Heaven and a Little Boy

Heaven

 

   Recently a book was released about a little boy named Colton Burpo, who at the age of 3 died, went to heaven and came back to life. At age 10 he and his family wrote a book and have done interviews about what Colton saw in heaven and chronicled his experience. Just this week Colton and his mom and dad appeared on the Today Show.

   Several people have had out of body heavenly experiences and returned to share their story. Colton is one of the youngest, purest and most interesting of those stories http://www.niftychristian.com/?p=12536 Take a moment to check the story out or pick up a copy of his book.

   The scripture is full of references to heaven and eternal life. Christ tells us that He goes to prepare a place for us in heaven and that if we believe and confess upon Him, we will share that place with Him. Old Testament prophets and New Testament Apostles saw glimpses of heaven and wrote about it. I share three of my passages from my book, Leading From Our Knees, to give you more perspective.

   Colton’s recollection of what he saw at three years old confirms several things I believe about heaven:

·        Heaven is real, pain free.

·        The Trinity of God is there.

·        We are in new bodies there.

·        We recognize and reunite with people and family we know and love.

·        Animals are in heaven.

·        There is singing in heaven.

·        The Throne of God is awesome. (see devotional)

·        New knowledge is made available to us in heaven.

·        Angels carried Colton straight to Jesus when he died.

·        Heaven is a happy place with people of all generations.

·        You can sit in Jesus’ lap and feel safe from all harm.

   I thank you Colton for sharing your experience with us. It makes us warmer and more peaceful to know that our Lord truly loves the little children of the world and indeed all of us!

   Many of us are closer than ever to finding out what happens at the end of life. Many of us have lost people we love and are lonely and wonder if we will ever be reunited.

   The answers and the plan are already in place in scripture and teachings. But sometimes it takes the purity and innocence of a little boy from Nebraska to make it come to life for us.

   Read on and be at peace. If you believe with the faith of child, all will be well.

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Sights And Sounds Of The Throne

THE GOD WHO CALLS US HAS MAJESTY AND SITS ON A HEAVENLY THRONE”

“I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on

his right hand and on his left.… I saw the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted

up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims…and one cried

unto another and said Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of

his glory…and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne…to

look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the

throne…and twenty four elders…and out of the throne proceeded lightings and

thundering and voices…and before the throne was a sea of glass like unto crystal…and

four beasts and they rest not day and night saying, Holy, holy, holy LORD God Almighty,

which was, and is, and is to come.”

FEATURED SCRIPTURES: 1 KINGS 22:19; ISAIAH 6:1–4; AND REVELATION 4:2–6, 8

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: 1 KINGS 22:1–40; ISAIAH 6; JOHN 12:37–50; AND REVELATION 4—5

 

   Lest we think that the One who calls us is merely a bearded, triton-like, grandfatherly figure

who floats in the air, let our lesson and Scripture today allow us to experience the sights and

sounds of the throne of the Lord God Almighty, the One who called us!

   The prophets Micah and Isaiah, as well as the apostle John, witnessed firsthand the throne of

God and lived to write it down in the books of Scripture. Each of them saw a heavenly throne

filled with unimaginable majesty. They saw God sitting upon that throne. They saw heavenly

hosts and elders. They heard thundering and constant praises of holiness. The very train of

God’s garment filled the whole Temple. Rainbows, jasper, sardine, and seas of crystal were abundant

and endless. God’s glory filled not only the holy Temple but the whole earth.

   God is unfathomable. His power and glory are not measurable. He is a Spirit who never

sleeps, who is clairvoyant and universal. But in our Scripture today, God allows each of us to

have a tiny glimpse of Him by way of these special servants. This majestic God is our Creator and Sustainer. He loves us very much, even more than we love ourselves. He watches us constantly and longs for us to succeed and be fruitful. He has called us for a special task of service straight from this holy throne.

 When we think upon our work and our calling and become tired or confused or too weary

to continue, it would do us well to envision the description of the habitation of the One who has

called us.

   If this majestic God on this holy throne is for us, is watching us, and wants us to

succeed, we must get up and get going with new zeal. We can’t let Him down. His glory fills the

earth and fills our every day. This same glory can overcome the poverty, violence, and depravity

of humankind if we will let it shine through our service to others.

   The sights and sounds of the throne of the Almighty are cheering you on to proclaim the

Good News and serve others in God’s love this day!

Our Prayer: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come, we praise

You this moment. We stand in awe as we experience the sights and sounds of Your throne. Let Your glory and power overwhelm us and cover us in this day of our service to You. Amen.

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We Cannot Even Comprehend It

“GOD’S LOVE AND REWARD AWAITING US ARE UNFATHOMABLE TO OUR MINDS”

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the

heart of any man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him…. 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.”

Featured Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 2:9; and Matthew 14:2

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: ISAIAH 64:1–4; AND MATTHEW 14:1–4

 

   So much of the faith journey is discussed in terms of sin, sacrifice, suffering, salvation,

hope, and love. Each of these characteristics of faith is part of the whole cloth of our spiritual

lives. But in today’s lesson, let your mind wander to a place you have never gone before.

Imagine comfort; wealth; love; pleasure; acceptance; beauty; and the absence of pain, need,

and sorrow. Imagine the most beautiful mountaintop or sunset you ever witnessed. Imagine

restoration and reunion with all those you have ever known and loved. Imagine the successful

accomplishment of every goal and ambition you ever had. Imagine the elimination of poverty,

persecution, prejudice, and death.

   When we ponder these things, you must give up. We have failed miserably. The rewards of

loving Christ and accepting God’s providence exceed all our abilities to comprehend. No sensation

of sight, taste, or smell can compare to the new realm of the pleasure and reward the Scriptures

promise. Nothing that ever entered into the heart of a human being could prepare us for the

glory we will receive ahead. The apostle Paul penned these words, as did the prophet Isaiah.

Christ Himself told us that part of His mission after His resurrection was to go and prepare our

mansion for our arrival. Are you feeling a little better now?

   Our lives today are full of difficulty and tribulation. The acceptance of the call to leadership

in faith assures that you will become part of the spiritual warfare of this realm of life. It assures

unending work and sacrifice. But whatever our plight, whatever our suffering on this day, we

cannot even conceive of the eternal reward that awaits those of us who embrace the risen Lord.

   This promise should reawaken even the most infirmed and most oppressed laborer in faith

with a smile and new skip in your walk. Our work and callings are not in vain. The God we love

and the God we serve is an awesome and gracious Creator who intends the best for those He calls

His own. This future reward should inspire us to even greater service and sacrifice. This promise

should trivialize the problems and challenges we face in our temporal situations of leadership. If

ever we should doubt the price we pay or the call we received to serve Christ in this life, let us

remind ourselves of the goodness of the One we serve. Glory! Hallelujah!

   Keep dreaming and imagining the most incredible sensations of your heart and hear Christ’s

own voice saying…you can’t even comprehend it!

Our Prayer: Our Lord and our God, we bow in humility and praise for the promise of today’s

Scripture. You have already prepared an eternal reward for us beyond human comprehension. We are

so unworthy. You have redeemed us and taken us as Your own. Instill this promise into the very fabric

of our souls and may it motivate us to greater obedience, service, and thanksgiving with each new

breath we draw. Amen.

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He Who Is Worthy Has Already Secured Our Future

“ALL HEAVEN ATTESTS TO OUR LORD’S POWER AND OUR DELIVERANCE”

“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open

the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out

of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our

God kings and priests: and we shall reign on earth. And I beheld, and I heard the

voice of many angels round the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number

of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands…”

FEATURED SCRIPTURE: REVELATION 5:9-11

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: REVELATION 5 AND MATTHEW 11:28

 

   Try to fathom the sound of 100 million angels singing together a new song of glory to our

Lord. Our Scripture today describes for us in detail this event and the unimaginable majesty and

power of Christ. These verses reveal that the Lord who called us to lead is truly worthy of our full

service, sacrifice and life. Jesus redeemed us and made us His partners in the heavenly purpose,

so our future is now secured. Our life’s work for the Lamb of God should reflect the same awe

and worship that is displayed by the angelic heavenly choir.

   There are many theological interpretations of the Book of Revelation; however, there can

be no dispute about how the apostle John saw Christ in His glory and power. Too often we

narrowly connote an image of Christ as the Baby Jesus in the manger, or, as the crucified Son

of God at Golgotha. But our lesson today calls each of us to envision Christ in His eternal

regality and to know that the power of the throne of God is freely available to each of us as

called leaders of faith.

   Our life and journey on this earth are tough. As we venture out into the streets each day to

begin our work, we witness man’s inhumanity to his neighbor, as well as an endless stream of

human need and brokenness. Yet, our hope for the future should always reflect the certainty of

our victorious outcome, even as we attempt to love and serve the hurting souls around us.

   What challenge do you face today? Do you need to hear a choir of angels sing? “He Who Is

Worthy” is also our own personal Savior who bids that we come to Him and give Him our

weariness and heartbreak. Not only will He give us rest, but power. Always be mindful, not only

of the eternal blessings already stored up for you, but of the power and provision Christ makes

available for you this very day.

   If you will start singing praises to the Lamb this day, then the angels will join you; because

we are all part of that same great victory. So let us go and share that victory and the love and

salvation of He Who is Worthy with those we encounter this day.

Our Prayer: Worthy are You O Lord! In awe and praise we lift our hearts and voices to You this

very day. With thanksgiving we come into Your presence and ask for the strength and provision to

finish the earthly tasks that You have given us to do. We anxiously wait for that hour when we will

join the choir of angels in heaven and sing new songs of praise to You. Amen.