"I get scared when I think that God knows everything about me, even my thoughts. I want to go to Heaven when I die, but I guess I don't have much chance if God knows what I'm really like, do I? "-- R.R.

Dear R.R.:
    If getting to Heaven depended on how good we are, then none of us -- you, me, or anyone else -- would ever have any chance of going there.
   Why is that? The reason is because even one sin -- just one -- would be enough to keep you out of Heaven. God is perfect and holy, and sin is an offense to Him, because every sin is an act of defiance or rebellion against Him. This is why the Bible says, "For whoever keeps the whole law (of God) and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it" (James 2:10).
   Yes, God knows all about you -- both your thoughts and deeds. But listen: In spite of that, God still loves you! He loves you so much that He wants you to spend eternity with Him in Heaven -- and He has made it possible, by sending Jesus Christ into the world. You and I deserve to die for our sins -- but Christ died in our place.
No, we can never be saved by trusting ourselves and our own good works. But we don't have to -- because Jesus Christ has come! The Bible says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
   But like any other gift, we must receive God's gift or it never becomes ours. By a simple prayer of faith confess your sins to God and ask Christ to come into your life. He has promised to save you -- and He will.- Billy Graham
 
Death, I think, is really life,
The living, I'd call dead;
To leave this human, mortal strife
And in new paths be led.
Death, I think, is beautiful,
A new and happy home,
To live then with the Father
And away you'll never roam.
Death, I know, brings sorrow,
And often drops a tear;
Then you think your end has come,
But it's only life that's near.
----by Ted Hagstrom age 10,
killed at age 13 in an auto accident. 

    A man's physical hunger does not prove that that man will get any bread; he may die of starvation on a raft in the Atlantic.  But surely a man's hunger does prove that he comes of a race which repairs its body by eating, and inhabits a world where eatable substances exist.  In the same way, though I do not believe (I wish I did) that my desire for Paradise proves that I shall enjoy it, I think it a pretty good indication that such a thing exists and that some men will.  A man may love a women and not win her; but it would be very odd if the phenomenon called "falling in love" occurred in a sexless world.
              ... C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), The Weight of Glory


  The heaven I desired was a heaven of holiness; to be with God, and to spend my eternity in divine love, and holy communion with Christ. My mind was very much taken up with contemplations on heaven, and the enjoyments there; and living there in perfect holiness, humility and love: and it used at that time to appear a great part of the happiness of heaven, that there the saints could express their love to Christ. It appeared to me a great clog and burden, that what I felt within I could not express as I desired. The inward ardor of my soul seemed to be hindered and pent up, and could not freely flame out as it would. I used often to think, how in heaven this principle should freely and fully vent and express itself. Heaven appeared exceedingly delightful, as a world of love; and that all happiness consisted in living in pure, humble, heavenly, divine love. -Jonathan Edwards (1703-58)

   In heaven the saints draw all their wine of joy, as I may so say, at one tap, and shall to all eternity, and yet it never tastes flat. -William Gurnall (1616-79)
 
   Wherever you meet a Christian, he is going to heaven. -William Gurnall (1616-79)

   There have been times when I think we do not desire heaven but more often I find myself wondering whether, in our heart of hearts, we have ever desired anything else. -C.S. Lewis (1898-1963)

   The nineteenth-century preacher C.H. Spurgeon often sent books from his library to their authors asking for their signature and a photograph. One of them, the godly Scot, Andrew Bonar, wrote back: 'Dear brother, I cannot refuse what you are so kind to ask. But if you had only waited a little while, it would have been really worth having for we shall be LIKE HIM'"(1 John 3:2). -Peter Lewis (20 C)

   Some time ago a man wanted to take my Bible home to get a few things out of it; and when it came back I found this note in it- 
   Jesus only:
The light of heaven is the face of Jesus
The joy of heaven is the presence of Jesus
The melody of heaven is the name of Jesus
The harmony of heaven is the praise of Jesus
The theme of heaven is the work of Jesus
The employment of heaven is the service of Jesus
The duration of heaven is the eternity of Jesus
The fullness of heaven is Jesus Himself.
 -D.L. Moody (1837-99)
 

   There will be a serenity beneath the eye and care of God that surpasses anything we have known here on the softest summer evening beside the most peaceful lake at our most happy moments. -John Piper (b. 1947)

    Most men hope to go to heaven when they die, but few, it may be feared, take the trouble to consider whether they would enjoy heaven if they got there. -J.C. Ryle (1816-1900)

   To see God to be all in all, and by the sight of God to be transformed into his likeness, is the chief thing in heaven. -Richard Sibbes (1577-1635)

   I have told you before what I sometimes dream shall be my lot in glory, to stand not here, and preach to a handful of people, though it be verily a large handful; but to stand upon some starry orb, and preach of Christ to whole constellations at once, and thunder out my remembrances of his sweet love to myriads of beings who have never heard of him as yet, for they have never sinned, but who will drink in all the tidings of what Jesus did for sinful men. And each of you, according to your training for it, shall make known to angels, and principalities, and powers, the manifold wisdom of God. There is plenty of room for you all, for God's universe will need millions upon millions of messengers to go through it all, and tell out the story of redeeming love. And we, I believe, are here in training for that eternal work of making known to illimitable regions of space, and countless myriads of intelligent beings whom God has created, but who have never fallen, the story of this little planet, and of the God who loved it so that he came here, and died that he might save his people from their sins. -Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-92)

   From heaven even the most miserable life will look like one bad night at an inconvenient hotel. -St. Theresa (1515-82)

    John Bunyan was once asked a question about heaven which he could not answer, because the matter was not revealed in the Scriptures; and he thereupon advised the inquirer to live a holy life and go and see. -I.D.E. Thomas (20th century)

    Heaven is a kingdom worth praying for; nothing is wanting in that kingdom which may complete the saint's happiness; for, wherein does happiness consist? Is it in knowledge? We shall know as we are known? Is it in dainty fare? We shall be at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Is it in rich apparel? We shall be clothed in long white robes. Is it in delicious music? We shall hear the choir of angels singing. Is it in dominion? We shall reign as kings, and judge angels. Is it in pleasure? We shall enter into the joy of our Lord. Surely then this kingdom is worth praying for! Thy kingdom come. -Thomas Watson (1620-86)

    How shall we know this kingdom is prepared for us? If we are prepared for the kingdom. -Thomas Watson (1620-86)

   In the kingdom of heaven there is glory in its highest elevation; in that kingdom is knowledge without ignorance, holiness without sin, beauty without blemish, strength without weakness, light without darkness, riches without poverty, ease without pain, liberty without restraint, rest without labour, joy without sorrow, love without hatred, plenty without surfeit, honour without disgrace, health without sickness, peace without war, contentment without cessation. Oh, the happiness of those that die in the Lord! -Thomas Watson (1620-86)

   There is a time coming when we shall not only be free from our sins, but our duties too. Prayer and fasting are irksome to the flesh. In heaven there will be no need of prayer or repentance. Duties shall cease there. Indeed in heaven the saints shall love God, but love is no burden. God will shine forth in his beauty, and to fall in love with beauty is not grievous. In heaven the saints shall praise God, but their praising of him shall be so sweetened with delight that it will not be a duty any more, but part of the reward. -Thomas Watson (1620-86)

   We shall never go to heaven when we die unless we are in heaven while we live. -Thomas Watson (1620-86)

    Samuel Rutherford said that to see Christ through the keyhole once in a thousand years would be heaven enough for him. -Alexander Whyte (d. 1921)

   An American evangelist, John Morrison, returned home after preaching in many countries where he had brought tens of thousands to Christ. He happened to travel on the same ship as President Theodore Roosevelt, who was returning from a hunting expedition in Africa where he had shot a number of wild hogs.  On the dock at New York thousands cheered. Whom would you say they cheered? Of course they cheered the killer of hogs, who was also the president of the United States. No one was interested in the man who had saved souls. They traveled on the same train. On the station platform again thousands cheered Roosevelt, not Morrison.  An evangelist is human. Morrison felt envy and discontent growing within him. "Is this all the welcome I get when I return home after such an exhaustive journey," he fretted. A divine voice corrected him: "You are not yet home."

 -Richard Wurmbrand (1909-2001)

In childhood's days our thoughts of Heaven
Are pearly gates and streets of gold,
And all so very far away;
A place whose portals may unfold
To us, some far-off distant day.
But in the gathering of the years,
When life is in the fading leaf,
With eyes perchance bedimmed by tears,
And hearts oft overwhelmed with grief,
We look beyond the pearly gate,
Beyond the clouds of grief's dark night,
And see a place where loved ones wait,
Where all is blessedness and light.
And over all we see the face
Of Him who'll bring us to our own
Not to a far-off distant place,
For Heaven is, after all, just Home!
--Sue H. McLane
 
"If God has made this world so fair,
Where sin and death abound,
How beautiful beyond compare,
Will Paradise be found.
--James Montgomery
 
THINK:
Of stepping on shore
And finding it Heaven!
Of taking hold of a hand
And finding it God's Hand!
Of breathing a new air
And finding it celestial air!
Of feeling invigorated
And finding it immortality!
Of passing from storm and tempest
To an unbroken calm;
Of waking up and finding
Yourself HOME!
--Robert E. Selle
 
Oh, there's no disappointment in Heaven
No weariness, sorrow nor pain,
No hearts that are bleeding and broken,
No song with minor refrain.
The clouds of our earthly horizon
Will never appear in the sky,
For all will be sunshine and gladness,
With never a sob nor a sigh.
We'll never pay rent for our mansions;
The taxes will never come due.
Our garments will never grow threadbare,
But always be fadeless and new.
We'll never be hungry or thirsty,
Nor languish in poverty there;
For all the rich bounties of Heaven,
His Heaven-bound children will share.
--F.M. Lehman
 
Life! We have been long together,
Through pleasant and through cloudy weather,
'Tis hard to part when friends are dear,
Perhaps 'twill cost a sigh, a tear;
Then steal away; give little warning;
Choose thine own time.
Say not, 'Good-night!' but in some brighter clime,
Bid me, 'Good-Morning!'
--Anna L. Barbauld
 
"Lord, when Thou seest that my work is done
Let me not linger on,
With failing powers,
Adown the weary hours,
A workless worker in a world of work.
But with a word,
Just bid me home,
And I will come
Right gladly,
Yea, right gladly
Will I come.
--John Oxenham
 
THE BEYOND
It seemeth such a little way to me,
Across to that strange country, the Beyond;
And yet, not strange, for it has grown to be
The home of those of whom I am so fond;
They make it seem familiar and most dear,
As journeying friends bring distant countries near.
And so for me there is no sting to death,
And so the grave has lost its victory;
It is but crossing with abated breath
And white, set face, a little strip of sea,
To find the loved ones waiting on the shore,
More beautiful, more precious than before.
--Ella Wheeler Wilcox
 
"This WORLD is not my home, I'm just a-passing through.
"My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue!
"The Angels beckon me, through Heavens Open door,
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore!" -a Hymn
 
"Love as much as you can
by all the means you can
in all the ways you can
in all the places you can
at all the times you can
to all the people you can
as long as ever you can."
- John Wesley Rule
 
"The twenty-third Psalm is always a great comfort in time of need. It reassures us that the Lord will never depart from us nor leave us comfortless. Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, the Lord says that He will be with us. He'll be with us then to comfort and lead us into a new life forever. ----David Brandt Berg

PSALM 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
For Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

 
As you love me, let there be
No mourning when I go,--
No tearful eyes,
No hopeless sighs,
No woe,--nor even sadness!
Indeed I would not have you sad,
For I myself shall be full glad,
With the high triumphant gladness
Of a soul made free
Of God's sweet liberty.
--No windows darkened;
For my own
Will be flung wide, as ne'er before,
To catch the radiant inpour
Of Love that shall in full atone
For all the ills that I have done;
And the good things left undone;
--No voices hushed;
My own, full-flushed
With an immortal hope, will rise
In ecstasies of new-born bliss
And joyful melodies.
Rather, of your sweet courtesy,
Rejoice with me
At my soul's loosing from captivity.
Wish me "Bon Voyage!"
As you do a friend
Whose joyous visit finds its happy end.
And bid me both "a Dieu!"
And "au revoir!"
Since, though I come no more,
I shall be waiting there to greet you,
At His Door.
And, as the feet of The Bearers tread
The ways I trod,
Think not of me as dead,
But rather--
"Happy, thrice happy, he whose course is sped!
He has gone home--to God,
His Father!"
--John Oxenham
 
"Sisters and brothers, little maid,
How many may you be?"
'How many? Seven in all,' she said,
And, wondering, looked at me.
"And where are they? I pray you tell?"
She answered, 'Seven are we;
And two of us at Conway dwell,
And two are gone to sea.'
"'Two of us in the churchyard lie,
My sister and my brother;
And, in the churchyard cottage, I
Dwell near them with my Mother.'
"How many are you, then" said I
"If they two are in heaven?"
The little maiden did reply,
'O master, we are seven!'
"But they are dead; those two are dead;
Their spirits are in heaven!"
'Twas throwing words away; for still
The little maid would have her will,
And say, 'Nay, we are seven!'"
----Wordsworth
 
 
Sleep on, beloved, sleep, and take thy rest;
Lay down thy head upon thy Saviour's Breast;
We love thee well, but JESUS loves thee best:
Good-night!
Calm is thy slumber as an infant's sleep;
But thou shalt wake no more to toil and weep;
Thine is a perfect rest, secure and deep:
Good-night!
Until the shadows from this earth are cast,
Until He gathers in His sheaves at last,
Until the twilight gloom is overpassed,
Good-night!
Until, the Lord's new glory floods the skies,
Until the loved in JESUS shall arise,
And He shall come, but not in lowly guise,
Good-night!
Until, made beautiful by Love Divine,
Thou in the likeness of thy Lord shalt shine,
And He shall bring that golden crown of thine,
Good-night!
Only "Good-night!" beloved, not "Farewell!"
A little while and all His Saints shall dwell
In hallowed union, indivisible:
Good-night!
Until we meet again before His Throne,
Clothed in the spotless robe He gives His own,
Until we know, even as we are known,
Good-night! Amen.
-- Sarah Doudney
 
FEAR death?--to feel the fog in my throat,
The mist in my face,
When the snows begin, and the blasts denote
I am nearing the place,
The power of the night, the press of the storm,
The post if the foe;
Where he stands, the Arch Fear in a visible form,
Yet the strong man must go:
For the journey is done and the summit attained,
And the barriers fall,
Though a battle's to fight ere the guerdon be gained,
The reward of it all.
I was ever a fighter, so--one fight more, The best and the last!
I would hate that death bandaged my eyes, and forbore,
And bade me creep past.
No! let me taste the whole of it, fare like my peers
The heroes of old,
Bear the brunt, in a minute pay glad life's arrears
Of pain, darkness, and cold.
For sudden the worst turns the best to the brave,
The black minute's at end,
And the elements' rage, the fiend-voices that rave,
Shall dwindle, shall blend,
Shall change, shall become first a peace out of pain,
Then a light, then thy breast,
O thou soul of my soul! I shall clasp thee again,
And with God be the rest!
-- Robert Browning
Lo! round the Throne, at God's right hand
The Saints, in countless myriads, stand;
Of every tongue redeemed to God,
Arrayed in garments washed in Blood.
Through tribulation great they came;
They bore the cross, despised the shame;
From all their labours now they rest,
In God's eternal glory blest.
Hunger and thirst they feel no more;
Nor sin, nor pain, nor death deplore:
The tears are wiped from every eye,
And sorrow yields to endless joy.
They see their SAVIOUR Face to face,
And sing the triumphs of His grace;
Him day and night they ceaseless praise:
To Him their loud Hosannas raise:
"Worthy the LAMB for sinners slain,
Through endless years to live and reign,
Thou hast redeemed us by Thy Blood,
And made us kings and priests to God."
--Rev. Rowland Hill
 
 
Jerusalem, My Happy Home
                              by F.B.P., c. 1586                
       Jerusalem, my happy home,
        Name ever dear to me,
        When shall my labors have an end?
        Thy joys when shall I see?
        When shall these eyes thy heav'n-built walls
        And pearly gates behold,
        Thy bulwarks with salvation strong,
        And streets of shining gold?
        Oh, when, thou city of my God,
        Shall I thy courts ascend
        Where evermore the angels sing,
        Where Sabbaths have no end?
        Apostles, martyrs, prophets, there
        Around my Savior stand;
        And soon my friends in Christ below
        Will join the glorious band.
        Jerusalem, my happy home,
        When shall I come to thee?
        When shall my labors have an end?
        Thy joys when shall I see?
        O Christ, do Thou my soul prepare
        For that bright home of love
        That I may see Thee and adore
        With all Thy saints above.
        
       "I'm But a Stranger Here"
          by T. R. Taylor, 1807-1835
                      
       I'm but a stranger here,
        Heav'n is my home;
        Earth is a desert dread,
        Heav'n is my home.
        Danger and sorrow stand
        Round me on every hand;
        Heav'n is my fatherland,
        Heav'n is my home.
        What though the tempest rage,
        Heav'n is my home;
        Short is my pilgrimage,
        Heav'n is my home;
        And time's wild wintry blast
        Soon shall be overpast;
        I shall reach home at last,
        Heav'n is my home.
        There at my Savior's side
        Heav'n is my home;
        I shall be glorified,
        Heav'n is my home;
        There are the good and blest,
        Those I love most and best;
        And there I, too, shall rest,
        Heav'n is my home.
        Therefore I murmur not,
        Heav'n is my home;
        Whate'er my earthly lot,
        Heav'n is my home;
        And I shall surely stand
        There at my Lord's right hand.
        Heav'n is my fatherland,
        Heav'n is my home.

   Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither. -C. S. Lewis 

   Every bit of love and beauty and truth that anyone ever experiences on earth is made in Heaven adn is a participation in Heaven. For Heaven is God's presence; and God is present in all goodness, all truth, and all beauty. God is not a truth, a good,  or a beauty, but Goodness Itself, and truth Itself, and Beauty Itself. He is neither a particular thing or an abstract, universal quality, He is a concrete universal. In God all goodness, truth and beauty exist, coexist and meet, and are perfected, like the all the surface of a cone meeting at its point. God is the point of it all. -Peter J. Kreft, Heaven: The Earth's Deepest Longing