"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on the throne in heavenly glory."
-Matthew 25: 31

I Can Only Imagine

Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for You Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine

This morning at Maple Grove Church we sang the Mercy Me song, 'I Can Only Imagine.' It really got me thinking about heaven. What do you imagine heaven will be like? Take the most incredible thing that you can imagine and I can guarantee heaven is going to be greater than that. When you think about the world we live in and the troubles that plague us, heaven is a place that all would want to get to. Can you imagine a place without pain? Without sorrow? A place without death, suffering, and without tears? Can you imagine life without struggle? Physical struggle, emotional struggle, or struggles with sin? That place will be heaven

In the Book of Revelation we are given some glimpses of what heaven will be like. "I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband." (Revelation 21: 2) Think of the preparation brides take on their wedding day to look beautiful for their husbands. Heaven will be greater than that. "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21: 4) Heaven will be a place where there is no suffering! "He said to me: 'It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.' " (Revelation 21: 6) Heaven is a place where we will be with and in fellowship with our Lord. A place where every need will be met. "It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal." (Revelation 21: 11) Take the most beautiful sight you have ever seen...heaven will be more beautiful! Can you imagine it?

A day will come when those who put their faith, hope, and salvation in the Lord will no longer have to imagine. This paradise, this heaven, is real. It is beyond our compression but it is going to be AWESOME! "I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no light there. The glory and honor of nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Revelation 21: 22-27) Is your name written in the Lamb's book of life? Is your salvation found in Jesus? If not, I ask you, what is it that you place your faith and hope in?

I can only imagine what heaven will be like! Please, take a moment and pray. "Dear Lord, thank You for loving someone like me, sinner that I am. Thank You for Your sacrifice, the price you paid for me and my salvation. Thank you for the home you are preparing for me in heaven. Help me Lord to accept this gift from You. Help me Lord to live my life for You. To be an example to others and to help them to find You, to know You. So that one day, they too will find their name in Your book of life. Amen!'

Take a moment and encourage someone this week.

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

"When they see among them their children, the work of my hands, they will keep my name holy; they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy one of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel."
-Isaiah 29: 23

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