Compiled from the writings of David Brandt Berg
Sometimes the sorrows, the discouragements and the disappointments of this life can weigh especially heavy on our hearts. When things just don't work out, or when we suffer personal defeats or losses, sometimes the strain of it all can make us wonder if anything we do is really worth it. Can Godly men really succeed in creating a better society in a World where evil, corruption and Man's selfishness seem to prevail most of the time? Well, when we are really down and discouraged, the outlook doesn't seem very bright. But it is in especially trying times like THESE that we must continue to trust in God's Word and His promises, because, YES, a better World IS coming soon!
"Sorrow shall endure for a season," the Bible says, "but joy comes in the morning." -- That glorious morning of Heaven that will come after the shadows and the night of this life! -- Psalm 3O:5. So keep your eyes on the Lord and the wonderful promises of HEAVEN to come! It will help you bear all these burdens and trials that you're going through now, when you realise these are only just for a moment! -- Just for a short time!
All the disappointments, broken dreams and deep dark experiences will soon be forgotten and blotted out like a bad dream when that glorious dawn of Heaven comes! "The sufferings of THIS present time are not worthy to be compared with the GLORY that SHALL be revealed in us." -- Romans 8:18. Revelation 21:4 says that God will "wipe away all tears from our eyes." Isn't that wonderful! He's going to wipe away all those tears, all that heartbreak and discouragement, and there will be no more tears, no more pain, no more death, no more sorrow!
Despite the fact that Heaven is the ultimate Paradise of Man, MOST people really DON'T look forward to it! As much as this weary life is full of pain and sorrow and problems -- and at times almost a HELL to live -- they would rather go through hell here than look forward to the Heaven to come! Why is that? Well, it's because the idea MOST people have of Heaven -- lying around on a cloud playing a harp all day, just doing nothing except being "holy" and "good" -- does NOT sound very appealing to most people! Thank God that is NOT what Heaven is like!
Jesus said, "In My Father's house are MANY MANSIONS. I go to prepare a PLACE for you." -- John 14:2,3. Well, it's been two thousand years since Jesus said that. Do you think it has taken Him THAT long to fluff up enough clouds for us to lie on, or to turn out a few million harps from some Heavenly Harp Factory? No! Of course not! That whole concept of Heaven is RIDICULOUS! And it's ALSO totally UNSCRIPTURAL! If you want an idea of what Heaven is REALLY like, just read the 21st and 22nd Chapters of the Book of Revelation!
The Heavenly City, the home of all the Saved Christians of all ages, is so amazing, so breath-takingly beautiful, so gorgeous and stupendous, that it is almost beyond description! Imagine, if you can, a Heavenly City made of a scintillating crystal-clear GOLD, a City 1,500 miles high, 1,500 miles wide and 1,500 miles long! The very streets of the City are made of gold, and within its shimmering gates of pearl is the Paradise of God, where the River of Life winds gracefully through wide, lush parks where laughing children and gentle animals play. -- And where our departed loved ones await our coming!
Can you visualise a World with no more death, no more pain, no more fear, no more sorrow, no more crying nor sickness, a World where everything is a JOY and a PLEASURE? -- A society where everybody works together in harmony, cooperation and love! Such a marvellous place is almost beyond our capacity to imagine, isn't it? As the Bible says, "Eye has not seen, neither has ear heard, nor has it entered into the imaginations of men, the WONDERS that God has prepared for them that LOVE Him." -- 1Corinthians 2:9. Yet, though it is so much more wonderful than anything we have known here on Earth, in MANY ways Heaven is LIKE this life we are PRESENTLY living! -- Only MUCH, MUCH BETTER! It has all the BEST things of this life, only without the trouble, pain, sickness, worry or dying! It is a World of "roses without thorns"! In this old Earth, we still cannot FULLY enjoy all of the joys and pleasures of life, but HEAVEN is the place where ALL of our heart's desires will be fulfilled! Anything you ever desired, anything you ever DREAMED of will be yours in Heaven! God's Word PROMISES that!
"And He that sat upon the throne said, `Behold, I make ALL things NEW. And he that overcomes shall inherit ALL things.'" -- Revelation 21:5-7. "Who is he that overcomes the World? He that believes that Jesus is the Son of God!" -- 1John 5:5. Yes, those who believe in Jesus will inherit ALL things, anything you ever wanted or ever desired! -- For it is God's DELIGHT to give you the desires of your heart! He says, "Delight yourself in the LORD, and He SHALL give you the DESIRES of your HEART." -- Psalm 37:4. And Jesus said, "It is your Father's GOOD PLEASURE to give you the KINGDOM." -- Luke 12:32.
There will be every pleasure and excitement you have ever experienced on Earth, only FAR BETTER! All the beautiful love, the joys of sex and children, as well as variety, change, the challenges of new horizons, new work, new tasks to perform, even the adventure of pioneering new Worlds! Every heart's desire will become a REALITY in that HEAVENLY CITY! And every thrill, every excitement, every beautiful love or fulfilling work that you heard about and longed for in THIS life, but were never able to have, will be yours in THAT Heavenly Realm! -- IF you love Jesus and believe in Him now! DO you?
Are YOU going to walk in that wonderful Heavenly City? The Bible says, "Only the SAVED shall walk therein." -- Rev.21:24. You don't want to miss that, do you? -- Then receive Jesus as your Saviour right now if you haven't already done so, and you can be sure that that Heavenly mansion Jesus promised His Own, as well as ALL the PLEASURES of PARADISE, will be yours! UNTIL that day, bravely do the job He has called you to do on this Earth, and don't let the disappointments of this life get you down! Amen?