The longer we live as Christians, the more we should feel like strangers in this world. Something within us recognizes that we’re outsiders here, and we yearn for that day when Jesus opens the door of heaven and welcomes us home. Although everything that God has prepared for us is beyond our comprehension, John helps us catch a glimpse by describing the contrast between what we know in this world and what it will be like in heaven.
Revelation 21:22-27; Revelation 22:1-5
A popular misconception about heaven is that it’s ethereal and lacks any tangible substance, but this view is not supported in Scripture. John described the New Jerusalem as a material structure (Revelation 21:10-21). Although there are aspects that mirror our earthly existence, some things will be very different.
Although Scripture tells us to seek the Lord, many Christians struggle with this command. Some are so distracted by other interests and responsibilities that God is only a miniscule part of their goals and desires in life. When confronted with their responsibility to pursue Him, they often feel guilty but don’t know how to begin.
When Nebuchadnezzar had an alarming dream, the Lord gave Daniel the interpretation: The king was going to become insane and live like a wild animal for “seven periods of time.” At that moment, Daniel had to decide whether he would tell the king the truth or conceal it. In those days, giving a king a bad report could cost the messenger his life. Yet despite the danger, Daniel held to his convictions and delivered the Lord’s message to Nebuchadnezzar.
The Lord has a plan for your life. He has a perfect will and a specific course in mind for you. However, many Christians are frightened of God’s will. To them, the idea of a divine plan isn’t attractive, because it requires a great deal of faith in the Father. And while we are usually quick to believe God for someone else’s needs, we are often slow to trust Him with our own.
There is so much that Christ wants to give us. What I’m talking about is not material wealth but spiritual blessings, one of which is that we might know the “surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe” (Eph. 1:19).
1 Corinthians 1:26-31; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
What factors determine whether a church is powerful or weak? Oftentimes people make such evaluations based on appearances and human reasoning rather than on God’s Word.
Scripture repeatedly admonishes us to trust in the Lord. When times are good, this doesn’t seem difficult. However, when trials arise, it is much harder to rely fully upon Him.
Yet it is always important for us to place our trust in the living God, especially when everything around us seems to be falling apart. This may well have been the situation that inspired the writing of Psalm 37.