Heaven Series #8
“Anticipating Heaven”
Anticipation and Reminiscence are two of the most powerful gifts God has given us.
Have you ever anticipated an upcoming vacation or trip or event? Sometimes, the anticipation can be as full of emotional excitement as the actual experience itself. And then afterward, reminiscing and telling others about it can bring back the joy of the experience again and again… as fresh as ever!
I believe God wants us to have an expectancy toward Heaven… one that motivates us to live this life to its fullest. God wants us to anticipate the future joys of Heaven while we are still here on this earth. Actually, this is part of His provision to get us through the deepest and darkest trials of life. Even Jesus, the scriptures tell us, “ENDURED the cross FOR THE JOY that was set before Him”. If Jesus… how much more… us?
And what might this anticipation feel like? Some of you may have the memory of when you were a child… having a hard time getting to sleep on Christmas Eve. You may have had hopeful pictures in your mind of what might be under that tree. I know I did. I couldn’t wait to wake up on Christmas morning and rush out to the living room to see what was there!
In the book, “Heaven Revealed”, author Paul Enns writes about a father with his two sons just before he passed on to heaven. The one son, who was a pastor, said to him “Dad, how do you feel?” The father looked at them both with a big smile and said, “I feel like a little boy on Christmas Eve…”. This is how, I believe, God wants us to feel when we think about leaving this world and entering through those beautiful gates in Paradise.
Here are a few revealing verses that clearly show us how much our heavenly Father wants to bless us:
“It is your Father‘s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Jesus) Luke 12:32
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights” James 1:17
“You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” Psalms 16:11
Friend, I can’t wait to get there… to finally see my Lord Jesus face to face… to look into His loving and accepting eyes and know that I finally made it… and that He is pleased with me. And then, apart from all the other wonderful blessings God has promised, there waiting for me will be my grandparents, my mother and father, so many close friends, and most of all… my precious wife… !! Until then, I will “anticipate heaven” every minute… of every day…
What are YOU anticipating the most about Heaven?
Blessings, Mike
Would you like the assurance of eternal life for yourself?
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