November 22nd

Heaven: A Study of Our Home

He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Revelation 21:7-8

If you're only born once then you have to die twice, but if you're born twice then you only have to die once.

Did that make sense to you? If not, then it will soon. In fact, our verses today make it very clear. They contrast two eternal choices-living forever as God's son or dying forever an eternal spiritual death.

This spiritual death is a second death that is completely separate from the physical death that all of us will one day experience unless we're raptured. Everyone, both Christian and non-Christian, has to experience that physical death. But then comes the hereafter-eternal spiritual life or eternal spiritual death.

Now, let me tell you right now, you want to avoid that second death. It's bad news. And the only way you avoid it is by being born again. And I really like this, because it makes the focus of our life on Earth very clear.

See, when a baby is born, let's be very clear, that baby must die to the world of the womb in order to come alive in this brand new world that is so much better than the old world of the womb. This death to the womb is not an option. The cord must be cut. The old womb-world is put aside, passed away, but behold, all things have become new.

Life in this world cannot happen without a baby first dying to the old. Period.

Here's the point: A lot of Christians right now are not excited about Heaven because they're living for this world. But if we want to experience that second life, and if we want to avoid the second death, then it is time for us to cut the cord, stop living for this world, and start living for the world to come.

Start living today with Heaven as the beat of your heart and desire of all that you live for.

Prayer Father God,

Thank You for making a way for me to be Your son and avoid the second death! Please show me what it means to die to this world and how to live for Heaven in my life right now.

Amen