DISCUSSION:
Many times we are so very short-sighted, placing greater
value on the pleasures of this life, than on the glories of the future life in
heaven. I can’t say we all do it but I do know that it is all too easy to be
caught up in the thoughts and cares of daily living and just forget about God.
We invest our time and our talents in acquiring more and more earthly wealth, a
bigger house, a fancy car, a bigger bank account. For what?
I’m reminded of the parable of the “Rich Man” in Luke
12:13-21 . This guy had acquired so much stuff
he had no more room to store it. So he said he would tear down his barns and
build them bigger so he could get more stuff.
But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life
will be required of you. Then who will get what you have stored up for
yourself? ” This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself
but is not rich toward God.”
I’ve heard it said that the more treasures
we store up in heaven, the brighter will be our anticipation of going there.
My friends, when God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the
Garden of Eden, they were prefect. They could have lived forever but they ate
the fruit. They sinned and the Bible tells us over and over that sin separates
us from God. God told them, “You will surely die.” And so will we . For we
have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
I was reading through some of my old notes the other day
and I found this article about death. The title was: “What
a wonderful way to explain it.”
A sick man turned to his doctor as he was preparing to
leave the examination room and said, “Doctor, I’m afraid to die. Tell me what
lies on the other side.” Very quietly, the doctor said, “I don’t know.” You
don’t know? You’re a Christian man and you don’t know what’s on the other side?
The doctor was holding the handle of the door. On the
other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a
dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.
Turning to the patient, the doctor said, “Did you notice
my dog?” He’s never been in this room before. He didn’t know what was inside.
He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door was opened,
he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death,
but I do know one thing… “I know my Master is there and that is enough.”
Now, I like that little story, but God didn’t leave us
completely in the dark concerning life after death. I invite you to take out
your bibles and read Revelation Chapter 21 . The Apostle
John, with the help of the Holy Spirit gives us a beautiful description of what
heaven will be like.