This life won’t last forever. At some point, in God’s timing, we’ll stand before Jesus. It will either be as a welcomed saint or as a hardened sinner. How should that affect our life right now?
Author Randy Alcorn says we can’t ignore the realities of heaven and hell when we talk about the afterlife. If we emphasize one at the expense of the other, we’ll create an imbalanced view of eternal life.
“Jesus Christ said more about hell than anyone else.”
Randy shares how many people try to navigate this aspect of the Bible.
“We act as if the really Christ-like thing is to not talk about hell. But Jesus talks more about it than anyone else did, so obviously we don’t love people more than Jesus loves them. He knew that if you love somebody, you tell them the truth. And hell is one of those difficult but really important truths.”
Whether or not we follow Christ, we will stand before Him some day. For those who follow Jesus, seeing Him face to face will be a cause for worship and celebration. We’ve been justified, we’re being sanctified, but on that day, the best will come to pass.
“The day is going to come when we will be glorified. And that is where we will forever be separated not only from the penalty of sin, and the power of sin, but from the very presence of sin.”
The best part about heaven will not be perfect health or even the presence of loved ones. The best part about heaven will be Jesus.
“Nothing will be between me and my Lord. I will not be a sinner anymore. I will have the righteousness of Christ as something that is transformative and available to me. I will no longer want to sin.”
In Randy’s book , he outlines what that day will be like.
“Sin will be something distanced from me and I will have complete, unimpeded access to Jesus Christ. I won’t need to remember to confess my sins. I will have no sins to confess!”
Randy’s musings on the day we see Jesus face to face should bring us all to a place of awe and joy.
“To be liberated not simply from the suffering and evil of this world but to be liberated from myself… to be fully renewed and glorified… nothing between me and my Lord…what a day that’s going to be.”
Key Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 4:17-18; Revelation 8:1; 1 Corinthians 10:31;
Featured Songs: God and God Alone by Chris Tomlin; Everything is Mine by Christy Nockels; Sons & Daughters by North Point Worship
