Heaven

“Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old” (11Sam.19:31-39). It is hard for me to believe that in just a little over four short years, I too will enter the ranks of the octogenarians. Because of this fact, I, like Barzillai, am very aware of my home going. My next big and final stop is Heaven. I find nearing Heaven’s gate, the entrance to that celestial eternal city, to be very exciting! And I believe any true saint who is a robust thinker will find it so! But just what can a Christian expect upon his or her departure from this world?

Well the first thing we will experience after our soul leaves the body (Gen.35:18a) is angelic beings transporting us to Paradise (Lk.16:2): when we arrive, we’ll be given some kind of temporary housing for the soul until we get our new resurrected bodies (11Cor.5:1-4). Remember Moses’ body was buried (Deut.34:5-6), but on the mountain, when speaking to Jesus, he had some kind of body that was recognizable (Matt.17:1-8). Then this transitory body, with our soul within, will be clothed with a white robe (Rev.6:9-11).

Best of all, we will immediately be in the Lord’s presence (11Cor.5:6,8). Ah, yes, our last breath here will be our first breath there. The intermediate state is a conscious one, else how would the thief on the cross know he was with the Lord that very day (Lk.23:42-44). And we can be assured we’ll never be bored; for what two lovers were ever bored with each others presence?

Dear Blood-washed saint of God, you need never dread death. On the Cross, our Lord defeated it. He took away its fear (Heb.2:14-15), taste (2:9), and the sting (1Cor.15:55). As someone has said, “The grave is only an underground pathway to heaven.”

AT MY BIRTH, THE WORLD REJOICED AND I CRIED; AT MY DEATH, THE WORLD WILL CRY AND I WILL REJOICE!