"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Their will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' "
-Revelations 21: 1-4

Is This Heaven?

Have you seen the movie, 'Field Of Dreams?' Remember the scene where Shoeless Joe Jackson turns to Ray (played by Kevin Costner) and asks him, "Is this heaven?" Ray answers, "No, this is Iowa." In that movie, Iowa became heaven for the players who came to play on the Field Of Dreams. It was their paradise! While that movie was make believe here is some great news to all believers, there truly is a heaven for us to look forward to! A brief description of heaven is given in Revelations 21: 1-4 (read it above). Can you picture this paradise that awaits us? Think for a second about this, God created created the Earth in 6 days. He has had all of time to create heaven! How wonderful it is going to be. Can you imagine a place where '...God, himself, will be with them and be their God' (Revelation 21: 3)? "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain,...(Revelations 21: 4) Just imagine, no suffering, no injustice, no pain, etc... Words cannot even describe the joy that will be in heaven. I desperately look forward to that. Don't you?

So how do I get there? How can I get to this heaven? By simply accepting a gift. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3: 16) Accept the gift offered to us all by God, His Son, Jesus. You cannot work or earn your way to heaven. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2: 8-9) Thank you Lord for this precious gift! And remember that Jesus has gone ahead, to heaven, to prepare a place for you. "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you." (John 14: 2) Someday, you will find yourself in a paradise beyond description. And no, you will not be in Iowa. You will be in heaven! Your new home, to live with our Lord and Savior forever and ever. Amen!

I pray that all is well with you. Please let me know if you have any prayer concerns or praises. Have a great week and remember to smile :), the Lord loves you!

In Christ,

Shan D. Hartsough

"But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness."
-2nd Peter 3: 13

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