To Encourage You

Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

I subscribe to a publication called “World” magazine.  Maybe you’ve heard of it.  It’s a news magazine, similar to a Time or Newsweek format, but it’s from a Christian perspective.  Yesterday I read the most recent issue and there was a column by Andrée Seu Peterson called “Bearers of Secrets”  (https://world.wng.org/2021/01/bearers_of_secrets).  In it she talks about a wonderful secret that all Christians possess by faith. It’s what makes them think differently and live differently than those who don’t have this secret.  Andrée puts it like this: “To wit, we are going to heaven soon. That’s it. That’s our secret. It’s so simple that one hardly bears it mentioned anymore.” Then she writes this: “Now for the practicality. Heaven is forever and ever. But suppose we could put a numerical figure on it, like a trillion trillion years—to the 10th power! Compare that duration to the number of elliptical loops around the sun that remain in your flu-prone, irritable bowel syndrome–susceptible matter, and you can readily calculate that there’s a bigger proportion of the hereafter than the here. What will you not give up with a smile for a deal like that?” 

She’s right, of course. It’s this secret that keeps believers going in the hard times. It’s what enables them to endure mistreatment, mocking, and sickness with a peace that passes understanding. It’s why, when a loved one dies who is a brother or sister in Christ, we do “not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13).  That’s because we have great hope.  We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that “to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).  It’s this great secret, the secret that we’re all going to heaven soon, that keeps us going and enables us to endure. It’s this great secret that kept Paul going in the first century in a stinking Roman prison, and it’s what keeps our North Korean brothers and sisters going as they languish under such harsh treatment in prison camps today.  It’s a secret so wonderful that the verses above from Hebrews 12 tell us that Jesus endured the horrors of the cross because he knew He would soon be in the kingdom again, what the Bible calls “the joy that was set before him.”

Isn’t that a wonderful description of this place where we are headed?! it’s simply called “joy.”  How awesome this is. What an incredible description is this little three letter word of the eternal existence of the believer.  And you know what?  If you don’t know this joy, you can have it now if you will only believe. The Bible tells us that not only will you have joy, but God the Father will welcome you into the kingdom with great joy. You see, joy is the Trinity’s prevailing attitude.  Jesus promised all those that would put their faith in Him that they would share this joy with these words: “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). There is nothing better than this. There is nothing more wonderful than this great joy.  It’s the joy of God the Father whenever a sinner believes. 

In Luke 15 Jesus described it for us in the parable of the prodigal son. Jesus tells of how this profligate son came to himself in a time of sudden despair as he realized what a mess he had made of his life because of his sin and his dishonorable treatment of his own father.  In desperation he determines to return to his father, not as a son, for he didn’t see himself as worthy any longer of that relationship, but as a servant.  He realized that even his father’s servants had lives that were far better than his own life of sin.   “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”  That’s what heaven is!  It’s a great, eternal celebration of joy!  And it’s there for all that will have it. It’s the secret treasure of all who believe. 

You see, believers are all going to heaven soon, every one of them.  You can go too, if you will believe. And if you are a believer, I would remind you today of these wonderful words from 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18): “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

May you be wonderfully encouraged by the truth that we’re all going to heaven soon! And, if you are a Christian, may God give you the great joy today of telling someone else about the secret, the secret of heaven that is available to all who will hear and believe the gospel.  For you see, although it’s a secret, it’s certainly not meant to be kept that way. It’s the message of “Joy to the World.” It’s why the Lord has come.