Love, time, and death

When something is mentioned twice in the Bible it is important, even more so the more times it is mentioned. The Bible has over 500 references to heaven! God wants us to know that He has our future in His hands. Our future is wonderful, great, and will be beyond our imagination!

Consider this glimpse into life in heaven. In heaven there is no more suffering or death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4). In heaven there is absolute safety and eternal security within the high, thick walls (Revelation 21:12,17). Heaven is a home that is stable and unshakable with firm foundations (Revelation 21:14). In heaven there is no more night or darkness (Revelation 21:25). Heaven is where God’s people gather to worship Him forever and ever (Revelation 7:9). In heaven we will serve God and see His face (Revelation 22:4). We will have a relationship with God that is pure and perfect without any sin (Revelation 21:5). Certainly this is the greatest future!

In our time on earth we can keep our focus on God, His love, and the sure promise of heaven. We need to avoid being impacted by worldly influences. In the movie, Collateral Beauty, Will Smith plays a character that is a successful advertising executive. He describes that to get people to buy something you need to remember three things: love, time, and death. Everyone is looking for love each day, they want more time, and are afraid of death. That is what you tap into in order to sell things to people.

Christians know that there is nothing that you can buy that will have a permanent impact on love, time, and a fear of death. The best way to take care of all three is to keep our hearts and minds fixed on God. God loves us with a self-sacrificing, unending love. God loves us so much that He gives us the free gift of eternal life in heaven with Him. In heaven, we will have unlimited time as we will live for eternity with God. Because of this, we have no need to fear death. When our time on earth is complete, we will be welcomed into heaven with open arms. You might say this is the most successful advertising campaign ever. It is a message that has connected with billions of people. The message has power because it is from God. His Word is trustworthy and true.
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Since heaven will be beyond our imagination there are many things about heaven that we do not know. We can trust that God is all-knowing and wants only the best for us. Seventeenth century pastor Richard Baxter adeptly describes what our mindset to heaven can be.
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My knowledge of that life is small,
The eye of faith is dim,
But it's enough that Christ knows all,
And I shall be with him.
 
For those who have learned to love and trust in God as their Savior, the promise of meeting Him face to face and being with Him forever is hope that keeps us going, no matter what life may throw at us.

​Reference
Stohlmann,  M. (2020). The world's greatest future. Seattle, WA: KDP.