Month: June 2024

Now, maybe
you’re dreaming of heaven too and trying to get there on your “good
works.”  Forget it! “Salvation is not a reward for the
good things we have done, so that no one can boast about it” (Ephesians 2:9 NLT).  And although you may be extremely popular on
social media, you may have set multiple records such as on BMX bikes, sports
games, may have climbed Mt. Everest 64 times, jumped off the highest bridge
into a tiny barrel of water, or jumped off a plane at 50,000’ without a
parachute and limped away to the applause of millions of followers, but if your
name isn’t written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, all you’ve done will be wiped
away as if you’ve never existed (Revelation 20:15; 3:5).

Absolutely
NO-ONE will enter heaven on their own merits. 
No one who practices their own agenda will get near it.  Only those who acknowledge and worship Jesus
as the Son of God will enter in through His merits (John 3:18).  All those who’ll argue these points, as well
as other points, will have their say at their “hearing”-the Great White Throne
Judgment where they’ll afterwards, get delivered into their final
destination…which will be everything contrary to heaven.

Fine Print: The only way to get to heaven is by entering through the Door. 

Jesus said, I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and
shall go in and out, and find pastures” (John 10:9). 

See,
everyone wants to be amongst the privileged. 
At sporting events some people don’t want to play to win.  People want to win at any cost, including
cheating.  People have cheated at plenty
of events.  In fact, their real talent is
cheating.  People throw tantrums as
childish excuses to get their ways.  Of
course, we know where they get it from. 
Ever seen parents belt each other out at kids’ games?  These are the people that will be crying
their eyes out F-A-R from the outside of heaven’s gates trying to get their
ways.  Instead, “Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be
courageous! Be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13WEB)!  Or, “Quit ye like men.” Let’s grow up and line up with God’s
word.  Heaven is replete with the
goodness of God!  I’m secretly taking a
plastic fork for some of that mouth-watering chocolate fudge cake! Oh gosh,
yeah baby!

Meet you at
the gate!

Sam

 

 

Let’s say you’re a saved person and you just dropped dead.  You’ve just arrived at heaven, and you’re entering through one of the 12 pearly gates.  I don’t know if there’s a main entrance with a huge marquee saying, “ENTER HERE” and there’ll be a finger pointing to it, but you’re going in. 

“The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each made of a single pearl” (Revelation 21:21a).

Using your imagination, let’s picture what might take place.  Say you’re an introvert, like me; but suddenly, you see several friends you knew from way-back-when.  They come cheering for you.  You break loose and start high-fiving them and hugging each other!  They have you follow them-practically pulling you as they show you the amazing things they’ve seen.  

You can’t believe that on your right hand are tables (probably going on for ten miles), packed with every cake you’ve ever seen and those you’ve never heard of.  On your left are more tables of candies, donuts, nuts, berries, and an infinite number of goodies.  Teo things you immediately notice: 1) that you can see clearly and sharply for miles!  2) you instinctively know none of it can harm you. No allergies here!  None of it can cause you to gain weight, and you can’t get sick, so that’s out!

On the way there, thousands upon thousands of people of all nationalities, call your name and wave at you!  You not only wave back, but you can’t believe you also know each one! You know their names, where they’re from, you even know their language!

Amazing! Your buddies show you waterfalls of crystalline waters in amazing colors.  Rainbows are all around.  You look to your surroundings and there are myriads of angels everywhere!

Looking down you notice the unmistakable streets of pure gold! “The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass” (Revelation 21:21b).

You are mesmerized by all the beauty you’ve seen! The sights, the smells, the beauty of trees and flowers are calming, spirit-lifting, and so soothing. In the near distance, there’s a mob of people; oh, they’re not after your autograph! They’re there like you taking in the l-o-n-g-e-s-t moment ever-ETERNITY!  You get on your tippy-toes and just barely make out an image like that of Jesus surrounded by the splendor of flashing lights.  It must be His throne room, you think. 

What’s so unbelievable is that you’ve already traveled to some places, seen multiple thousands of friends, have done a bunch of things, all without stress, tension, pain, or obstacles, and have enjoyed a teeny-tiny glimpse of what heaven offers, all in a matter of minutes which in earthly time, is actually years!

“But forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8 ASV).

God Bless!
Sam

This week we celebrated our 43^rd anniversary! Yay!  Milestones don’t come easy.  Had we sat near each other with folded hands for 43 yrs. then that would be sort of bliss. But we’ve had lots of ups and downs.  Have mixed cement, laid cement blocks, installed tiles, painted, built up walls, walkways, put up Christmas trees, prepped meals, and done a host of other things together. 

We worked at the same location for over twenty years, worked on our graduate degrees and beyond, while raising three teens, and helped each other in our strength areas.  She’s more technical and analytical, and I’m more creative as well as keen in writing. We pray together every night, read Christian literature, read the Word every morning, and keep in touch with God throughout each day.   And it still hasn’t been easy. 

Marriage, like any relationship, takes lots of work, lots of cultivating.  I know two sisters near 60 years of age that since I met them at age 11 and 16 have always been arguing over petty things.  They’re old! Not by age, but instead of growing up, are always mad at each other because of “she said…No, you said” nonsense.

Me, I’m grateful for my wife.  She’s always been there in the good, the bad, and the ugly situations of life. Hard work for sure.  But so is anything worth having. Y’all can do it too! Our small celebration is shy of what’ll soon take place in heaven where we’ll be having the celebration of a lifetime at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6-9 ESV).

“Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him glory, for the marriage supper of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”-

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”  And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

What a celebration that will be!

Happy Anniversary My Love!

Sam