"Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'" Luke 23:43, NIV
When's the last time you heard a sermon on heaven? If you're like most Christians, you probably answered "a long time ago."
So what exactly is heaven like? And why should you care? The short answer is that heaven makes our lives make sense. For example:
Are you missing Christian friends and relatives who have passed away? You'll see them in heaven. Just as the disciples recognized Moses and Elijah (Mark 9:4-5), so we'll recognize our loved ones who have gone to be with the Lord.
Do you suffer with pain? "And God himself shall be among them, and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away" (Revelation 21:3-4).
Are you filled with grief and sadness? The psalmist cried out to God, "You fill me with joy in your presence; with eternal pleasures at your right hand" (Psalm 16:11).
Do you live in the shadows of life? According to the Bible, heaven "does not need the sun or the moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp" (Revelation 21:23).
Do you struggle with temptation? In heaven, the devil will no longer tempt you. He shall be "thrown into the lake of burning sulphur" and "tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Revelation 20:10).
Do you sometimes feel distant from God? In heaven, we will behold God "face to face" (I Corinthians 13:12).
Do you struggle to understand the ways of God? In heaven, you'll understand much more clearly how "all things work together for good to those who love God" (Romans 8:28).
Heaven isn't some airy place where we'll play harps all day. It's eternal bliss in the presence of God. What a message to take to our unsaved friends and neighbors!
Daily Smile:
Why did the BOY eat his homework?
His dog had retired!
How Great Thou Art
Lord my God! When I in awesome wonderConsider all the works thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed;
Refrain:
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
When through the woods and forest glades I wander
and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
and hear the brook, and feel he gentle breeze;
Refrain
And when I think that God his son not sparing,
Sent him to die - I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:
Refrain
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home- what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, my God, how great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
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In The News:
New Congress to Welcome First Buddhist Senator, Hindu Representative
When the new members of Congress are sworn in on Jan. 3, the new Senate will seat a Buddhist member for the first time and the House of Representatives will have its first Hindu member, the Christian Post reports. Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), who currently serves in the House, won her Senate race last week and will be sworn in as the Senate's first Buddhist. Hirono's House seat will be filled by Tulsi Gabbard, who will become the first Hindu in Congress. Hirono will also be the first Asian-American female and the first person born in Japan to be elected to the U.S. Senate. Two other Buddhists, Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.,) and Rep Colleen Hanabusa (D-Hawaii) were re-elected to the House. In addition, two Muslims, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) and Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.), were re-elected, and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) will become Congress' only atheist after winning her first House race. Pete Stark (D-Calif.), the only atheist in the current Congress, lost his bid for re-election. Sinema will also become Congress' first openly bisexual member.
Egypt Protesters Demand Sharia Law
Thousands of Egyptian protesters gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday, demanding that sharia (Islamic law) be implemented under the country's new constitution, CBN News reports. As the Muslim Brotherhood-majority government continues to debate the role of religion in its constitution, ultra-conservative Muslims are pressuring leaders to make sure sharia is followed. According to Jerry Dykstra of Open Doors USA, "It is hardly a surprise that the Muslim Brotherhood is now pushing sharia as the law of the land in Egypt. Strict Islamic law has always been its main agenda for Egypt. President Morsi attempted to disguise this before the election, saying his government would be moderate. Now the true face of extreme Islam is being unveiled to the world. The high hopes of the revolution and overthrow of Mubarak have now been replaced by the reality of another form of extremist government -- an Islamist one." Under sharia, non-Muslims and Muslim women face discrimination, and those who dishonor Islam can face "honor killings" by family members. Sharia also allows for women to be stoned to death for adultery, even if the woman is the victim of rape.
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