Heaven

‘Time in the Word’ By Clayton Adams

“She passed away early this morning…” said the woman’s son to me.

Instantly, I thought of the many times we would see each other in church. I thought of her husband, who I conducted a graveside service some years previous. I also thought of the coffee we shared in her home while I listened to the stories of her life and the family she greatly loved.

Now, she is in heaven. I thought of this too. Heaven is a real, a place to look forward to going to, a far more glorious and illustrious place than the human mind can think of. The apostle Paul wrote, “… Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). What do you know about heaven? What do you believe about heaven? Will you be in heaven after this physical life is over?

Heaven is a real place, Jesus said, “Do not let your heart be troubled; you 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 into my presence, that where I am, there you will be also” (John 14:1-3).

Jesus left Heaven to be born on earth, lived a sinless life, offered Himself as a complete and final offering, paying the cost of all humanities sin. It is because of Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection on the Cross that we (anyone) may have entry into Heaven.

True, every religion in the world has a final-destination – for some, the final-destination is a dead body in the grave or ashes scattered somewhere on the earth and no more. But there is more, much more and it starts with Jesus.

The apostle Peter states in his great sermon, “… there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). The only way into heaven is not to be “prayed in” and one sure can not “buy in” it is only through Jesus Christ, through His blood, His forgiveness of sin and His Lordship in your life.

Am I good enough to get into heaven by myself? No! I am not and no one else is either. Getting into heaven through good works, good thoughts or luck isn’t possible. I am not counting on my good works, money or anything else within myself. I am counting on Jesus Christ, His shed blood on the Cross, His forgiveness of my sin and His grace and mercy. What are you counting on to get into Heaven?

There is no preboarding area for Heaven. When your heart stops and your God-given spirit departs your body, the soul and spirit immediately enter Heaven or Hell. We read, “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:6-10).

When a person dies, their soul and spirit immediately are in the presence of God and His Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit – if they have followed this one requirement found in Romans 10:9-10, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” Have you done this? Unfortunately, most Americans do not read the Bible to know what God says about His Heaven.

Cults have most certainly distorted the Bibles teachings on Heaven and many other subjects. What do you know about Heaven?

How do you know these things?

Jesus, forgive me of my sins, I believe you are the only way into Heaven. I believe God did raise you from the dead and your life, death and resurrection for once and always paid the price for my sin. I accept you as my Lord and Savior. Amen.

The Bible has so much more about Heaven, Jesus spoke of it often, the apostles help us understand more about Heaven in their letters (The New Testament) and now I have one more person to see in Heaven. I am sure it won’t be long.

Will you spend eternity in Heaven or Hell? It’s your choice.

Clayton Adams has a message of faith he would like to share with the community. He would also like to hear from you. E-mail him at claytonpadamslll@ gmail.com.