Written Feb. 27, 2011
Revelation 21:1-4 (GW) 1 I saw a new heaven and a new earth, because the first heaven and earth had disappeared, and the sea was gone.
2 Then I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, dressed like a bride ready for her husband.
3 I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “God lives with humans! God will make his home with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There won't be any more death. There won't be any grief, crying, or pain, because the first things have disappeared.” 5 The one sitting on the throne said, “I am making everything new.” He said, “Write this: ‘These words are faithful and true.'”
For the second time this year, I attended a funeral. It's now the end of March, and I will be attending another funeral next week. That's three funerals of people I know during the first quarter of the year.
God continues to inspire me to write on this topic because too many of us are living lives that are not producing the fruit that God expects from us. The pastor who conducted this funeral preached a sermon entitled: “Don’t forget where you are going.” The sermon was on point without being insensitive to family, friends and church people gathered. It was a beautiful celebration of the deceased person’s life. I left inspired and filled with the love of the Holy Spirit, so I am sharing my notes.
Until someone dies, most of us forget where we are going; we’re quiet about our own mortality.
The reality is that we move toward the end each day.
If we want to get to heaven, we have to pass away. It makes sense to:
• Remember what it takes to get there
• Not forget where we are going
• Remember that time is not on our side
• Understand there is no second, minute or hour with our name on it.
Time is not ours.
• Death is jumping off to eternity
• We’re green by-products: dust
We waste time because we don’t remember where we are going. One of two destinations start when we die: heaven or hell. We can’t change it, “Google” it away or “MapQuest” it away. The path is taken the moment you die.
Be fruitful now.
• Take a walk through the passage of time and see how your timeline is shaping up.
• See things beyond the limitations of time where you are now (Rev 21:1).
• Don’t look at things through the eyes of the flesh. Look through the eyes of faith.
• Remember what it takes to get to heaven.
• Realize whose you are (Rev 21:5).
Can you see the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:2)? The precious person who passed away had a vision of eternity - she was ready to meet her Savior.
Are we?
Revelation 21:1-4 (GW) 1 I saw a new heaven and a new earth, because the first heaven and earth had disappeared, and the sea was gone.
2 Then I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, dressed like a bride ready for her husband.
3 I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “God lives with humans! God will make his home with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There won't be any more death. There won't be any grief, crying, or pain, because the first things have disappeared.” 5 The one sitting on the throne said, “I am making everything new.” He said, “Write this: ‘These words are faithful and true.'”
For the second time this year, I attended a funeral. It's now the end of March, and I will be attending another funeral next week. That's three funerals of people I know during the first quarter of the year.
God continues to inspire me to write on this topic because too many of us are living lives that are not producing the fruit that God expects from us. The pastor who conducted this funeral preached a sermon entitled: “Don’t forget where you are going.” The sermon was on point without being insensitive to family, friends and church people gathered. It was a beautiful celebration of the deceased person’s life. I left inspired and filled with the love of the Holy Spirit, so I am sharing my notes.
Until someone dies, most of us forget where we are going; we’re quiet about our own mortality.
The reality is that we move toward the end each day.
If we want to get to heaven, we have to pass away. It makes sense to:
• Remember what it takes to get there
• Not forget where we are going
• Remember that time is not on our side
• Understand there is no second, minute or hour with our name on it.
Time is not ours.
• Death is jumping off to eternity
• We’re green by-products: dust
We waste time because we don’t remember where we are going. One of two destinations start when we die: heaven or hell. We can’t change it, “Google” it away or “MapQuest” it away. The path is taken the moment you die.
Be fruitful now.
• Take a walk through the passage of time and see how your timeline is shaping up.
• See things beyond the limitations of time where you are now (Rev 21:1).
• Don’t look at things through the eyes of the flesh. Look through the eyes of faith.
• Remember what it takes to get to heaven.
• Realize whose you are (Rev 21:5).
Can you see the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:2)? The precious person who passed away had a vision of eternity - she was ready to meet her Savior.
Are we?
Hi Blanca - thanks for taking the time to write this post and the clear perspective it reminds us of. Hope it will help remind us all to 'seek first the Kingdom of Heaven' - great title as well 'We don't own the calendars of our lives'
ReplyDeleteMay God keep you safe in His hands
John
on Twitter @InspiringCalm