Looking forward to Heaven
The other day I was sitting in my recliner looking through my library of ebooks on my iPhone I have an iphone 7 plus and I love it because its large enough that I can read my books on it. My poor old ipad was getting so old and cracked that I almost couldn’t read my ebooks on it anymore. So I’m really happy to be able to use my iphone now.
As I was scrolling down through my lists of ebooks, I noticed one name “Heaven” by Randy Alcorn. I remember loving reading this one a great while back and I opened it and began reading some parts of it again.
I really enjoyed reading about what Randy thought of Heaven and what the Bible indicates about heaven. Randy believes that Heaven will one day be basically the new, restored earth – an earth like God had originally intended it to be and that is where believers will be spending their eternity with God.
I loved this part of the book:
Of the New Jerusalem, we’re told that “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 21:27). Isaiah tells us the same, using inclusive language that could not apply to the old Earth under the Curse: “Then will all your people be righteous” (60:21). Isaiah adds, “and they will possess the land [erets] forever.” The earth will be theirs, not for a glorious decade or century or millennium, but forever.82
Alcorn, Randy. Heaven (Alcorn, Randy) (Kindle Locations 1910-1915). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Just think, nothing impure, nothing shameful or deceitful. All the people will be righteous!
When I think of our world today and see and read about the actions of people on this earth, I long for the new earth and Heaven and an eternity with God. There seems to be no act that is too shameful or evil for someone to do in this day and age. Even in our nation – the US, hate has taken over people’s hearts and the acts of hatred, even toward our own sitting President are becoming commonplace each day. It seems like nothing is sacred or to be respected anymore. Today my prayer is for our nation’s peoples to once again become at least a tiny bit pure in heart. Join me please in this prayer.
My Prayer for today
Dear Lord, my heart is full of sadness as I read in the newspapers and on my computer, about acts of hate and vulgarity and shame that are rampant in my nation today. Our peoples so need to know You and to recognize the great Love and Mercy You have to offer each and every one of us.
Our hearts and our minds need a great cleansing of the sin and the evil that has taken root in us. We need Your spirit in each of us, cleaning us and filling our minds with those things that are acceptable to you. Your word says we are to think on good things and not evil things: (Philippians 4:8)
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Lord, if even those of us who claim You as our Lord, would cease our evil thoughts and deeds, we could make a great difference in this land today.
So many of our nation’s leaders do say they are Your followers, but many do not show that in their words and actions Oh Lord. I pray You will send Your Holy Spirit to fully indwell each of us, Your followers – creating in us, clean hearts and pure thoughts and the desire to become more and more like our Savior, Jesus.
I pray for our President, our Vice President and each member of Congress who claim to believe in You Oh Lord, that each one, man or woman, will feel the Holy Spirit within them, showing them how to act and speak in ways that will please You, our Father in Heaven.
I pray You will raise up men and women in the different media and news outlets of our nation that believe in and follow Your precious son, Jesus, our redeeming Lord.
I pray for those men and women who are teachers and educators throughout this land, who claim to believe in You. I pray for You to give them courage and strength and great faith and the wisdom to be good, kind and Godly men and women, examples before the children and youth of our nation.
And Lastly Lord, I pray for those many, many, men, women and children who dwell in our nation – in the darkness, following, not You, but the evil one, the Adversary and his evil ways. I pray Your Holy Spirit will work in the lives and in the hearts of those living in that darkness, drawing them to seek out You and Your people and to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus and the great gift of mercy and reconciliation You have provided to us.
I pray for the battles in unseen realms that are going on all around us. I pray for victory for Your mighty angel armies and that battles will be won for You and for those You would save from destruction and eternal death. May Your angels overcome Satan and his minions and disrupt all evil intentions and attacks against Your people and Your Church in our nation. Lord God, may Your will be done here on earth, as it is in Heaven.
I ask for You to forgive me of my many sins and weaknesses and to grant me the strength and faith to be true to Your precepts and to honor You with my thoughts, words, and deeds. I ask this in the name of Jesus, Your Son, and my Savior. Amen.
Sharing the following also:
Every Christian friend that goes before us from this world is a ransomed spirit waiting to welcome us in heaven. There will be the infant of days that we have lost below, through grace to be found above. There the Christian father, and mother, and wife, and child, and friend, with whom we shall renew the holy fellowship of the saints, which was interrupted by death here, but shall be commenced again in the upper sanctuary, and then shall never end. There we shall have companionship with the patriarchs and fathers and saints of the Old and New Testaments, and those of whom the world was not worthy. . . . And there, above all, we shall enjoy and dwell with God the Father, whom we have loved with all our hearts on earth; and with Jesus Christ, our beloved Savior, who has always been to us the chief among ten thousands, and altogether lovely; and with the Holy Spirit, our Sanctifier, and Guide, and Comforter; and shall be filled with all the fullness of the Godhead forever!
Alcorn, Randy. Heaven (Alcorn, Randy) (Kindle Locations 6076-6080). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Comments
I request that you join me in praying the prayer above and ask that you share your own prayers in the comments. Your comments and your own prayers are welcome. – Shirley