Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
Pondering Heaven
Day 34 | WILL WE SING IN HEAVEN?

WILL WE SING IN HEAVEN?

Isaiah 38:20
“We will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the Lord”

I think singing will be a big deal in heaven. Consider that Jesus sang with His disciples (Mark 14); Paul told the Ephesians to sing to the Lord (Ephesians 5), and James said, “Those who have reason to be thankful should continually sing praises to the Lord” (James 5).
 In John’s Revelation, the 144,000 redeemed during the tribulation sang a “new song” before God’s throne, the four living creatures, and the elders.

Which songs will we sing? It’s hard to predict, but very possibly the BEST of the songs we sang on earth… assuming they are theologically accurate and praise and worship the Lord God. Maybe we’ll sing some of the older songs written by people like Charles Wesley or Isaac Watts; or maybe “A Mighty Fortress” by Martin Luther; or perhaps Handel’s Messiah. The key will be that songs MUST be accurate, truthful, and lift up the Majestic Names of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

But we will also sing NEW SONGS in heaven (Rev 5 and 14) and on the New Earth. Isaiah 42:10 says… “Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth.” It’s not hard for me to imagine MILLIONS of gifted songsters writing new songs throughout eternity for us all to sing (with PERFECT voices). Imagine the overwhelming songs and sounds of praise reverberating throughout the New Heaven and New Earth.

Prayer: LORD, as a musician pondering music in heaven, I am overwhelmed.  As good as some of the music we have here is, it may pale by comparison.  Thank You, Lord!  Amen.

BONUS: something else we won’t have in heaven… hospitals.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
Pondering Heaven
Day 33 | WILL WE SEE ANGELS IN HEAVEN AND WHAT WILL THEY BE DOING?

WILL WE SEE ANGELS IN HEAVEN AND WHAT WILL THEY BE DOING?

Revelation 5:11-12
“Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.’”  (LSB)

We WILL see and be with the angels when we get to heaven. It appears they may also be leading us in worship! Consider this: angels, like those who announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds in the field, who comforted Jesus after His temptation by Satan in the wilderness, and who accompanied the poor beggar who had faith in God to heaven… these same angels – and thousands more – will be with us in heaven forever!

Angels, who are NOT “heirs of salvation” nor sons or daughters of God, but special, created spirit beings, will be with us, worshipping the same God and His Son, Jesus the Christ. We are never to worship them, but they will join us in worshipping the One True God of the Universe and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Prayer: LORD, thank You for Your marvelous plan.  I look forward to seeing angels in heaven and perhaps meeting the special one You assigned to me.  Your plan is amazing, and I look forward to singing Your praises – with the heavenly host – in heaven! Amen.

Bonus: Something else that won’t be in heaven… jealousy.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
Pondering Heaven
Day 32 | DUAL CITIZENSHIP

DUAL CITIZENSHIP
 
Philippians 3:20-21
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”

Historically, citizenship referred to a city whose citizens’ names were kept on a register. Heaven is the place where God dwells and where Christ is present. It is the home of all Believers, where their names are registered… “but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven” (Luke 10:20).

For Christians, our primary allegiance is to God’s Kingdom, which is both spiritual and eternal. We DO maintain allegiance to our earthly governments and have responsibilities, such as praying for the leaders, paying taxes, and seeking peace and prosperity for their nation.

While Christians are called to be dutiful citizens, their loyalty remains undivided. If earthly authorities demand disobedience to God, believers are called to obey God rather than men. “But Peter and the apostles answered and said, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” (Acts 5:29)
 
Prayer: Lord, I better understand and gladly accept my Dual Citizenship, with my country temporarily, AND with heaven, my eventual eternal home.   Help me to make a positive difference while I’m here, for Your honor and glory.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
Pondering Heaven
Day 31 | TELL ME MORE ABOUT OUR GLORIFIED BODIES

TELL ME MORE ABOUT OUR GLORIFIED BODIES

1 Corinthians 15:44
“It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body”

Floating as disembodied spirits appeals to almost no one, and Scripture never asks us to imagine such a thing. The Christian hope is bodily resurrection. But what kind of bodies will they be?

Paul addresses this directly in 1 Corinthians 15, the most detailed passage on resurrection in all of Scripture. “It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.” (v. 44) By “spiritual,” Paul doesn't mean ghostly. He means animated by the Holy Spirit rather than mere flesh. Just as a seed bears little resemblance to the flower it becomes, our glorified bodies will be recognizably ours yet immeasurably more.

Our current bodies decay, tire, and fail. By contrast, our resurrected bodies will be durable, radiant, and strong... sustained by God Himself. "We will all be changed," Paul declares (v. 51), and this change is not destruction but an upgrade.

The clearest preview we have is Jesus Himself. After His resurrection, He ate fish, walked on roads, and invited Thomas to touch His wounds. Yet He also appeared behind locked doors and was initially unrecognizable. His body was physical and tangible, yet it operated under new rules. John later assures us, "We know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." (1 John 3:2)

C.S. Lewis captured this beautifully: "The letter of Scripture turns out to be not merely a metaphor—the literal meaning is far more exciting than the metaphorical." Our resurrected bodies are not less real than our present ones; they are more real, more substantial, and more alive.

Every ache that reminds us of our mortality will be replaced by strength reflecting the glory of the risen and everlasting Christ.

Prayer: LORD, I am so looking forward to my renewed body. Amen.

Bonus: something else that won’t be needed in heaven… dentists.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
Pondering Heaven
Day 30 | WILL THERE LITERALLY BE STREETS OF GOLD IN HEAVEN?

WILL THERE LITERALLY BE STREETS OF GOLD IN HEAVEN?

Revelation 21:21
“The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.”

For centuries, Christians have pictured glittering golden pathways leading toward God's throne. But does Scripture intend for us to take this description literally or symbolically?

Many theologians favor rich symbolism. John Calvin observed that apocalyptic literature often uses earthly treasures to point beyond themselves… gold representing purity and glory rather than material wealth. C.S. Lewis wrote, "In heaven we shall find that the reality surpasses the symbols,” suggesting that these images offer glimpses of truth rather than architectural blueprints.

Tim Keller offered a helpful balance: “Whether the streets are literally gold doesn't matter as much as what they reveal—that heaven has value beyond anything we can comprehend here.” 

The passage also emphasizes transparency; the gold is like glass, suggesting something more heavenly than an earthly precious metal.

Consider what Revelation reveals alongside the gold: the city's foundation is set with precious stones, its gates are pearls, and no temple exists because God Himself is present. Taken together, these images speak of worth, beauty, and divine accessibility… not investment portfolios.

Really, we don’t yet know exactly whether resurrection bodies are physical and glorified... so maybe the New Jerusalem actually includes golden streets? As Dallas Willard reflected, "God is real. His kingdom is real. Why wouldn't the materials reflect that?" Both interpretations honor Scripture's grandeur.

What matters most isn't whether we walk on literal gold but where we're headed. The streets lead home to “my Father's house” (John 14:2). Whether symbolic or material, this promise assures us that eternity will surpass every treasure we prize—and that our true destination holds incomparable beauty beyond anything we can imagine.

Prayer: Lord, following any road that leads to You will be more than enough! Amen.

Bonus: Another thing we won’t need in heaven… Kleenex.

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Pondering Heaven
Day 29 | WILL WE HAVE JOBS OR WORK IN HEAVEN?

WILL WE HAVE JOBS OR WORK IN HEAVEN?

Revelation 22:3
“The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.”

This question often surprises us, yet Scripture suggests that labor is not merely a consequence of the fall but also a part of our original design. Before sin entered the world, God placed Adam in the Garden "to work it and take care of it" (Genesis 2:15). Work, therefore, predates the curse and is an expression of human purpose.

In today’s verse, the Greek word for “serve,” implies sacred service or worshipful labor. We are not there to idle; we are there to serve.

C.S. Lewis hinted at this continuity, suggesting that our earthly passions and vocations, when redeemed, will find their truest fulfillment in eternity. Similarly, Pastor Tim Keller argued that if our current work reflects God's image, its essence cannot be lost. In his words, "The work we do now, if done for God's glory, will be transformed, not discarded." The exhaustion, frustration, and futility of sin-induced toil will end, but the joy of stewardship and creation will last and the last.

In heaven, we will not "slave away" under the sun. There will be no deadlines, no burnout, and no enemies to defeat. Instead, imagine tending gardens of unimaginable beauty, composing music for the King, or exploring galaxies with wonder.

We will work without weariness and serve without strife. The questions we ask today about our purpose will finally be answered by the work we love most: our joyful labor serving the Lord we love.

Prayer: Lord, the more I learn, the more heaven looks wonderfully amazing! Amen

Bonus: Another thing we won’t have in heaven… hospitals.

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
Pondering Heaven
Day  28 | WILL WE BE MARRIED IN HEAVEN?

WILL WE BE MARRIED IN HEAVEN?

Matthew 22:30
“At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.”

That single sentence has brought comfort to some and heartache to others. If you've loved a spouse deeply, the thought of that bond dissolving can feel like a loss. But notice what Jesus didn't say. He didn't say we won't know each other. He didn't say love would disappear. He said the institution of marriage, as we know it, won't continue… and then pointed to something far greater.

Marriage on earth serves beautiful purposes: companionship, family, and a living picture of Christ and the church. But it also exists because of our brokenness and mortality. We need a spouse to endure hardship, raise children, and stave off loneliness. In heaven, none of those needs remain. God Himself will dwell among us (Revelation 21:3). Every ache that marriage mitigates here will be healed completely there.

Paul reinforces this shift in Ephesians 5:31-32, quoting Genesis – “the two shall become one flesh”– and revealing that marriage has always pointed beyond itself: “This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.” Earthly marriage is the shadow; union with Christ is the substance.

Will you recognize your spouse? Yes! The rich man in Luke 16 recognized Lazarus and Abraham across the chasm. Our identities aren't erased, they're redeemed. But the exclusive covenant of marriage gives way to a wider, deeper communion… a community of perfect love where no one is left out and every relationship is whole.

If you think heaven feels like subtraction, look again. Jesus promised we'd be like the angels… not stripped, but gloriously free. What we lose in earthly marriage, we gain in unbroken closeness with God and all His people.

Prayer: LORD, although I don’t understand it all yet, I am looking forward to Your perfect plan!  Amen.

BONUS: something else we won’t have in heaven… worry.

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Day 27 | WILL WE EAT FOOD IN HEAVEN?

WILL WE EAT FOOD IN HEAVEN?

Luke 22:16
“For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

Luke 24:42-43
“They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.”

 The Bible suggests that while the nature of our existence will be transformed, the act of eating is not erased, but redeemed.

Jesus Himself answered this question through His resurrection. After rising from the dead, He ate in front of the disciples. This was not because He needed sustenance to survive; rather, it was a profound physical demonstration that He was truly alive, tangible, and present.

In Revelation, we see further imagery of a great banquet. John writes of the "marriage supper of the Lamb," a grand feast celebrating the union of Christ and His people.

Revelation 22:2 – “Down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.”
 
Once again, God provides abundantly!

Therefore, the answer is most likely yes, but the experience will be elevated. We will likely eat not out of necessity but out of gratitude, fellowship, and delight. The meals of heaven will be gatherings in which we share in the presence of our Creator, savoring the goodness of a restored creation.

Until that day, may we treat every earthly meal with thanksgiving, as a foretaste and a small reminder that God is good and that His kingdom is a place where no one goes hungry.

Prayer: LORD, heaven is going to be much more than I can think or imagine, but I know it’s going to be amazing and wonderful. Thank You, amen.

BONUS: Something else that won’t be in heaven… politics.
 

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
Pondering Heaven
Day 26 | DO PETS AND ANIMALS GO TO HEAVEN?

DO PETS AND ANIMALS GO TO HEAVEN?

Genesis 1:30
“And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it”
 
Genesis 7:15
“Pairs of all creatures that have the breath of life in them came to Noah and entered the ark.”

Though the Bible does not explicitly address our pets, we can make a reasonable guess. When God created the world, He made mankind and animals. We are made in His image, but both species have the “breath of life” from God. Consider Noah, the ark, and the flood. God saved the animals (“two by two”) so that they – and people – could continue to live and populate the earth after the flood.

After creation, God looked at everything, including the animals, and said, “It is very good.”

Romans 8:19-21 says: “For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.”
 
Animals (and pets) were part of God’s creation, and He breathed LIFE into them as He did to us. True, animals don’t appear (in Scripture) to have souls as we do; nonetheless, they are special, made by the Creator God by His grace and for our benefit. It is thus VERY likely that we’ll see animals in heaven (there are Scriptures for that), and it has been said: “Seeing our pets in heaven wouldn’t surprise me, given how extravagant our Lord God is.”

Prayer: LORD, whatever You have planned will be amazing and inexhaustible.  Amen.

Bonus: Something else we don’t have any of in heaven… liars.

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Pondering Heaven
Day 25 | WILL WE BE ABLE TO SEE THE TRINITY IN HEAVEN?

WILL WE BE ABLE TO SEE THE TRINITY IN HEAVEN?

Revelation 4:2-6
“There before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.  And the One who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.”

The Trinity will be in heaven, three persons, the Father, Son, and Spirit … yet ONE God.

Bible scholars see this scene in Revelation 4 with the Father (“the One who sat there”) and the Son as the “rainbow that shone like an emerald.” In Revelation 5, the LAMB (Jesus Christ) stands at the center of the throne, clothed in brilliant white. Given that He was visible after His resurrection, this gives confidence that we’ll be able to LOOK at Him in heaven. The Holy Spirit – from descriptions of Him on earth – can take various forms… a dove, tongues of fire, and so on.
 
The KEY is that in heaven, we will be with Almighty God forever.
 
It makes me think: Are you spending much time here on earth getting to know the Lord personally and deeply? I was thinking about how my wife and I LOVE spending time together, which is exactly as God designed it. And marriage here on earth is a foretaste of the relationship we are to have with the Lord Jesus, both here and in heaven. (See Ephesians 5.)

Prayer: LORD, I look forward to SEEING ALL that is in heaven, especially YOU. Amen.

Bonus: Something that you won’t see in heaven… TEARS.

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Day 24 | WON’T I BE VERY SAD IF ALL MY LOVED ONES ARE NOT THERE?

WON’T I BE VERY SAD IF ALL MY LOVED ONES ARE NOT THERE?

Revelation 21:4
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

It’s hard to imagine, but our perspective will dramatically change in heaven. Our limited, earthbound perspective will be replaced by a new heavenly one. But the key to this is today’s verse: NO MORE death, crying, sadness, pain, mourning, fear, doubt, worry… all the negatives we face here on earth.

God will make all things NEW, which, of course, from our perspective here and now, seems like a fairy tale. But… IT WILL HAPPEN!

Further, our thoughts will be washed and made new.  We will agree with God about everything, and with that washing (and making new), we will see that everything in heaven will make perfect sense and will bring us JOY.
 
Our goal here on this planet should be to do everything we can to point our loved ones to Jesus. In light of this, I often think of 2 Peter 3:9… “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Each of us should do all we can to encourage those around us – especially our families and loved ones – to come to Christ while there is still time.

Prayer – LORD, thank You for Your plan. Help me to follow You and speak the TRUTH in LOVE about Your salvation and the benefits of becoming a Christ follower. Amen.

Bonus: Something we won’t see in heaven… pharmacies.

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Day 23 | WILL WE REMEMBER OUR EARTHLY LIVES IN HEAVEN?

WILL WE REMEMBER OUR EARTHLY LIVES IN HEAVEN?

Isaiah 65:16-17
“For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from my eyes.  See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.”

Many who read verse 17, “the former things will not be remembered,” assume that memories of our former lives are gone forever. But the previous verse specifies “past troubles.” Putting those together, it seems likely that our past TROUBLES will be forgotten in heaven. Eventually, our memories will be redeemed (pain, sin, sadness), and all the GOOD will be remembered.
 
Revelation 21 tells us that “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, crying, or pain, for the old has passed away.”

Aren’t you GLAD to hear that? I use the Revelation section at nearly every memorial service I conduct, and it always brings comfort to the bereaved.

It’s important to note that the Revelation verse here refers to the FINAL heaven, not the temporary heaven we go to immediately upon death, but the FINAL heaven after the Second Coming of Jesus. There is some wailing by the saints in Revelation 6 about injustice done to them… “How long, O Lord …,” but that part of what John recorded there was before the 2nd coming of Jesus.  

The story of Lazarus and the Rich Man is also given to us to teach that we DO remember at least part of our former lives, even in heaven.  It may not be crystal clear how all this works, but we can trust our Heavenly Father, the NEXT life will be amazing!

Prayer; LORD, thank You for having all of this planned out.  I know that YOU love us, and I’m glad to be one of your children.  Amen.

Bonus: Something we won’t need in heaven … DOCTORS.  

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Day 22 | HOW CAN WE STORE UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN?

HOW CAN WE STORE UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN?

Matthew 6:19-21
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (NLT)

Everyone has a gift, something they seem empowered to do well.  We need to serve the LORD with those gifts, serving others as He leads.  But it’s also tempting to take credit for those gifts and their results rather than recognizing the Source, Almighty God.

1 Corinthians 3:8 says, “The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.” (NLT)

To answer today’s question, we “store up treasures in heaven” by serving the Lord as He has gifted us on this earth during this life.

But our service needs to be done with an attitude of humility and thanksgiving unto the Lord for the gift, the empowerment to use that gift, and the results, all of which are for the glory of God. Everyone, but especially those with more visible gifts such as teaching, singing, or music, might serve in church more for their own glory and the acknowledgment of others rather than for the glory of God.

 So HOW do we ensure that our attitudes are right? I suggest starting by confessing any wrong attitudes that may have cropped up; give thanks regularly to the Lord for the spiritual gift HE has given you and ask His help in serving the Lord with your gift, both enthusiastically and humbly.

Caution: We are also warned in 2 John 1:8 to avoid following false teachers or risk losing ALL rewards in heaven.

Prayer: Lord, help me examine my heart to ensure that I’m serving You with pure motives that are pleasing in Your sight. Thank You, Amen.

 Bonus: Something we won’t need in heaven… military.

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Day 21 | FAR BETTER

FAR BETTER

Philippians 1:21-23
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” (ESV)

In this part of his letter, the Apostle Paul is obviously torn between wanting to continue his ministry for the benefit it brings to others and going to be with the Lord in heaven.

I like that Paul sees BOTH options – staying longer on earth AND going to heaven – as good.  BUT he is clear that departing and being with Christ is FAR better.

I guess we would call that a “win-win scenario,” where he is truly FINE with either staying or dying.

As I pondered that, I thought about those of us living in America. We have SO much of pretty much everything. So, if someone were confronted with the prospect of “going to the hospital” and told they might not survive,” MANY would be upset because of ALL the stuff they have, love, and want to keep.

Paul knew little about earthly “stuff,” which is what keeps many from embracing heaven and the afterlife.

I wonder how many church-goers could honestly agree with Paul in today’s verses and be looking forward to Heaven?

 There can surely be no greater thrill than to look into the face of our Lord Jesus Christ and hear Him say: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Prayer: LORD, I am content to be here now and to follow Your leading in my life. I also look forward to being with You in heaven forever.  Amen.

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Day 20 | GOD HAS PREPARED

GOD HAS PREPARED

1 Corinthians 2:7-9
“No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.  None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’— the things God has prepared for those who love him”

God’s plan and wisdom are amazing and clearly beyond our comprehension. Here, Paul calls it a “mystery” which none of the rulers of Jesus’ time saw or understood. Yet God planned His Son’s life, death, burial, and resurrection… which was BEYOND anything anyone could have imagined.
 
Though not exclusively about heaven, we can surmise that Paul was being led (by the Spirit) to at least hint at “the things God has prepared for those who love Him.”  
 
 So, what are some of the “things” God has prepared for us in Christ?

On this side of heaven, we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  And the Spirit provides us with salvation (regeneration) and assurance.  He seals us for the day of redemption, lives inside us, provides us with spiritual gifts and the Fruit of the Spirit, and is our 24-7 Prayer Partner (and will even pray for us when we can’t or don’t know how), and much more!

Then, of course, there is HEAVEN ahead! I sometimes watch, amazed, as various building projects are underway in our community. Then I think about God and His planning for HEAVEN for us… “’What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’ — the things God has prepared for those who love him.”

Prayer: LORD, thank YOU for Your marvelous plan … and for including me! Amen.
 

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Day 19 | SET YOUR MINDS ON THINGS ABOVE

SET YOUR MINDS ON THINGS ABOVE

Colossians 3:1-2
“Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Have you ever moved? (I suppose we all have.) Were you looking forward to that move? If you were, you probably started thinking about moving in your mind to the new place even before you got there. You might have started by figuring out what furniture and things to bring with you to the new place, what to give away, what to sell at a garage sale, and what to dump. You might have begun thinking about where you were going to put things and so on.

For example, if you lived somewhere HOT and knew you were going to move to Alaska, wouldn’t THINKING about Alaska help you clean your closet and pick up some more appropriate clothes as a way of getting ready? The point is, most people start THINKING about their move BEFORE they actually move.

I can just see the Apostle Paul doing the same thing with the church at Colossae.  They were born again and headed (eventually) for heaven, so why not start thinking about it?

Consider the new Christians Paul was addressing. They have been living without Jesus, then they heard the Good News, responded, became Born Again, and now are learning to live a Christ-centered life. Thus, they are starting to DO these verses. Paul tells them to set their HEARTS and MINDS on things above – on heaven – where God lives and where, eventually, they will ALL live too.
 
We must do the same!

Prayer, LORD, I do know that heaven is in my future. Help me to think about it more and rejoice! Amen.

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Day 18 | THE NARROW GATE

THE NARROW GATE

Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

We are living in an egalitarian era, when the popular belief is that all people are fundamentally equal in worth and moral status, should have the same rights, privileges, and opportunities, and hold equal spiritual worth or human dignity… regardless of earthly labels or beliefs.

Then we come to this statement by Jesus Christ, which seems to outright refute the current “belief-du-jour” that ALL ways to God work equally well.

Jesus made it clear: the gate to DESTRUCTION (aka hell) is wide. The gate to heaven – though open to all – is narrow.

Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” (John 14:6). That sounds pretty narrow and specific to me!

The Good News is that the offer is OPEN to everyone, everywhere!

The problem is that the “world” doesn’t like narrowness. The “world” wants to tell God how to set the rules. The reality is… God is God. He created it all, including the heavens and the earth, and HE – and He alone – makes the rules.

Ponder HIS love for YOU – and for all people everywhere – and for His sending His Son to pay the price for us so that WE could choose to be with Him in heaven forever.

Prayer: LORD, thank You for Your plan.  It is MORE than fair because YOU paid the FULL PRICE for all our sins on the cross.  Amen.

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Day 17 | WILL WE BE HAPPY IN HEAVEN?

WILL WE BE HAPPY IN HEAVEN?

Isaiah 25:8–9
“…he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.  In that day they will say, ‘Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.’”

Happiness is ONE common characteristic that ALL people share. We want to be happy.  So, will we be in heaven?

Isaiah the prophet – some 700+ years before the coming of Jesus to earth as a man – answered this with a resounding YES. “Let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”

Consider… even then, God led His prophets to see that a salvation was coming and that salvation would “wipe away the tears from all faces.”

Sometimes, folks think this talk about heaven was all about the “New Testament” whereas it’s been God’s plan since Genesis 3.

In this passage from Isaiah, besides “wiping away,” the Lord will also “remove DISGRACE from all the earth.” Have you ever sinned in a way that brought you personal pain and perhaps even disgrace in the eyes of others? Wouldn’t it be delightful to have that NOT be a problem in heaven? And wouldn’t that alone bring you happiness?!

Try to imagine a place (heaven) where our SINS are not brought up or remembered. 1 John 1:9 – God’s promise to us, and a verse I call the “Christian’s bar of soap” – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.” One BIG reason we’ll be happy in heaven!

Prayer: LORD, thank YOU for your amazing plan, in place throughout the ages.  I so look forward to heaven!  Amen.

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Pondering Heaven
Day 16 | WILL THERE BE GENDER IN HEAVEN?

WILL THERE BE GENDER IN HEAVEN?

Genesis 1:27-28, 31
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them … Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.”

There is some friendly church debate about whether we will have gender in heaven after our resurrection.

I lean into the Biblical truth that God created humanity male and female in His image and that He said, “It was very good.”

Further, we read in Revelation 22:3 – “And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it.”

Gender has caused major issues (and sin) throughout history, even though we originally read that Adam and Eve were naked and not ashamed and, for a period of time, experienced no sin.

In the NEW EARTH, we will have a NEW Eden where gender has been renewed.

Note also the examples of Jesus.  He retained his male gender AFTER His resurrection.  Moses and Elijah were still male when they appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration.
 
Augustine – one of the earliest theologians – rightly saw the eternal state (afterlife) as the RENEWAL of God’s work, not its elimination. (After all, God Himself created gender and said, “it was very good.”) Gender was part of creation, so Augustine saw it as renewed and transformed into what it was “in the beginning” before sin.   Gender is, in part, how we relate to one another. In Paradise, Lazarus was still Lazarus.

Revelation 22:3 says, “there shall be no more curse.” But gender was never a part of the curse.  

Prayer: Thank You again, Lord, for creation and for how we can look forward to ALL that beauty and sinlessness in heaven. Amen.

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Day 15 |  IN HEAVEN… CAN WE EAT?

IN HEAVEN… CAN WE EAT?

Luke 24:41-43
“But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, ‘Have you any food here?’ So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.”

Just as our earthly bodies are well-suited to earth, our resurrected bodies will be perfectly suited to heaven for all eternity.  We will NOT be disembodied spirits (like “ghosts”) floating around heaven.  It’s interesting how much of our thinking about heaven has been shaped by movies, cartoons, and the media.  For instance, if you have ever read or watched “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, you might think those who have passed will return looking like Jacob Marley in his suffering ghost form.  (Total fiction!)

We will likely enjoy FOOD, as Jesus Himself ate after His resurrection, though not because of a physical NEED for food.

Continuing the “what age will we be” issue… some think 30 or 33, approximations of the age when Jesus was resurrected. But then there’s Moses, who was still full of energy at 120 (Deuteronomy 34:7) – “His eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.” Then there’s Methusaleh, who lived to 969? Maybe he’ll look like he did at 450!

The point is that God will transform our lowly bodies into His idea of a resurrected body, and that sounds amazing to me!

In 1 John 3:2, we read “ Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

Prayer: LORD, I am looking forward to my new resurrected body! Thank You! Amen.

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Pondering Heaven
Day 14 | WHAT WILL WE LOOK LIKE IN HEAVEN?

WHAT WILL WE LOOK LIKE IN HEAVEN?

1 Corinthians 15:53
“The perishable must put on the imperishable.”

Most who study the Bible’s teaching on heaven believe we WILL have a BODY in heaven (as opposed to being a disembodied spirit floating around), and that body will be the resurrected, healthy version of the body we have now.  Our bodies will be “heavenly” (1 Corinthians 15:40), “imperishable” (v53), “glorified” (v43), “spiritual” (v44), “immortal” (v53), and bearing Christ’s image (v49).  So we’ll be SIMILAR to our bodies now, but MUCH will change (and they’ll be MUCH better)!

1 Corinthians 15:43 says: “It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.”

“Dishonor” refers to the fact that our current bodies CAN be damaged. (How’s yours?) They can decay and eventually die. Theologians would say this is because they ALL bear the mark of SIN (Genesis 3). Sometimes they are damaged by OUR sin; sometimes by the sins of others. But all grow old and eventually pass away. This deterioration is the DIRECT result of mankind’s mark of SIN, which we have been inheriting since the Garden of Eden. (I know, that seems a stretch, but it’s TRUE.)

But God is able to RAISE UP all His children to eternal life and give them COMPLETE, whole bodies without damage or the ravages of time.

So, although the Bible does not tell us EXACTLY what we’ll look like, given the above, we can make some theologically educated guesses.

Let me ask, when did you look your very best so far in your life? If you’re young, you may not have reached that point yet. However, if you’re over 30, you can probably think of a time when you looked… well… better. Heaven will fix you all up!

Prayer: LORD, thank You for the promises of heaven. I look forward to becoming the one You want me to be.  Amen.

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Day  13| WHERE IS HEAVEN?

WHERE IS HEAVEN?

2 Corinthians 12:2-4
“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”

The Apostle Paul describes himself in this section – though in the third person – and he talks about how he visited the third heaven.

The first heaven is the sky (or “firmament” per Genesis 1) that we know, where birds, planes, and clouds fly or float.

The second heaven is what we might call “outer space,” where the stars, planets, and galaxies exist from Earth's point of view.

The 3rd heaven – the location of which is not revealed – is the dwelling place of God. Jesus promised His followers a place there. In John 14:2-3, Jesus is speaking: “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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Try to imagine WHERE this is.
 
Alpha Centauri is the nearest star system to Earth and is approximately 4.37 light-years away, or about 25 TRILLION miles from Earth. A light-year is the distance light travels in one year at the speed of light (186,000 miles per second). For perspective, going around Earth in a plane would be about a 25,000-mile trip.
 
Prayer: LORD, I can only imagine where YOUR heaven is. I’m really glad that through Christ I know I’ll be there one day, and it sounds magnificent! Amen.

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Day 12 | THE COMFORT OF CHRIST’S COMING

THE COMFORT OF CHRIST’S COMING
(the Rapture)

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.”

All Believers LONG for Jesus to return, and He promised He would.   The more wicked the world becomes, the more we LOOK FORWARD to His coming again.

The word “rapture” is not found in English Bibles but appears in the Latin Vulgate as the translation of the Greek word “harpazo” – meaning to snatch away. Though not universally agreed upon by all Christians, those with a “premillennial” Biblical view see this as the time when Jesus comes to take away those who have died in the faith (their spirits are in heaven, but their bodies are in the ground) as well as those who are born-again but still alive on the earth. The “Second Coming” is another event in the end-times timetable described in Revelation and is part of the “premillennial” viewpoint.

Prayer: LORD, whether I fully understand the end times timetable or not, I have put my trust and hope in YOU, and I look forward to eternity in heaven with You. Amen.

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Day 11  | THANKFUL FOR HEAVEN AND TODAY TOO

THANKFUL FOR HEAVEN AND TODAY TOO

Romans 8:31-32
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

Do you know any truly generous people who just seem to give and give and are happy to do so? They do exist, though MOST people tend to be way more self-centered. Isn’t it FUN to be around someone who is a true giver?

So, I thought of this verse today, given our emphasis on HEAVEN, even though it’s not specifically about heaven.  But it is important because it also speaks to God’s Character and His GENEROSITY toward His children, not just in heaven but here now too.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave…” (John 3:16)

Consider the creation of the world. Think of all the trees, plants, and animals God provided for Adam and Eve to enjoy (and to name). Imagine the BEAUTY of the garden back then. Even now, there is much beauty in the world, including mountains, lakes, oceans, the sky, and the stars at night. You see, GOD is a lavish Giver.

Now, imagine the New Heaven and New Earth that are coming.  No sin, no decay, nothing wrong… just the “Garden of Eden - Part 2.”

God is LOVE.  And so, He has provided MORE for us than just heaven in the future, which has got to be fantastic!  He has provided for us here and now too.

What can you find around where you live that is relatively unspoiled and gives you a sense of God’s amazing creative abilities? A snow-capped mountain? The night sky on a clear evening? Look around.

Prayer; LORD, thank You in advance for the heaven that’s coming … but I don’t want to forget to thank You for today’s blessings, too. Amen.

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Pondering Heaven
Day 10 | SEEING GOD: OUR GOAL

SEEING GOD: OUR GOAL

Job 19:25-27
“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”

The book of Job is considered by Bible scholars to be the OLDEST book in the Bible, written even before Moses wrote Genesis.  And even then, SEEING GOD was desired by Job.

Ponder Job and the human tragedies that fell upon him. (If you’re not familiar with the story, do a quick read of Job 1:13-22 and 2:7-10… Wow!)

For most of the book, we are told about Job and his three friends, who – in their own imperfect way – were trying to HELP Job get through ALL that he was going through. (I often refer to what his friends did as the “ministry of being there.”) They cared about Job and initially just sat with him in his suffering, which probably helped him. His wife had given Job her solution: “Curse God and die” … which was NOT great advice!

Fortunately, Job begins to come around, as we see in today's verses. He starts to focus on his Redeemer, Almighty God.

As Jonathan Edwards wrote: “Seeing that HE is an all-sufficient being, it follows that HE is a full, overflowing, and inexhaustible fountain of love.”
 
I can also imagine (if I try hard) that in the midst of Job’s sorrows, hurts, and anguish, focusing on God, his Redeemer, brought comfort and some joy to an otherwise devastating situation.

Prayer; LORD, help me to focus more on you, even in the little situations that happen in my life. Amen.