"Heaven"

  We speak of heaven. Many of our songs are about heaven. But where is heaven? What is heaven? Do we really long for heaven where ever it is? We want a location! Many use Rev. 21 where we read about streets of gold, gates of pearls and the beauty and radiance. We sing about a mansion. All of this fits our fleshly nature! It doesn't fit heaven. John penned that a holy city was coming down out of heaven. It wasn't heaven coming down out of itself! But that's not our thought today. That's for another day!

  Heaven as described by Paul is the place in the presence of God (II Thes. 1:7-9). Heaven...we wait for it or we should be longing for it. God wants us eternally in His presence! God is working with us to bring us into His presence. That's heaven. God is working each day through disciplining us if needed to keep us looking toward Him, longing for Him because heaven is where He is taking those who trust and obey.

  Heaven is the presence of God! That should make us yearn for His presence. To yearn for heaven is to yearn for His presence. To yearn for His presence means we will be making changes in our lives for His betterment! That affects how we live daily. Too many are comfy with their possessions. Some trade the presence of God for something they think is happiness in this life. Things get blurred and the yearning for heaven is lost. Earthly happiness and possessions mean more.

  Before Jesus paid our penalty, those men and women of faith in the OT longed for heaven, the presence of God. They saw the reality from the promises of God. They welcomed God's reality from a distance and they confessed they were strangers and exiles on this earth (Heb. 11:13). They longed for heaven, the presence of God! The desired a heavenly dwelling and made it clear to God and others, heaven is my home (Heb. 11:14-15). The result? God is not ashamed to be called their God (Heb. 11:16)! God has prepared His presence for such. What about you? Are you preparing for heaven? If so, how are you going about it?