Pastor Ken's Notes

A Brilliant Promise In A Dark World

February 29, 2012 at 2:25 pm Leave a comment

This week, again, the frailty of life hit home.  The relentless pursuit of death, chasing each of us down, was made real to me in a few different ways.  Including that creepy commercial “Make… Death… Wait” from the Heart & Stroke Foundation.  Problem is, of course, that we only do so much about that.  Eventually it comes to us all.

    Lent is one of those times of the year that we put aside our many distractions, and stop to face that truth.
I’m so glad we can do so not just with the great medical care of our province, or amazing research and possibilities funded by groups like Heart & Stroke – but with rock solid promises from the lips of our Saviour, which trumps everything else.

Including this promise from Luke 23:43 – “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”

That phrase has been dancing in my head all week.
A precious, precious gift from Christ to us.

TODAY
After death comes, immediately, eternal life.  Eternal bliss for all who place their trust in Jesus.  Some people keep pushing theories of soul sleep.  I can’t find any solid evidence for that in the Bible.  Instead all threads seem to point to an IMMEDIATE translation to glory for those who die in faith (check out Luke 16:19-31; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23-24).  There’s a real future at “the end of the line.”

YOU
Jesus’ promise is very direct, and very personal.
It is so to the crook on the cross beside him, to Nicodemus (check out John 3),
And to us.
We’re not a nameless face in the crowd gathered in heaven.
Each believer is a precious soul.
Including you.

WILL BE
Allowing us to be really sure when someone asks, “If you were to die tonight, do you know if you’d end up in heaven?”
Not maybe.  Not “I hope so”.
(consider John 20:31 & 1 John 5:11-13)
An absolute guarantee.
Which is so comforting – because nothing in this life is guaranteed.  Not even the way we will depart life – death comes in so many ways.

WITH ME
When we get to glory, it’ll not be off in some small corner waiting room, or in the basement (so to speak).
We’ll be with the Lord (2 Cor 5:8).
No more pain, sorrow, tears, frustration, conflict, sin – all gone!

IN PARADISE

And here’s the amazing part – Jesus says, “Paradise.”
He’s hinting back to Genesis 1 – a perfect creation where God and humanity shared a perfect relationship.
When we’re in heaven we will  taste that sort of perfect relationship.
In perfect peace.
Your loved ones who died in faith are enjoying that RIGHT NOW.
And we, even in our struggles, look forward to that.

But one more thing.
Jesus’ use of the term “Paradise” is also a hint.
Heaven, it seems, won’t be our “last stop.”
It will, immediately after death, provide a mind-blowing glorious prelude to the last destination for all believers.
Heaven is where those who die in faith wait, with Jesus, until the final trumpet and the divine “Makeover” of Creation -
the New Heaven and the New Earth.

Go ahead and steal the line – “We’ll be back!”
(check out Revelation 21 & 22)
Yes, we will.  In the great day of Resurrection at the return of Jesus as King and Judge.
And then we will live, with all the saints of all the ages, before the glorious face of God, here on the New Earth.

!!I!!
!!CAN’T!!
!!WAIT!!

Maranatha.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

Entry filed under: Wondering About.... Tags: Christianity, faith, Living, Salvation, spirituality.