We Haven’t Seen Anything Yet
But as it is written: “EYE HAS NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NOR HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN THE THINGS WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.” (1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV)
My Bucket List
I had the Grand Canyon on my bucket list (things I wanted to do before I die) for many years. We have finally had the opportunity to see the Grand Canyon and I must say I was somewhat disappointed. I know it is deep and it is wide, and it is majestic; but it is just a big hole in the ground with a river at the bottom. On the South Rim it was difficult to even see the river. People say it took millions of years for the river to carve such a deep ravine, but there are several reasons besides the Biblical ones that cause me to question that theory. But whether it took millions of years or a once in the lifetime of the earth flood, makes no difference. God did it. Man enjoys it. . . particularly for those who like to hike down to the bottom and all the way back up. Now for the next thing on my bucket list—I want to see the Land of Israel. However, that might only happen when I am enjoying the heavenly Jerusalem during the millennial reign of Christ.
The Next Great Vacation
Our verse for today encourages those of us who are “believers.” We will not be disappointed in the place that God has prepared for those who love Him. The Grand Canyon is over-hyped in my opinion. But my confidence in the Bible and thus in the Lord says that our next stop after we leave this body is going to breath-taking. What will it be like to see the Lord? What will it be like to see the place He has prepared for His Bride? What will it be like to live in place where there is no more death or sorrow or crying or darkness? Where there is Truth. Where people “get along”. Where they sing from the heart? Now that place is on my bucket list. I don’t want to go there today as I do have that foolish desire to remain in this life and to fight the enemy of our souls in the here and now. But the Lord has an appointed day when I and all believers will get to see what God has prepared for them. Either death or the rapture will take us there. We will not be disappointed.
Eye hath not Seen
I wonder what it will be like for those who have made God after their image instead of realizing that God has made us after His image, to wake up in hell because they didn’t believe the truth. People have all kinds of reasons for not believing God and these people are called unbelievers. Some of them claim to be believers but question the basic truths taught in the Bible. Some say the Bible is outdated as though God changes with the seasons. Some say that God is cruel, and they don’t want to believe in Him. Some say that He doesn’t exist and that they came into existence by accident. But no matter what the reason (actually the excuse) is for not believing, the unbelievers are going to find out that that “after death there is judgment.” They are going to find out that the place that they are going to is a place of everlasting torment and destruction. They are going to wake up in a place “where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.”
By faith, I believe that my next stop after this life will be an extraordinary step into beauty and joy and righteousness. I believe My King will be a king of righteousness and majesty and truth and love. Some call that place heaven. Some call it paradise. I know it is on my bucket list and I hope it is on yours. This song expresses my sentiments:
On the happy, golden shore,
Where the faithful part no more,
When the storms of life are o’er,
Meet me there;
Where the night dissolves away
Into pure and perfect day,
I am going home to stay—
Meet me there.
By Frances J. Crosby
Bruce Collins
Meditation for the weeks of September 29 and October 6, 2019