May 16 2018 – Click here to listen
I’ve been preoccupied with moving and yesterday was the first day I’ve had a chance to look at the news in depth in several weeks. I could have saved myself some time, because nothing seems to have changed. The anti-Trumpers still criticize everything he does and the pro-Trumpers applaud his efforts at bringing about change. It was disgusting and heartbreaking to read so many articles and see so much hate in our great nation. Civility is non-existent, and polarization is the norm.
What will it take to unify Americans? Is it even possible?
When I look at the belief system of liberal progressives I cannot envision ever reaching a point whereby I could accept it. I worship a God who has laws that I’m not going to waffle on, not the least of which is the sanctity of human life as in not aborting a baby, marriage being between one man and one woman, freedom to worship and boldly share the Gospel.
Basically, I differ on many other issues as well, open borders, gun control, taxes, supporting police, entitlements, strong military, and justice to name a few.
I realize that the other side is just as fervent in their view of things and therein lies the problem. There is no room for compromise on so many things. I will never compromise on being opposed to abortion. I must obey God. I don’t “hate” those who support it, I feel sorry for them in that they have come to believe that it is a woman’s right to kill an innocent baby.
Division will not end until Christ returns and this time He will not come humbly, but as the all-powerful ruler of all creation. He will destroy the earth and everything in it and create a new heaven and earth. 2 Peter 3:10 – Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
We were not created to die. We will live forever, either in heaven or hell. The choice is ours. Those who love him and have chosen to follow Him will reside in this heavenly place He created in peace forever. Those who have chosen not to follow Him will be separated from God forever and reside in hell.
Many people have a misconception of what heaven is truly like. Revelation chapters 21-22 gives us a detailed picture of the new heavens and the new earth. After the events of the end times, the current heavens and earth will be done away with and replaced by the new heavens and new earth. The eternal dwelling place of believers will be the new earth. The new earth is the “heaven” on which we will spend eternity. It is the new earth where the New Jerusalem, the heavenly city, will be located. It is on the new earth that the pearly gates and streets of gold will be.
Heaven—the new earth—is a physical place where we will dwell with glorified physical bodies. The concept that heaven is “in the clouds” is unbiblical. The concept that we will be “spirits floating around in heaven” is also unbiblical. The heaven that believers will experience will be a new and perfect planet on which we will dwell. The new earth will be free from sin, evil, sickness, suffering, and death. It will likely be similar to our current earth, or perhaps even a re-creation of our current earth, but without the curse of sin.
What about the new heavens? It is important to remember that in the ancient mind, “heavens” referred to the skies and outer space, as well as the realm in which God dwells. So, when Revelation 21:1 refers to the new heavens, it is likely indicating that the entire universe will be created – a new earth, new skies, a new outer space. It seems as if God’s heaven will be recreated as well, to give everything in the universe a “fresh start,” whether physical or spiritual. Will we have access to the new heavens in eternity? Possibly, but we will have to wait to find out
Jesus does not want a single person to perish including you. There is yet time to accept Him as your Savior, confess your sins, repent and follow Him and not the world, no matter which crazy way it turns. His reward is an eternity spent with Him.
I often think about spending eternity in heaven and what it will be like. While all we know for sure is what God has told us in the Bible, and I dearly wish He had elaborated more, He did say this:
1 Cor. 2:9
However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” – the things God has prepared for those who love him –