heaven

Wearing Out

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I know I’m not alone in getting older but bits of me don’t work as well as they used to. I can’t climb hills or mountains any more which is a pity as I live in the Lake District with some of the highest mountains in the country. No longer do I run for buses and even use a stick on uneven pavements. Now I wear glasses for reading as well as well for long distance. But I’m full of rejoicing.

I have time to sit and watch the birds and butterflies. There is time to listen to people who want to unburden their problems. I would like to think I’ve gained wisdom as well as years. There is time to delve into the Bible and discover more of it’s treasures.

Finally, though I know that my body is wearing out and my time here on this earth is less than it was, I soon will not need my body as there is a new one waiting for me in heaven. Waiting for me is a place with no more pain or parting or death. 2 Corinthians 4:16 tells us ‘we do not lose heart, though outwardly we are wasting away yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory.’

Ready

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As I re-read the parable of the ten virgins Matthew 25, I reflected which group I was in. As we get older obviously our time of dying gets nearer. Of course, this is not always true, as we all have relatives and friends who have died far too young. Nevertheless, the three score years and ten of the Bible is often exceeded these days.

I met a friend who I’d not seen for six years and we remembered the time when we celebrated her 40th birthday together. I am twice her age and she was surprised when I quite happily talked about dying and going to heaven. Maybe I do think more about the end of life than I used to. Well, I’m nearer the end than the beginning. I’m still enjoying many things about my life here and now, but I need to remember they are are only passing pleasures. When things are difficult now we can remember there are better things to come.

I want to be like the five wise virgins, enjoying life now but fully ready for the one to come.

10,000 Years and then for Evermore

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Do you remember when you were young and waiting for Father Christmas to come? You were told it was five more sleeps and then four sleeps. Time never stands still. So much of our lives are spent counting down time – weeks until we leave school, months until we move or retire.

If our whole lives were condensed into a year, then I would definitely be in December, maybe you would be in October or November. Counting our lives away can be both sad and joyful, getting over the bad things, anticipating the good things. But we won’t always be living in time. Once we reach heaven time will be no more. Elijah and Moses will have no more time in heaven than you or I. They and we are no nearer the end. We creatures of time just can’t imagine what that means.

When I used to visit my friend and her young son, he would always immediately say ‘When are you leaving?’ There is no question like that in heaven. There is no departing. We can’t imagine what ten thousand years is like, let alone ‘evermore.’ It does make our trials and troubles here melt into insignificance. Our problems seem to go on for ever, but of course they don’t. Only one thing goes on for ever – our time in heaven.

We are Heavenly Creatures

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‘We are not earthly creatures on a heavenly journey; we are heavenly creatures on an earthly journey.’ This is not my quote but from a wise person, and one which caused me to stop and think. There are times when we feel very much like earthly creatures, struggling in an alien land and impatient to be in heaven.

This earth feels alien precisely because we are in fact heavenly creatures. Our is an up-side-down faith. Day by day we learn more of our God and His will for us. At the present time it is an earthly journey. As it has been said ‘We are just passing through, heaven is our home.’ Because heaven is our home we therefore are heavenly creatures.

Rooms versus Mansions

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In John 14 I’m sure that the translation ‘rooms’ is more accurate than the word I was brought up with ‘mansions.’ I prefer this word. And why not, I have many rooms in my house, I’m expecting heaven to be an upgrade. Our God will bestow us with mansions, castles, meadows, fields. God is not stingy, He is lavish. While a beautiful landscape or opulent building can impress us now, heaven will be more than we can ever imagine or think. God will delight to shower us with blessings.

So I will continue with my mansions. ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions ……… I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:1-2

A Prayer Away

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Do we ever feel we can’t do much for the Lord? How wrong that thought is. We can always pray for others. No elaborate words are needed, no physical effort or oodles of time. All is need is a few simple words, sitting in a chair and the ability to send ‘arrow prayers’ to heaven. Or when driving the car or waiting at the school gate. We can be of use where we are not. We can travel the world to be with our needy friends and relatives, but our prayers can place God at their side.

So often we feel we need to be doing and unless our Christian life is filled with activity it doesn’t count. Not so. The private life of unstinting prayer is what God often asks of us. There are no stars for the amount of time spend in prayer, just a God who knows and answers. ‘The kingdom of God is within us.’

Moving House

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Moving house is one of the largest upheavals in our lives. Will we find a buyer for our present house? Will we find another house that we like, at a price we can afford. When we have moved will we find snags which we hadn’t noticed before? When moving house in the past, I’ve not always prayed enough about. But God has been faithful. He has looked after me even when I’ve moved away from Him.

The final move that we make might be hard but the final result will be perfect. In heaven there will be no problems such as we have on earth. We will be made abundantly welcome. And hopefully we will hear the words ‘Well done good and faithful servant.’

Moving

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Moving house is always a big upheaval. Will our present home sell at the right price? Will we find a new place at the correct location, price and what will the neighbours be like? Fortunately our final move will have none to these problems. Our home in heaven will suit us admirably. There will be a very warm welcome and we will see the face of Him whom we’ve served and hopefully He will say ‘Welcome, well done, good and faithful servant.’

The Final Hospitality

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‘In my Father’s house are many mansions.’ (today we say rooms) God will be the ultimate and supreme host and will welcome us home. There won’t be any leaving times or curfews; it will be for ever and ever. I can’t get my head round this. The party will go on and on.

Like everyone else I don’t know exactly what heaven will be like. I don’t know if there will be a feasting or dancing or resting or partying. What I do know is that because I acknowledge that Jesus died for my sins, I will be welcome, very welcome. Our tiny hospitalities in this life will fade into insignificance in this great and wonderful welcome.

Time will be no more

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I’m a bit of a time freak as I’m always looking at my watch or mobile phone to check the time. I’m so afraid of being late, I’ve even been known to arrive an hour early for an appointment.

But a time is coming when time will be no more. There won’t be sixty seconds in a minute, in fact there will be no more minutes or hours. Day and night will not exist and seasons will not appear ‘without fail.’ My mind can’t get round this. No train timetables (that might be a blessing!) and no beginnings or ends. In heaven there is no such thing as time. I can’t comprehend this concept; except I know that heaven is completely unknown and wonderfully wonderful.