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 9 of 12

WE SHALL SHINE AS THE SUN

Because our citizenship is really in another world, we are not recognized here and now. We are traveling to glory incognito, and clandestinely. This should not cause us to marvel. If the world did not know or love Jesus, it certainly will not know or love us. Therefore it is written, "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him" (1 John 3:1).

We are known and honored in heaven, but not on earth. This is the experience described in the following words. "By honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things" (2 Cor 6:8-10).

Living with this dual status is not always pleasant. But it will not always be this way. In glory, we will "shine forth as the sun." "The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear" (Mat 13:43).

The presence and dominance of the wicked have obscured the righteous here; but it will not be so there. Those in Christ will be recognized by everyone for what they really are--"the righteous." The grace they have received, and the ministry they will receive will be know and appreciated by all. As the sun rises in the morning sky, dispelling the darkness of midnight, so the glory of the righteous will rise on the horizon of eternity. The earthly realm concealed them, but the heavenly realm will reveal them in a blaze of eternal glory.

Here, for a "little while," we must endure obscurity. but it will not always be this way. We have been scheduled for a dramatic appearance, or unveiling. Take hold of this promise, and do not let it go. "When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory" (Col 3:4). Holy on, child of God, hold on! Your day is coming!

PRAYER POINT: Father, in Jesus' name, give me grace to endure the brief time of my obscurity, looking forward in faith to the time when I will shine forth as the sun in Your Kingdom!

-- TOMORROW: THE ABSENCE OF FRICTION AND HOSTILITY --