I hope your weekend was as nice, maybe even better than mine was. Mine was filled with blessings. Today my coffee choice is Door County Blueberry Cobbler. Two cups and headed to work. Counting my blessings to have a job I like.
Yesterday as I had my morning coffee outside in thirty degree weather. Yes spring has come to Wisconsin. Thirty is a heat wave. I was surveying the winter damage and the work that is ahead in a week or two. Again I had to stare at our street sign. I was hoping the winter snow plows knocked it down.
One thing that always bugged me is that this macho, duck hunter, boat owner, dog lover lives on a street named Hummingbird Lane. You would think I would live on a street like Duke, Mallard, Goose Avenue or Shoot Them In the Lips Lane. But no I live on Hummingbird Lane. Sounds way too feminine for me and my wife won't let us move. Oh! What did I say? We choose not to move! There just went another ounce of my masculinity! Argh.
This may seem funny to you. And I really don't have time to get a petition going to rename our street. There would be only one signature on the page. My neighbors would be weighing the cost of purchasing new return address labels that could have ducks or dogs on them against flowers and hummingbirds. So I must suffer on.
But here is one thing I am proud of. I won't live here forever. Some day I will reside elsewhere in a mansion with streets of gold. And it's name is heaven. No shame there in that name. Yes, don't look for me at the wake, or the cemetery, I won't be there. Just a body will be there, but even that will be resurrected on the last day to go to "Heaven". No hell or Hummingbird Lane for this guy. Let's look at some Bible verses on heaven and dream.
In heaven, there will be: No power shortages, for God is all powerful; no bumping into things in the dark; no sleepless nights (there is no night there, Revelation 21:25). Nor will there be: Bills; hospitals; bank accounts. In fact, heaven will have: No complaints; no back-talk; no hate; no fear; no crime.
Are you really ready to live in heaven? Now, let's take a close look at what heaven will be like: Heaven will be a place of fellowship. "I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again and receive you unto myself" (John 14:3). The children of God shall "meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (I Thessalonians 4:17). "He who overcomes, I will give him the Morning Star." "I am Jesus. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and Morning Star." (Revelation 2:26-28; 22:16). "And it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear" (Isaiah 65:24).
Heaven will be a place to worship God. When Isaiah speaks for the Lord of the new heavens and earth, he prophesies that "all flesh shall come to worship before me" (Isaiah 66:22,23). The Apostle, John, also predicts the same thing saying: "For Thou only are holy: for all nations shall come and worship before Thee" (Revelation 15:4; 21:24).
Surely heaven will be a place of joy and productive work. We can be sure that in heaven we will be like God and Jesus, and they have always worked. Jesus said, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work" (John 5:17). We find this same description of the new heavens and new earth in Revelation 21:1 and Isaiah 65:17. Isaiah describes it as a place of joy where there will be no tears nor the sound of crying. This is in Isaiah 65:19, and also in Revelation 21:4; 7:17. Isaiah continues to show us it will be a place where one can labor and see his labor bear fruit. This is in Isaiah 65:21-23.
Heaven will have a beauty beyond our imagination. The best John could do to describe heaven was to say it was like an entire city of transparent gold. He says: The walls of the new city are precious jewels. The gates are twelve single pearls. The city itself and its streets are pure gold, yet like transparent glass. This is found in Revelation 21:18, 19, 21.
And the whole city is lighted by the glory of God. Heaven is a place of matchless blessings. Jesus has prepared a mansion for us there. Great treasure is stored up for us; in fact, the saints "will inherit all things" (Revelation 21:7). The leaves of the tree of life will guarantee our health. and the crystal pure water of the river of life will flow from the throne of God to the tree of eternal life. For the first time since the Garden of Eden, God's children may eat out of this tree in His paradise (Genesis 3:22 and Revelation 2:7).
In heaven we will be given new names, new imperishable bodies. and we will be clothed in the white robes of righteousness. We will be glorious living stones; pillars in the eternal temple of God (I Corinthians 15:52; 1 Peter 2:5; Revelation 3:12).
Best of all, heaven with God and Jesus will be a place of love. God in tender love will wipe away all our tears (Revelation 21:4). The angels will rejoice as heaven fills with righteous Christians (II Peter 3:13). Those spirits who have hungered and have thirsted to humbly live with God; those with pure hearts; those who have willingly endured persecution; and those who have lived for God's peace, will live together in life and love forever and ever.
This place is heaven. Will you be there?
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Seek out a personal relationship with Jesus. He died on the cross for us in atonement for our sins.
John 3:7
Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.
Invite Jesus into your heart today. Change your eternal address.
And also, I could not find any street names listed in the Bible. So goodbye Hummingbird Lane!
God bless,
Hope this brightens your Monday.
Marty
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