Sarah. Isaac was still grieving three years after his mother's death. David wept when his friend Jonathan died. Who can forget the grief of Job at the loss of his children? Even Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus. Scripture goes so far as to describe Jesus as "a man of sorrows" (Isaiah 53:3). Jesus knew what it was to grieve. Grief is not bad or wrong. Grief is a response to the way God made us—creatures that love and care and hurt when we lose a loved one.   The Bible tells us that as Christians , even though we are participants in the human experience of grief, ours is 'A Different Grief.'

Our text from 1 Thessalonians tells us what we already know—we grieve. It reminds us of what we all ought to know—not all grief is the same. But most importantly, this verse also points to what we can know. We can all know the hope that comes through faith in Jesus, a hope that makes a difference in the way we face death and the way we handle grief.

Few stories of someone's grief are as touching as that of Horatio Spafford.   Many of us have sung the hymn he composed and many  have heard his story. Spafford was a successful attorney in post-Civil War Chicago. Then like many others, Spafford lost almost all of his possessions in the great Chicago fire of 1871. Though he lost much, his wife and four daughters were spared. In 1873, Spafford decided to give his family a change of scenery by joining D. L. Moody, his good friend, on an evangelistic crusade in England.  In November, 1873, just as they were set to sail the Atlantic, Spafford was detained by business.  He sent his wife and four daughters on ahead as scheduled.  He planned to join them later. Halfway across the Atlantic, the ship collided with another vessel.  Their ship and almost everyone on board went down in twelve minutes.  Two-hundred twenty six passengers drowned including all four of the Spafford daughters. Mrs. Spafford survived.

When he received the tragic news, Spafford immediately dropped everything and booked passage to join his grieving wife.  At sea, he asked the captain to let him know when his ship passed the place where his daughters had drowned.  The heart-broken father stood on deck and starred into the cold gray waters of the Atlantic.  He poured his heart and his grief out to God.  Horatio Spafford lost his daughters, but he didn't lose his hope

In the midst of that dark shadow of grief, Spafford found the hope to write the words to the well-known hymn, "When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll-Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well with my soul. Tho Satan should buffet, tho trials should come, let this blest assurance control, that Christ hath regarded my helpless estate and shed His own blood for my soul. And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll: The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend, "Even so" it is well with my soul."

Question: Do you know the hope that can transform your experience of loss into 'A Different Grief?'
Prayer: Thank you Lord for conquering death on our behalf and giving us the promise that we can be conquerors also.

1 John 5:13
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God in order that you may know that you have eternal life.

A number of years ago our church participated in the "I Found It" campaign in Los Angeles. Part of the campaign involved us cold calling people on the telephone and leading them through a series of questions for the purpose of sharing the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. I think I was about 18 at the time and I really don't remember much about the training or the actual campaign. (In fact I had to ask Rick what the slogan was.) I do, however, remember very vividly a conversation I had with one of the people I called.

I had dialed one of the numbers from the list I had been given. A man answered who sounded like he was probably in his fifties or sixties. I told him who I was and why I was calling and proceeded to ask him the questions on my script. Eventually I asked him, "If you were to die tonight do you know for certain that you would go to heaven?" His response shocked and saddened me. In a stern voice he said, "Young lady, I have been a pastor for over 30 years and no one can know for certain they are going to heaven. Good night." Then he hung up.

I don't know what church he pastored but it breaks my heart to think that for over 30 years he had been misleading his congregation. For over 30 years he and the people he ministered to had been deprived of the comfort of knowing, not just hoping, about what awaits them after death. The Bible is clear: God wants us to know for certain. "...God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life." 1 John 5:11-12

Do you have the Son? Then you can know for certain you have eternal life.

Father, thank you that we can know for certain where we will spend eternity. Thank you for the life you give through your son, Jesus Christ. Father, when we doubt please help us turn to the things that have been written so that we may know. Amen

Psalm 19:1-4

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world."

This morning I woke up with a song in my head:

"You are holy, great and mighty,
The moon and the stars, declare who You are.
I'm so unworthy, but still You love me.
Forever my heart will sing of how great You are."

We sang this in church yesterday. (Thanks, James and the worship leaders!) It was in my head as I went through my morning routine. While I was driving to work the words were ringing in my heart and mind. Now, I love to sing, so it's always a blessing to me when music fills my thoughts. (It's not always such a blessing to my family when my singing fills our house!)

The refrain that is sticking with me today is, "I'm so unworthy, but still you love me." Isn't that a tremendous truth? I'm not worthy; but the one who is "worthy to receive glory and honor and power" (Revelation 4:11) loves me still. The natural response of my heart should be to praise him for that truth.

I'm way too clumsy to ever be on Dancing with the Stars; however, because of what God has done for me I can sing with the stars of the universe of the greatness and glory of the Lord. We'll be doing that together with all the saints and angels forever in heaven. Why not start today?

Father, help me not to leave the declarations of your glory to the sun, moon and stars. Help me not to wait until heaven to sing your praise. Help me to be faithful to proclaim today, whether in word or in song, the truth of how great you are.

Hebrews 4:16

"Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need."

As part of my job at school I take our fifth grade students to Washington, D.C. It's a tremendous adventure and over the years I have grown to love our nation's capital. While we are in D.C. we visit various memorials, monuments and museums. We also tour the Capitol Building, the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court Building.

Security checkpoints are a constant part of the trip. We go through security at the airport, at all government buildings, at the museums and even at some of the places we go for lunch. However, it seems that the place with the strictest security is the White House, the home of our nation's president.

It is very difficult for a group our size to get a tour of the White House. Application must be made through the Congressional offices many months in advance. Tour participants have to turn in their Social Security numbers and go through a background check. If you are granted a tour you are given a long list of things you cannot bring into the White House and, of course, you go through a thorough security screening before you enter the building. Once inside, you can walk through seven of the White House public rooms. You do not see the Oval Office or any of the private residence.

In all the times I've been to D.C. I've only been in the White House once. Most often we take the students for a photo op from outside the gates. We pose for pictures and then have a time of prayer for the president. As I stand praying outside the tall White House fence I am often struck by this contrast: I cannot go into the Oval Office at will and speak to the leader of the free world but I can enter freely into the presence of the Creator of the entire universe!

The Bible tells us to "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace" and we don't have to wait until we get to heaven to do so. When we have come into a relationship with God through the death and resurrection of his son, Jesus Christ, we have unlimited access to the very throne room of God and not just for a quick tour but for all of eternity!

Father, thank you for granting us access to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. I am grateful that I will never be turned away from your throne when I come in the name of your son. Thank you for the mercy and grace you promise to those who come to you. Help me not to take this access for granted but to constantly avail myself of this wonderful privilege. In the name of the one who opened the gates of heaven for me, amen.

"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."

Not being a native Californian brings with it some disadvantages. One of the biggest is that I don't often get the opportunity to see my family who still lives in Texas. But last week I had just that opportunity. Now that I work and live in Los Angeles, it's tough to get back. I had to pay $500 for the airfare to Houston, spend six hours on a plane, coordinate rides to and from IAH and LAX, and work ahead to get things in-order to leave. Although the obstacles in the way could've prevented me from going back, I embraced them all because of the warmth of the welcome home I knew I'd receive from my parents and siblings. It seems that no matter how long it has been since I've been home, and no matter the circumstance of my visit, my family always has a way of making me feel appreciated. Whether it's them planning a special outing, cooking my favorite meal or taking me out for dinner and a movie, they make me feel special. And last week was no different. My parents setup a climbing adventure (which is one of my favorite things to do), and we all had a great time as we struggled together to summit the rock wall.

Returning home costs us something. If you live a ways away from your home, like me, it costs significant time and money. All of us start life a ways away from our intended home in heaven. As sinful humans, we're separated from our God. Yet, we're being invited by our Lover to return. To return home to our Creator costs us; its costs shifting priorities, changing relationships, and leaving behind certain pleasures. It costs giving over our life to Jesus Christ. In trusting Christ with our life, we experience a sense of loss as we let go of the things we previously held to as dear. Yet, in-store for us is joy and an anthem of praise from the host of heaven. A joy-filled home devoid of gossip and greed and filled with grace and gloriousness awaits those who leave behind those things that aren't of God. Jesus is preparing a joy-filled return home for His followers. Are you in a position to experience the warmth of heaven's welcome?

Lord, we thank you that no matter where we are in our faith journey, you are gracious and willing to welcome us home. Even more, you make the welcome filled with great joy. Amen.

1 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

For each of us, there are those things in our past we either wish we hadn't done or wish we could overlook. For some, maybe it's contributing to a broken relationship, making a harsh comment, or indulging in excess. For others, maybe it's not following through on a commitment or failing to act in the right way. Whatever it is, as the realization of our past failures and shortcomings come to mind, our hearts begin to be filled with pain and sorrow, as we grieve. We grieve because we know we're not perfect and we know things could've been better.

For all who have put their trust in Jesus, our verse for today gives us an extraordinarily hopeful truth. God can and does give us a fresh start. What an amazing truth, that we are no longer the same individual as before as after we start our faith relationship with Jesus Christ. When we express our faith in Jesus, we are put in a relationship with Him. And to be in relationship with Him means to be united with the only One who has overcome sin. So the sinful things that we wish we hadn't done or wish we could overlook in the past no longer define our present reality. By the Spirit, in Christ we are a new creation...a new person...someone who possesses "resurrection life"—the type of life that Jesus possesses. This is the type of life that pleases God and lasts forever. The old, sinful things pass away and, as we cling to Christ, we gain His life and start fresh. This is the life we eternally possess in heaven, devoid of pain and sorrow. Do you need this "fresh start"?

Lord, we thank you that you give us a fresh start and that you are currently making all things new through your Son, Jesus Christ. In His powerful name, amen.