2020-12-01
Psalm 16:11 NIV
For many of us, the thought of death can stir up fear in our hearts. But God has promised us a place with Him in heaven, and His Word tells us that it’ll be a place that’s better than any we could ever imagine.
Billy Graham’s daughter Anne wrote about a conversation she had with her mum which illustrates the difference between our world and the next: ‘I told her about my recent visit to Westminster Abbey, where kings and queens are crowned and royalty are married. The door for tourists that leads to the cathedral entrance is a dark, cramped space. Opposite is another door that opens into the magnificent, glorious, cavernous sanctuary of Westminster Abbey. The dimly lit narthex [a porch or entrance hall] is just a place to purchase your ticket and guidebook before transitioning to the cathedral. I can’t imagine anyone clutching a ticket or leafing through a guidebook being satisfied with staying in the [entrance hall]…We pick our ticket to heaven when we’re born again through faith in Jesus. And we familiarise ourselves with the “guidebook” to heaven – the Bible.’ She goes on to compare death to the process of moving from the dark entrance hall into the beautiful sanctuary.
The psalmist said: ‘You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.’ The Bible gives us glimpses of heaven, and time spent with God gives us an idea of the immense joy we’ll feel when we’re with Him in heaven. But we’re also on a journey with God now, so while we’re following His path, let’s share with others the glory and joy that’s waiting for them when they accept salvation and put their faith in Him.
3 John; Jude; John 15:5-17; Ps 14; Prov 28:13-16
Psalm 16:11 NLV
As jy twintig mense vra om die hemel te beskryf, is die kans goed dat jy twintig verskillende antwoorde sal kry. Daar is egter een ding wat vasstaan: dit is verreweg die beste om persoonlik by Christus te wees (sien Filippense 1:23), beter as enigiets wat ons onsself kan indink.
Billy Graham se dogter, Anne, het aan ‘n gesprek wat sy met haar ma gehad het, voor haar ma na die hemel toe vertrek het, gedink: ‘Ek het haar van my onlangse besoek aan Westminster Abdy vertel, waar konings en koninginne gekroon word. Die deur wat toeriste moet gebruik om die katedraal binne te gaan, is ‘n donker, beknopte spasie. Oorkant hierdie deur is daar ‘n ander deur wat na die manjifieke, glorieryke, massiewe heiligdom van die Westminster Abdy lei. Die skemer portaal is net ‘n plek om jou kaartjie en gidsboek te koop voordat jy die oorgang na die katedraal maak.
Ek kan my nie indink dat enigiemand met ‘n kaartjie tevrede sal wees om in die ingangsportaal te bly nie. Ons koop ons kaartjie hemel toe wanneer ons deur geloof in Jesus weergebore word. Ons raak vertroud met die ‘gidsboek’ na die hemel toe – die Bybel. My ma het op 14 Junie, 2007, die ingangsportaal verlaat en die heiligdom binnegegaan. Ten spyte van my seer hart, weet ek egter dat die hele doel van haar bestaan – en ons s’n – is om die oorgang na die hemel toe te maak.
Die psalmdigter het gesê: ‘…in u teenwoordigheid is vreugde, en aan u regterhand is daar blydskap vir altyd.’ Eendag sal ek ook verhuis, om vir ewig in die heiligdom te lewe. Intussen wil ek ander mense ‘n kykie op ons Vader se huis gee, sodat hulle ook met hoop kan uitsien om daarheen te gaan.’
Sielskos: 3 Joh; Judas; Joh 15:5-17; Ps 14; Spr 28:13- 16
Psalm 16:11 NKJV
Ask twenty people to describe heaven, and chances are you’ll get twenty different answers. But there’s one thing that’s not open to speculation: “To leave this life and be with Christ…is much better” (Philippians 1:23 NCV) than anything we can imagine.
Recalling a conversation with her mom before she went to heaven, Billy Graham’s daughter Anne writes: “I told her about my recent visit to Westminster Abbey, where kings and queens are crowned and royalty are married. The door for tourists that leads to the cathedral entrance is a dark, cramped space. Opposite is another door that opens into the magnificent, glorious, cavernous sanctuary of Westminster Abbey. The dimly lit narthex is just a place to purchase your ticket and guidebook before transitioning to the cathedral.
I can’t imagine anyone clutching a ticket or leafing through a guidebook being satisfied with staying in the [entrance hall]…We pick our ticket to heaven when we’re born again through faith in Jesus. And we familiarize ourselves with the ‘guidebook’ to heaven – the Bible…My mother left the narthex and moved into the sanctuary on June 14, 2007…It’s unimaginable that I can no longer see the sparkle in her eyes, or hear the wisdom of her words. Yet despite my aching heart, I know her whole purpose for being – and ours – is to transition into heaven.
The psalmist said, ‘In your presence is fullness of joy, at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.’ One day I too will move, to live forever in the sanctuary. In the meantime, I want to show others a glimpse of our Father’s house, so they’ll look forward with hope to moving there.”
Soul food: 3 John; Jude; John 15:5-17; Ps 14; Prov 28:13-16
