Heavenly Tours

Many famous places offer tours to the public. Some are free; others are for a fee. The White House tour is free, as is one in the Capitol Building. Although free, both do have conditions which have to be met prior to their respective tour. What about Heavenly tours? What if you could take a guided tour of Heaven, to see what and who's really there? Is there a heavenly street of gold? A rainbow around God's throne? Are there burritos in Heaven?  Can I see what my mansion is going to look like?

Despite being an intriguing thought there are no heavenly tours; no guided strolls around Heaven in all of its splendor-at least not for those on the earth. Here are three reasons:

1. Heaven, though more real than Earth, is home to just those who have confessed Jesus Christ as Lord, out of a believing heart. Like earthly tours, Heaven has conditions.
2. Taking a tour of Heaven won't guarantee one's faith in Christ. Thomas, one of Jesus' disciples, refused to believe His appearance without some physical confirmation. God wants each of us to accept Christ on the basis of His written Word, the Bible, rather than something we can see, hear, touch, taste, or smell. It's called walking by faith, not sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Taking God at His Word matters more heavenly tours.
3. As wonderful as Heaven is my mission is to make as many  disciples as I can. Rather than being portrayed as an end, I choose to pray and work to bring Heaven down into as many lives as I can. Why wait to get to Heaven to experience some of it on Earth?

Heaven's a huge place. According to the Bible (Revelation 21:16) Heaven is 1500 miles long, 1500 miles wide, and 1500 miles high. The focal point, however, isn't mansions, rivers, gold, or angels. No, the focal point is the Presence of God throughout Heaven, coming from the throne of God Himself, with Jesus at His right hand.

I don't need a tour of Heaven to describe to me how wonderful it is. Jesus' return for those looking for His appearing is coming soon. When that happens, a lot more of us are going to see Heaven-a lot more. Until then God's Word is sufficient information to describe Heaven. I'm sure there'll be time, later on, to take in the sights, so to speak.

I hope you're excited about Heaven. I hope that you're more excited about bringing Heaven to those here on earth.

Where's Jesus?

A lot of people are curious about Jesus as a person. More and more people are looking for Jesus, each for his/her own reason(s). How would you respond to someone asking you the following question: "Where's Jesus." Or, how about, "How do I find Him?" First of all, Jesus isn't lost.  It's just a matter of knowing where He is, so people searching for Him can know where to look. To find where Jesus is, let's start by eliminating where He is not. Let's start with the Cross, where Jesus died, becoming sin for us. Is He there? No, He's not. The old wooden Cross is nowhere to be found. Not to take away from the significance of the Cross, but Jesus isn't there.

Next, let's stop by the tomb where Jesus was buried and left, following His resurrection from hell. As much as I'm thankful for the Tomb, Jesus isn't there either. No, Jesus isn't at the Cross. He's not anywhere near the Tomb. So, where's Jesus? Just exactly where is Jesus?

According to Scriptures (Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews 10:12) Jesus is now in Heaven, seated at the right hand of God Himself. Yes, Jesus went to the Cross. He went to hell in our place, paid the penalty for sin, was raised from the dead by God, then left the Tomb.

But Jesus isn't on the Earth. To get people to Jesus we need to take them to where He is right now, on His Heavenly Throne, not where He used to be. People looking for Jesus ought to be brought to where He's been for nearly 2,000 years, offering Life to all who call upon His Name. Once someone comes into a saving knowledge of Jesus, just come into His Presence, before His Throne, anytime at all. He's there.

In Heaven, on His Throne-that's where Jesus is. That's where you'll find Him, even at Christmas and on Easter. That's worth knowing.

Never forget where Jesus was; what He did for you. Where Jesus is now, however, is where we are to bring others-and come ourselves.

Where is Jesus?

No, Jesus isn't missing; He's not lost. He knows exactly where He is. The problem isn't with Jesus. The problem is with people who think they know where Jesus is-only to find out that He isn't where they thought He was, who then taught others what they thought. I've heard for years, as many of you have, that we should bring people to Jesus, at the Cross. Yes we should bring people to Jesus. He's our Savior, Deliverer, Healer, Friend, and so much more. But to the Cross? No, not to the Cross. Why? Because Jesus isn't there.

Where is Jesus? When Jesus left this earth He went to Heaven, sitting down on His throne, at the right hand of God, according to Hebrews 10:12. As many have said, you don't sit down until the job's done. It took Jesus's death, burial, resurrection, and seating for our salvation to become a reality. His job wasn't complete until He sat down in Heaven, at the Father's right hand.

Where is Jesus? He's in Heaven, seated at God's right hand. Getting people to Jesus means going into His Presence in Heaven. Not at the Cross; not at the empty Tomb; not to anything made with hands. No, get people to where Jesus has been for nearly 2,000 years-in Heaven, at the right hand of God. That's where Jesus is. That's where we need to bring people who need Him: to His Throne.

We should commend all those who are bringing the lost to a saving knowledge of Jesus. The Cross and Tomb are, however, empty. There's a throne in Heaven for everyone in need of salvation, healing, deliverance, and supply. That's where Jesus is.

I hope that this simple truth will help you in ministering to others, as well in your own life. Write and let me know how it is.

What's In Your Mouth?

A well-known credit card issuer asks the now-familiar question, "What's in your wallet", as part of its ad campaign. A more telling question for us is, "What's in your mouth?".  I'm not talking about teeth or gums; I'm talking about your words. Why is this? What's so important about the words you say?

The Bible has much to say about the importance of our words. The Bible says this about words:

1. Death and life are in the power of the tongue.  Proverbs 18:21

2. Jesus said we'd have what we say, out of a believing heart.  Mark 11:23

3. With our tongue we either bless or curse.   James 3:8-10

These verses demonstrate the importance of speaking right words. Does this mean going around saying nothing but Bible verses? No, what I am saying is that your everyday words are important; what you say on a daily basis really matters.

Some things people say, without regard to their content:

1. "That just tickles me to death"

2. "Over my dead body"

3. Concerning "flu" season, "I'll probably be the first to get it"

No one really wants to be tickled to death. No one really wants to die over some dispute. No one really wants to get the flu, at any time. Do you?

Friend, no intelligent person would want even one of these sayings to really happen in his/her life. When we learn the value of our everyday words we won't be saying hurtful words; we'll be saying things like, "I'm free from the curse of sickness-I'll never have the flu"-and so on.

If you knew that everything you said would come to pass, what changes would you make to what you're saying? If you're used to saying negative things, what's keeping you from changing to saying positive words, starting right now?

What's in your mouth? Words of life or death? Health or sickness?  Success or failure? Prosperity or poverty? Perhaps it's time for a verbal "checkup?" on your everyday words. Learning to watch what you say will make a difference in your everyday life.

What change(s) can you make in what you're saying? Do you think it will be easy or a challenge? Either way, it will be worth the change(s).

What's Your Testimony?

In Revelation 12':11, we read  "And they overcome him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony;". The devil is overcome through a two-part application: The Blood of the lamb-Jesus-and the word of our testimony. God's part is not enough; it's takes both His and our parts to overcome the devil. Did you ever notice how often God's and our parts are necessary for us receiving the benefit of His provision and/or promises? For instance, in the sixth chapter of John's gospel, we read of Jesus feeding 5000 men, not to mention women and children. A boy's offering of 5 loaves and 2 fish supplied his part; the natural. After Jesus gave thanks for the food, the food was distributed. As this point God supplied His part: the miraculous multiplication of fish and bread.

It's the same when overcoming the devil, Satan, who is our adversary. God supplies His part-the redemptive Blood of Jesus. We, then, add our part, which is the word of our testimony. God's supernatural part unites with our natural part to bring about victory in every situation.

What is a testimony? A testimony is most often your sharing what God has done for you. In years gone by churches used to have testimony meetings. These services centered around people sharing what God had done for them in the last few days or weeks. Testimonies can encourage someone else's faith, for what God did for one, He'll do for another.

A testimony can also be your declaration of what God's says about you, in the situation you're now facing.

What's your testimony? What has God done for you? What is God's Word saying about you, in the situation you're facing? Are you daring to say what God's Word says, regardless of circumstance-as Caleb and Joshua did in Numbers , chapters 13 and 14?

I'd love to hear what God has done for you. Someone else may benefit from hearing what happened in your life. After all, what God dis for one, He'll do for another.

Where's your identification?

I flew on a few business trips last year. Each time I checked in I was required to present valid identification.  As I went through security I also had to show my ticket-proof that I was a passenger that day. Had I not already had my proof of identification out, ready to be shown, a valid question to me would have been, "Where's your identification?". Without it I wouldn't have flown. Identification. It's proof of who we are. Whether it's a driver's license, passport, student ID card, or other valid form, we live in a time where much emphasis is put on who we are. Things like opening up a bank account, obtaining a passport, or buying a house-in each case proof of identification is required. Renting a car? You'll be asked to show proof of identification.

Identification is even more important where spiritual things are concerned. As Christians we've been placed into Christ-into the family of God. We've been given new identification papers, so to speak. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 the Bible says that if any (person) be in Christ he is a new creature. Literally, this means that a new species of being has been created in you. If you're a Christan, there's a new "you" in you that wasn't there before. Your identification is now with Christ, not the devil and his crowd. You're under God's dominion, not Satan's.

Spiritually speaking we've been given new identities. We have new identification papers, so to speak, within the pages of the New Testament-specifically the Epistles, letters written to Christians. Examples are the books of Ephesians and Colossians. Each book paints a vivid picture of the believer's new identification with Christ, focusing on that person's  rights and privileges, in Christ.

It was some years after I became a Christan before I learned of my real identity, as a follower of Jesus Christ. I struggles to know who I was in life, my purpose, and my destiny. Having found my true identity I know who I really am. I move about in total security, without fear of detection. When the devil tries to bring up something from my life before Christ I show him my identification papers-God's Word-proving my identity in Christ. That's my true position-in Christ. Knowing my true identity affects my thinking, believing, words, and actions, on a daily basis.

Where's your identification? Is it in the natural things of this world, or in Christ? How important is it to be secure in who you really are, where your true identity lies?

Carrying the message

In 1965 a single record, entitled Eve of Destruction, began playing on radio stations. Sung by Barry McGuire, the song quickly rose in popularity. Composer P.F. Sloan's now famous line "You’re old enough to kill, but not for votin" led to passage of the 26th amendment, lowering the minimum voting age from 21 to 18.

Nearly 50 years later this remains a prime example of music carrying the message. What do I mean by this? How can music carry any message? God created music as a means for us to worship Him. While you can certainly worship God without music, there's something helpful about music that can usher us into God's Presence. Someone not given to remembering words by themselves will benefit through hearing those words, delivered through a musical messenger-a song the hearer sings and/or listens to.

My senior year of high school I was part of the school choir. Although not a Christian at the time, I've never forgotten two songs we sang in that public high school. One was based on Psalm 145:15,16; the other was "Alleluia", written by Randall Thompson. The first consists of two verses; the second has, until the ending "Amen", the singular word "Alleluia" Both songs carry messages: the former of God's provision; the latter of praise. Decades later, both messages remain with me due, in no small part, to the musical vehicle of each.

Music alone or music carrying a message, there's something almost undefinable about music that causes us to hear more than notes. Whether for worship, entertainment, or simply influence, music is certainly more than notes and sounds. Whether we disagree about what kind of music is appropriate for us, one thing is certain: Music, more often than not, is carrying the message.

What are we listening to? More importantly, what is the message-and are we hearing it?

I Love Mysteries

I love mysteries, especially the "who dunnit?” ones. Some of my favorites crime solvers are Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot and the Hardy Boys. My wife and I also enjoy many of the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) mystery movies shown on PBS. Chief Inspector Clouseau did not make my list. What is a mystery? A mystery is something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain. I like this definition for mystery: a secret. Mysteries involve the process of revealing a secret about a person or situation that solves the unknown, regarding a case or search for meaning in life.

The Bible is the greatest mystery book ever written. The New Birth-passing from spiritual death to newness of life-is a mystery to the unbeliever.  The Apostle Paul was used of God to reveal another mystery: Gentiles are to be fellow partakers of the Gospel , along with Jews.  How do you explain being one in Christ, regardless of gender, appearance, status, or background?

For us to be unified in Christ He has to be in each of us, individually as well as collectively. According to the Apostle Paul this is a mystery. Colossians 1:27 states that this mystery is "Christ in you, the hope of glory". Through the Holy Spirit Christ is living in every believer, those who are new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). How is this possible?  How do you explain a mystery?

The natural mind will never receive nor understand the things of God (I Corinthians 2:14). Some things are better "caught" than "taught". The fact that some mysteries can never be fully explained neither dilutes their truth nor detracts from their impact on society. These mysteries are hidden for you, not from you. Understanding will have to be done with our hearts, our spirits.

What about you? Have you ever thought of the Bible as a mystery book?

How do you explain the mystery of the New Birth to the unbeliever?

Has reading about Bible mysteries changed the way you see yourself? In what way?