Faith Filled Family Magazine September 2016 | Page 54

faith, equipped with the wisdom,
hope and power available to us
through our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Here’s King David’s perspective:
“Even though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they
comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)
The presence, power, and
authority of the Lord bring peace,
comfort and security, even when
death seems inescapable. Both
in times of distress and times of
peace, we must earnestly seek
His presence. We can draw near
to Him in a variety of ways; in
prayer, in worship, studying His
Word, and even just being still,
laying aside our thoughts and
worries and listening for His
voice. As we get to know Him
more and spend time with Him,
finding His presence becomes
effortless. We have perpetual
access to the peace, hope and
power He provides.
Take a look at a few of Paul’s
thoughts on life and death:
“For to me, to live is Christ and to
die is gain. If I am to go on living
in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall
I choose? I do not know! I am
torn between the two: I desire to
depart and be with Christ, which
is better by far; but it is more
necessary for you that I remain
in the body.” (Philippians 1:2124)
Through Paul’s words, it is evident that in Christ, there is hope
to be found both in death, and in
continuing to live here on earth.
If we belong to Christ completely, it is certain that when we

die, we will be with Him forever and YOU! He formed every part
in Heaven. Here are a few scrip- of you, breathed life into you,
tures describing Heaven:
and adores you more than you
can even comprehend. Imagine
“The twenty-four elders will fall being with Jesus Christ forever
down before Him who sits on and ever, our Savior who came
the throne, and will worship Him to teach and guide us, and ultiwho lives forever and ever, and mately suffered and died on the
will cast their crowns before the Cross so that our sins could be
throne, saying,
forgiven, and we could be with
‘Worthy are You, our Lord and Him. Imagine a place completely
our God, to receive glory and saturated with love, with joy, with
honor and power; for You cre- peace, with the Glory of God! It’s
ated all things, and because of no wonder Paul wrote that dying
Your will they existed, and were and going home to Christ will
created.’” (Revelation 4:10-11)
be “better by far” than remaining on earth. Though we leave
“He will wipe away every tear the world which is familiar to
from their eyes; and there will us, it is clear that where we are
no longer be any death; there headed is so much greater that
will no longer be any mourning, we should face our new home
or crying, or pain; the first things with anticipation and excitement
have passed away.” (Revelation instead of fear.
21:4)

That being said, Paul clearly
“The material of the wall was states that it was necessary for
jasper; and the city was pure Him to remain on earth for the
gold, like clear glass. The foun- sake of the people. Recognizing
dation stones of the city wall that the Lord had created him to
were adorned with every kind fulfill a unique and very specific
of precious stone.” (Revelation purpose, Paul was committed to
21:18-19)
fulfilling that purpose, no matter
what the cost. He acknowledged
“And there will no longer be any his deep desire to be in Heaven
night; and they will not have with the Lord, and for the time,
need of the light of a lamp nor laid it aside and joined to God’s
the light of the sun, because the will. Jesus himself taught us to
Lord God will illumine them; and pray this way:
they will reign forever and ever.”
(Revelation 22:5)
“Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
Wow! The breathtaking, awe- On earth as it is in heaven.”
inspiring scene painted in Rev- (Luke 9:10)
elation is so majestic it brings
tears to my eyes. Mere words For what purpose did God create
barely scratch the surface of you? What is His will for your
the glory Heaven holds. Imag- life? If you don’t have a solid
ine living forever in the presence answer to this question, I strongly
of the Lord God who created encourage you to diligently seek
the entire universe, every star, it. I can personally attest that
every mountain, every creature, nothing has provided more per-