Spiritual Viewpoints

by Rick Smith

Heaven

Changes

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VIEWPOINTS

Thoughts To Encourage Godly Living

August 13, 2002

 

CHANGES

Today is my birthday. Actually, it’s the 19th anniversary of my 39th birthday. The mirror that has always reflected my image isn’t nearly as complimentary as before. My hair is parting like the Red Sea. My face has lost some elasticity — okay — it looks like a road map to Cut & Shoot, Texas. Wrinkles aren’t so bad — but I miss my mind. I can only wonder how my memory’s doing.

Changes in my looks don’t bother me much. Even though my nose and ears are larger — so are my wife and children’s love. Now I even have love from grandchildren. I don’t play football or soccer anymore, but now I read books and drink lattes at Barnes & Noble.

Changes aren’t always good. My relatives and friends are getting older too. Some are sick — some have passed on. I miss being with people I’ve been close to in the past. I wish we could all go home and have a family reunion. I pointed to a man yesterday that reminded me of a departed friend. As I pointed, I said to Betty, “Look! Doesn’t that look like Brother B.?” Brother Rogers Bartley fell asleep in Jesus just about a year ago so it couldn’t have been him. But I wanted it to be. I miss my friends!

I guess 58 isn’t that old. Another friend, Louis Pennisi, is 105 years old and still loving the Lord. Age, for me, consists in things before and after. I’d like to keep the blessings of my past and add more to the future. I’d also like to forget the sins of my past and not add any more. I love the apostle Paul’s statement, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13ff-14).

One thing I won’t change is my desire for heaven, or my hope to take others with me. Won’t that be the grandest reunion ever? And to think, it will be an eternal reunion. No more tears, no more sorrows, and no more birthdays. Yeah!

Love you,

Rick Smith
Las Vegas, Nevada

 

I Have a Mansion

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“Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands” (2 Corinthians 5:1). So often when people are asked if they want to go to heaven, they answer “Yes” (with the qualification that they are not in any hurry). If the bus were leaving now, they wouldn’t mind waiting for the next one.

That mind-set probably comes from our fear of death, the kinship with worldly relationships, and the hope that God isn’t finished with us yet. Essentially, we don’t want to give up life as we know it.

It may be surprising, but that wasn’t the attitude of folks in the Bible. “Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling….” (2 Cor. 5:2). The Apostle Paul had an insight that we must be missing. He wanted to go home and be with the Lord, “Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we at home in the body we are away from the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:6).

The apostle’s outlook on heaven was obviously different than many of ours. So was his view of people. “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (2 Cor. 5:16). It would seem that Paul was looking through spiritual eyes. I have to ask, “Where does this leave many of us?”

Our goal should be to grow and enjoy the heavenly perspective. Earth is not my home and Christians are new creations. Thinking that way will give us a greater desire for heaven, and help us treat our brethren with deeper love ~ yes, even the stinkers.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

An Angel On My Shoulder

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I can’t speak for other writers, but sometimes the creative juices flow and I must write. The following is a figment of my imagination running wild. It may never be published, but I’ve enjoyed writing An Angel On My Shoulder, a novel for sure, but also a powerful statement of faith. It begins with a war in Heaven, and  moves to earth where an angel joins forces to tackle evil.  Here’s some of the beginning ~ enjoy.

angel-and-demons

IT WAS a putrefying stench of bubbling hatred spilling over, a vile resolution to destroy everything good; it was Satanic, evil. An army of filth had evolved from what was once a joyful band of angels. Whatever brewed in this sleazy den was malevolent, disgusting, from the bowels of evil. Satan and his minions congregated for the sole purpose of overthrowing the God of light, and then the created universe. Their first goal was the conquest of Heaven.

Together they intended to destroy the Lord of Lords, and then slither onto the throne of the Almighty.

Or, so they thought.

The godly forces in Heaven were led by a different Angel of great power and goodness, Michael, by name. He went to battle with incomparable might. Everything, including all eternity, was at stake.

As evil lost ground and light penetrated the darkness, Satan beckoned his warriors, and together strategized for what would be the final battle. They gathered like rabid mongrels, slobbering epithets, and belching hate towards those who shed light on darkness. The future inhabitants of hell met to plan an orgy of corruption.

It was then that the unimaginable happened. Shards of light stabbed Satan’s unholy kingdom of doom. Unnumbered angels of darkness squirmed and then froze in fear as they realized the clandestine meeting was exposed and visited by the One they intended to conquer. At first, the majestic light methodically reached for the crannies and walled recesses, but soon exploded like the rising sun hovering over an immense ocean as it pierced the devilish darkness.

God enveloped the assembly with his presence. Then, a solemn and fearful hush followed; escape from the light was impossible. Satan and his followers stood facing the great I AM. The serenity of Heaven had been fouled by these who wished to rule instead of serve, and now the time had come to end the erosion and eliminate the angels who had turned to gloom. Heaven spoke, and Satan shuddered.

The plot was destroyed, destiny was emphatic, and the loss of Paradise a surety for the corruptors. The war in Heaven was over.

The Inheritance

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“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14).

will

Imagine what the child of a King might inherit. Let’s say this King had conquered the whole world, and He loves you immensely. Plus, you are a chosen favorite, marked as special, and highly esteemed. What might you expect from such a King? “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7).

Can you visualize the picture? God chose and marked you with His Holy Spirit. He views you in a special way. He sees you through the eyes of His only begotten Son. He refuses to focus on your flaws, failures or sinfulness. Instead, He sees the perfection that comes from the One who makes you perfect. You can count on blessings beyond your imagination. “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10ff).

Heaven is the inheritance. We will walk arm in arm with the saints from all times. The Sustainer of life will share with us the wisdom of the ages. It’s not enough that Peter, James, and John are there; Jesus will greet us with outstretched arms. “To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it” (Revelation 2:17ff).

Heaven will be home. Whatever tears we bring will be wiped away by our Father’s love. The Spirit of holiness will encompass us eternally. Our praise will be echoed by angels. The chorus will send chills through our immortal bodies. The love we receive will melt away any fleshliness that might otherwise corrode us. “He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.” (Revelation 3:5). You see, I just want God to hold us close and say “Its okay, welcome home.”