CONSIDERING HEAVEN

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, RESERVED IN HEAVEN FOR YOU, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3 5)

Devotion 6 of 12

DIRECT ACCESS TO THE WATER OF LIFE

The water of life involves the appropriation of the mind of Christ. To drink of it is to imbibe the Divine nature, and thereby to gain spiritual perspective. In this life, God has appointed "ministers" through whom we believe (1 Cor. 3:5). We appropriate the truth indirectly, not directly. We see this graphically demonstrated in the revelation given to John on the Isle of Patmos. God gave the revelation to Jesus. Jesus gave the revelation to an angel. The angel gave it to John, and John gave it to us (Rev. 1:1). All of Scripture is another evidence of this truth. Holy men of God spoke as they were moved along by the Holy spirit, Who was sent by God (2 Pet 1:21; 2 Tim 3:16).

But it will not be so in heaven. There we will drink directly from the fountain of the water of life. As it is written, "for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters" (Rev 7:17). The intra-relationships of truth will be more readily perceived, and the forest will not obscure the individual trees. Insight will not be associated with the difficulties that now attend our quest for spiritual knowledge. We will no longer see "dimly, but then face to face" (1 Cor 13:12).

A sense of personal identity

This is one of the wonderful aspects of glory. In this world, the children of God are not generally known, and, consequently, not really appreciated. Our citizenship in heaven has rendered us unknown to the world . They do not know who we really are. As it is written, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not" (1 John 3:1). Even in our churches, many of the people of God are rarely seen for what they actually are in Christ Jesus. Too often great saints are treated as strangers, and spiritual pygmies as celebrities.

But it will be quite another story in heaven. It is written, "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name" (Rev 3:12). That is another way of saying we will fit into the heavenly realm--obviously fit into it. There will be no question about our affiliation with God--His name will be on us. There will be no doubt about our citizenship in the heavenly city--the name of the city will be upon us. Our unity with Jesus will be apparent and unquestionable--His new name will be written on us. We will fit in, praise the Lord! And everyone will know it.

There will be a communion between you and the Lord that is intensely personal. You will be part of the great "family" of God (Eph. 3:15), and yet, in some respects, it will be as though you are the only one there. The blessedness of this association transcends our present abilities of comprehension. Never again will questions arise concerning the Lord's acceptance of you. Forever gone will be the doubts that too frequently are hurled at us by the evil one.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I praise Your name through Jesus for such a glorious hope! Grant me grace to complete the race into which You have placed me.

-- TOMORROW: JUDGING THE WORLD AND ANGELS --