“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away …”

— Revelation 21:1

Many years ago I heard a man derisively described as someone who was “so heavenly minded that he was no earthly good.” We may hear that from time to time, but for every one person who fits that description, ten thousand people are so worldly minded that they are no heavenly good at all.

Where do your thoughts dwell: on the concerns of this world or in anticipation of eternity spent in Heaven?

Once I was in an unfamiliar building. When I was ready to leave, I opened a door, thinking it was an exit, but instead I had stepped into a tiny broom closet. Of course, I stepped out instantly and closed the door. I was probably in there only one or two seconds at the most. Now, wouldn’t you think it extraordinarily odd if I spent the rest of my life thinking about that little closet when I had spent such a short time in it? In the same way, why do we spend all of our time thinking about this “little closet” of earth that is but a fleeting moment in the framework of eternity? Many people spend more time preparing for a twoweek vacation than they do preparing for eternity.

The more we dwell on our final destination, the more we’ll be prepared to live eternally in Heaven, thanks to Jesus Christ, who has experienced and conquered Hell on our behalf. And in anticipating our eternal destination, we’ll experience a foretaste of Heaven in this life as we seek to know the Lord more every day.

I pray that you and I will live each day with eternity in mind. As you go through your day today, remember that there are eternal consequences to your choices. Dwell on Heaven today, and allow those thoughts to guide your actions. Thanks to Jesus Christ’s free offer of salvation, we can become both heavenly minded and earthly good at the same time.

“The created world is but a small parenthesis in eternity.”
Sir Thomas Browne

“The Sabbath was made for man …”

— Mark 2:27

At the end of a given week, do you often find yourself tired and weary from the toils of work? Are you ready to relax and give praise to the Lord? That is exactly what the Sabbath is for. We should reserve it as a day of rest and rejoicing. In fact, do you know why many churches (including the one I pastor) choose not to have kneeling benches? Because in the early church, Christians were forbidden to kneel on Sunday. They instead observed Sunday as a day of rejoicing in God for His mighty deeds.

The Sabbath is a blessed day, and so it should be, for even the Lord rested on the Sabbath after creating the universe. On this day of the week, we remember that God made us as special creatures, designed to lift our heads toward God, honoring Him for who He is and for what He has done. The Sabbath is a pledge of that eternal rest which is ours. Not only should we rest on the Sabbath, we should take advantage of it as family time. For those of us with children, we can take that day to spend time with our kids, to model rejoicing for them, and to teach them spiritual truths.

But we so often compromise the Sabbath. Amos castigated the ungodly people in Israel who eagerly awaited the end of the Sabbath so that they might sell their crops. In the same spirit as these sinful Israelites, many people today don’t even wait for the Sabbath to end before they engage in work. Some people may have to work on this day, but many without Sunday work obligations choose to work anyway. In doing so, these people demonstrate how far their hearts are from God. They dishonor God by not keeping His day holy.

This week, plan to set the Sabbath aside as a day to rest and rejoice in the Lord. Give your responsibilities to God, and allow Him to hold them while you enjoy Him and the day He has made.

“The stops of a good man are ordered
by the Lord as well as his steps.”
George Mueller

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain …”

— Revelation 21:4

When did you last think about how incredible Heaven will be? Often we take Heaven for granted. In fact, our culture—even our cartoons—trivialize it, and we buy into the watered-down images. But Heaven will be a truly glorious place. What a great promise we have in knowing we’ll spend eternity there.

Can you imagine a place where every house is a mansion or a palace? Every step a triumph? Every covering of the head a coronation? Every year a jubilee? Every month an enchantment? Every week a transport of delight? Every hour a paradise? Every moment an ecstasy? That is what Heaven will be like. Who can imagine it, and who can understand what God has prepared?

In Heaven, there shall be no entropy, where everything breaks down. For indeed, the Curse will have been lifted, and sin will be gone forever. We’ll have perfect bodies that shall never age nor grow sick, never weary nor grow weak, and never need sleep. We will know no grief or loss. We’ll experience the full love of others. We’ll all gather in fellowship; no one will feel rejected or snubbed.

Above all, we’ll see our Savior face to face. We will know Him, love Him, and enjoy full fellowship with Him. Our relationship with Him will go beyond anything we could ever imagine here on earth.

As you walk through your day, especially when circumstances get you down, turn your thoughts toward Heaven. Let the hope of Heaven buoy you up this day.

“The reward for serving the Lord might not be much in
this life, but the retirement benefits are out of this world!”
Anonymous

“… For the Gentiles shall seek Him …”

— Isaiah 11:10

Through the ages Israelites as well as people of other nations have waited for the promised Messiah. Many Gentiles had heard of the Messiah from the Jews in captivity. In Babylon, in Persia, in every place the Jews were taken, the message spread of the long-expected one, the Savior to come.

The wise men who followed the star of Bethlehem had heard the news in this way. Who exactly were these men? Contrary to some accounts, they probably were not kings. Most likely they were ancient scientists, perhaps astrologers or philosophers from Persia or Babylonia. These men traveled a great distance to find the Christ. They had received some sign of His birth, some clue, some message from that strange and singular occurrence in the sky. Why would these men set out on such a hard and hazardous journey? Why would they travel so far to find a new king?

I think the answer these men would give us is the very epitome of wisdom: Truly wise men will ever seek after Christ.

Did the wise men find what they sought? Yes, indeed. They not only found a way to God, they found the Way. They not only found some truth, they found the truth. They not only found life, they found the life. And they fell down and worshiped Him.

This beautiful saga has enshrined itself in the hearts of humankind as a permanent part of the Christmas story. The wise men were the very first of a vast host of Gentiles who would seek and find the Messiah. Most of us are like that … Gentiles privileged enough to come and worship at His cradle. Enjoy that privilege today; come and worship our Lord the Messiah.

“They followed what little light they had, and it brought
them at last into the presence of the living, incarnate God.”

“… the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

— Romans 6:23

Well, have you opened yours yet? I’m talking about your Christmas gift from God. It’s what people have always wanted. For centuries people have searched for the fountain of youth, wondering if something somewhere can stop aging and give life anew. The search for immortality—has this been your quest?

Once we open God’s Christmas gift, our search is over. What is this incredible gift that satisfies our deepest longings? Eternal life. God gives it to us as a Christmas gift, totally free because it’s priceless. If it weren’t a gift, who could buy it? How could anyone pay for a hundred billion eons of centuries in Paradise—in a new body that never aches—in a new world without sorrow, weeping, or death? Nobody could pay even one billionth of one percent of the value of this gift.

If you had received all the presents you ever dreamed of and even a thousandfold more, but you lay in your bed with your hands cold and your heart stopped, then it doesn’t matter what’s under the Christmas tree. But God’s gift is eternal life. It can’t be snatched away by death. But, of course, you have to open your gift, which you can do by trusting in Jesus for your salvation.

And unlike many gifts we buy for those we love, God’s Christmas gift has been paid for already. Despite the incredible expense of the gift, He hasn’t charged it—Jesus paid the full price once and for all. Upon that cross of agony, Christ endured in body and soul the wrath of God, which is the wages of sin. Christ paid the price, not with silver or gold or precious stones, but with His own blood.

If you have already opened your Christmas gift from God, then point someone else to the gift this Christmas. Someone near you might not know the true joy of Christmas, unwrapping material gifts while the most beautiful gift in all of Heaven and earth lies unopened. God loves us so much that He gave us His Son. That’s why we give gifts to each other. That’s why we celebrate Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

“God’s gifts put men’s best dreams to shame.”
Elizabeth Browning

“I bring you good tidings of great joy …”

— Luke 2:10

Imagine yourself in the shepherds’ sandals. You’re minding your own business, tending to the evening duties all shepherds attend to, when an angel shows up and the glory of God shines all around you. You not only behold such a magnificent sight, but you also hear the angel proclaim, “I bring you good tidings of great joy.”

That angel was the first preacher of the Gospel—glad tidings, wonderful news, the glorious message of great hope and joy for all people.

The joy of Christmas is the joy of reconciliation. If you’re like the rest of us, you know the sadness and pain of being at odds with someone—especially with someone you love—because an argument or harsh, cruel words have divided you. When those times come, you can feel a cold, thick wall separating you from your spouse, child, friend, or relative. You believe you’ll never experience joy again until the moment you reconcile. And when you finally knit your hearts together again and your tears of sorrow have turned into laughter and hugs, you can feel joyful once more.

How much more do we feel that joy when we’ve reconciled with God.

Our sin and rebellion have built a wall between us and God. Ever since that fateful day in Eden, humankind and God have been estranged. But Jesus was born to break down that wall by atoning for our sins. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we can be reconciled with God. At last we can rest in His arms and receive the robe of righteousness and the ring of kinship. Now the joy bells start ringing in our hearts, and a song bursts forth from our lips—a song of praise unto Jesus Christ, who has made it all possible, who has joined the hand of the sinner with the hand of the Father.

What a joy is that reconciliation. Today, join with me in celebrating the wellspring of joy that comes from a heart reconciled with God.

“Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!
Joyful all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies.”
Charles Wesley

“… Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

— Isaiah 7:14

Do you sometimes face what may seem like impossible obstacles? Perhaps you’re facing one even now. In these times, take heart because God can do the impossible. He did the impossible in the life of one of His humble servants, Mary, the mother of our Lord, the most famous woman in the world.

The promise of Isaiah 7:14 had been made long ago. All Jews knew about it. In all the godly homes, mothers would tell their daughters about that promise, and a thrill would go through the young girls’ hearts. It seemed an inspired dream that had blossomed only to fade with each passing century.

Mary knew the Scriptures; she had hidden God’s Word in her heart. And when the time came and the angel of the Lord spoke to her, she recognized the words of the prophet Isaiah. She, Mary, would give birth to the Son of the Most High, who would rule over the house of Jacob. Mary heard and believed. She placed her will and her dreams of a life with Joseph under God’s will, under the awesome fulfillment of the prophesies of the Messiah.

The mystery of Mary is a paradox adored by some, ignored by others. What is the truth about this one chosen by God, who in her own life experienced the paradox of God’s blessing? To be chosen by God involved not only a crown of joy, but also a cross of sorrow. She knew the wonder, the tremendous joy of bringing the Messiah into the world, but she also knew the heartbreak as she stood before the cross at Golgotha.

At the beginning and at the end of Jesus’ life, we find that the light shone brightly upon Mary, and we see her at her greatest moments. We see that, truly, she was blessed among women. We should all aspire to be like Mary, who answered God with humility and resigned herself joyfully to His will no matter the cost. As you consider impossible obstacles in your life, follow Mary’s example, trusting your life to God and submitting your will to His.

“Next to her son, Mary is the most
touching figure in the narrative.”
Will Durant

“… behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.”

— Luke 2:10

When I was a boy, a radio network news announcer named Gabriel Heater began his program every night with the same words: “There’s good news tonight.” I have always remembered those words. I don’t remember what good news he shared, but don’t those words themselves communicate a sense of hope?

I can’t think of any news commentator today who would have the nerve to begin his or her program that way. Watching the news the other day, I saw one disaster after another in unremitting repetition. It seems we rarely have good news anymore.

But thank God that we as Christians celebrate the greatest news the world has ever heard. God predicted this good news when He said that the seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15). He promised this good news to the patriarchs, “And in thy seed shall all nations of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 28:14).

And at long last, God fulfilled His promise. He came to earth. From His palace of crystal and gold, God rose from His golden throne and stepped into the world, born as a baby. What a wondrous day that was. And the angel declared the good news.

To appreciate the significance of this good news, we need to go back to the Garden of Eden when Satan first conquered the human will and brought humankind into bondage to himself. Through that devilish deceit, sin entered the world, and it has blighted the earth ever since. Sin extinguished God’s light in the human soul.

The Devil still tells us lies. He tells us that Christianity is some sort of wet blanket thrown over what the world offers. But the fun of the world is fleeting and passing at best. In contrast, Christ gives an everlasting joy that wells up within the hearts of believers. Christianity is not only good news, it’s the greatest news the world will ever hear.

Today, thank God for the good news we celebrate at this time of year, and share it with those around you who need to hear it.

“It [the gospel] can and will correct everything needing correction.”
William Gladstone

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”

— Colossians 1:15-16

One day, a little boy was drawing a picture. When his Sunday school teacher asked him what he was drawing, he replied that he was making a picture of God. The Sunday school teacher objected, “But, Billy, nobody knows what God looks like.” “They will now!” he confidently replied.

Like Billy’s Sunday school teacher, we may believe that we won’t know what God looks like until we get to Heaven. But if we want to know what God is like, we can just look at Jesus for, as the Scripture says, “He is the visible image of the invisible God.” No one has seen God, but those who have seen Jesus have seen the Father.

Just about everything that Scripture says about the Father, it also says about the Son. Note the following verses that draw the parallels between them (in each set, the first passage refers to the Father, and the second passage refers to the Son):

“I am the First, and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God” (Isaiah 44:6).
“I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead” (Revelation 1:17-18).

“Fear not, for I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10).
“Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

“For I am the Lord, I do not change” (Malachi 3:6).
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

“The King of kings, and the Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15).
“King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 19:16).

Many other passages draw similar parallels. At Christmastime, we can dwell on this truth: God the Almighty Himself became one of us. Offer a praise to God today for coming to earth in human form so that we might live with Him in Heaven for eternity.

“Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel.”
Charles Wesley

“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.”

— Galatians 4:4

Have you ever noticed that God has perfect timing? Sometimes we have to look back to discover how God worked things out for us, but when we do, we can always find His hand moving just at the right time.

Just as God uses perfect timing in our lives, He carefully planned the timing of Christ’s birth. According to Scripture, Jesus came “in the fullness of time.” We can see that, before Christ came, the entire history of humankind had been a preparation for His Advent. God even used pagans to prepare the world for Christ. For example, when Jesus came, the whole civilized world spoke one language. Why? When Alexander the Great conquered the world, he conquered it linguistically as well as physically. The world was unified by the koine Greek language, and the apostles wrote the New Testament and preached the Gospel in this language.

As well, the entire world had come under the one government of Rome—a single citizenship— prior to Christ’s coming. Paul and the early Christians could thus travel the length and breadth of the Roman Empire, from North Africa to South Brittany, from Palestine to Spain, to share the Gospel. This would never have been physically possible if the Romans had not constructed their roads, an incredible accomplishment for that period. Not until the latter part of the nineteenth century did modern civilization equal that achievement.

So with a single language, a single citizenship, and roads connecting every part of the empire, the physical world was prepared for the coming of Christ, and Caesar Augustus could order a census of the entire Roman world. And so Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem where, as prophesied, the virgin would give birth to the Messiah in the city of David.

As you wait for Christmas this season, and as you wait for God to work in your life, remember God’s perfect timing in sending His Son. Thank Him for His wisdom and His ability to perfectly order the events of your life, including the most important event: Christ’s coming.

“When the Christian religion first appeared upon earth,
Providence, by whom the world was doubtless prepared for
its coming, had gathered a large portion of the human race,
like an immense flock, under the scepter of the Caesars.”
Alexis De Tocqueville