Topic: Your heavenly home
Bible Reading: Zechariah 13-14; Revelation 21.
Memory Verse: “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” Revelation 21:3 (KJV)
Heaven is God’s dwelling place where ultimate peace, joy and perfection reign. It is free from sin, sorrows, pain and death. It is an abode for believers. It is a place characterized by God’s glorious presence, angels and eternal worship in a new perfected creation. In describing the joy of those who make heaven, Revelation 21:4 (KJV) says, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
In fact, before Jesus returned to heaven, He gave a description of the heavenly home to show it is a place with houses that we can relate with. He said in John 14:1-3 (KJV), “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. [2] In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” This is to confirm that we are all on a journey here on earth and when we have finished, we will return to heaven just like our Lord Jesus who has gone ahead to prepare mansions for us. Even on the crucifixion cross, He told one of the malefactors who were crucified with Him that he would join Him in paradise, describing the home nature of heaven.
Heaven is a holy place and will only receive holy people as shown in Revelation 21:27 (KJV), “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” So, if you are not washed by the blood of Jesus Christ, you cannot be a resident of heaven. That is why it is important to examine oneself as to whether you have surrendered yourself to the Lord Jesus and continuously followed His will because the Bible says clearly that the Lord Jesus will come for only those who are without spot, wrinkle or blemish.(Ephesians 5:27).
But God loves us so much that He does not want any human being to perish. Hence, He gives a second chance to anyone who is yet to give his life to Christ to repent of his sins, accept the Lord Jesus as his Lord and Saviour and live a life of obedience thereafter. If you have not surrendered your life to Christ, this is an opportunity to do so, repent of your sins and therefore change the course of your destiny for better. Remember that no matter the challenges one may face here on earth, God has given you the grace to cope and further made a promise in Revelation 21:4 (KJV), “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
Action point: Whatever sin that will not allow you to make heaven, repent of it today and surrender your life to Jesus Christ.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero