September 12th

Hope and Healing Are on the Horizon

All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE. Ezekiel 48:35

Do you want to get to Heaven someday? I'm sure your answer is yes, but why do you want to get there?

I imagine that there are a lot of different answers that people would give to that ques-

tion. Some people want to get to Heaven because they think all their loved ones will be there. They're sad that their loved ones have died and they want to be reunited with them.

Or some people know that Heaven is a place where pain and death are no more, where every tear is wiped away, and where sickness and disease aren't even a memory. With good reason, every person who has experienced pain, sickness, or loss in this world (i.e. everyone) would want to go to Heaven for these reasons.

For many Christians, there is yet another reason we look forward to Heaven. Reaching Heaven means that all fleshly struggles are over and that we enter the everlasting joy of an undivided existence. We'll never have to ask whether something is right or wrong again, because there will never be any sin in Heaven.

There is one more reason we should want to go to Heaven, and it is that the Lord is there. A lot of us might be afraid of that part of Heaven-that God is there-but here's why it's good: He's the reason for everything else that's good in Heaven.

God is the One who will wipe away our tears, heal our diseases, set us free from sin and death forever, and take away all our sorrows. More than that, Psalms tells us that in His presence is the fullness of joy!

But it's important for us to begin living for Jesus here and now, and I'll tell you why-the only way to Heaven is through Him. We can't get to Heaven just because we want to. We only get there because we believe in Jesus, letting Him take away our sins and give us everlasting life in return.

It's a good trade, I'm telling you, but it's not one that everyone will make. In fact, I have to warn you-those loved ones you long to see in Heaven, you'll only see them there if they believed in Jesus.

Heaven is a wonderful place, as the song says, but the best part about it-and the only way to get there-is Jesus.

Prayer Lord Jesus,

Thank You for offering me life in Heaven forever! I want to go to Heaven, and I know You're the only way to get there. Please save me from my sins and save all my loved ones, too, so that we may all experience the wonders of You in Heaven together!

Amen