Devotional - July 25, 2004

When we speak of God's glory, it's not unusual to think of heaven. After all, that's where God is and where we're going, right? The writer of Romans, whom many believe is either Paul or Barnabas, says that God has been getting us ready for glory long before we were even born.

The previous chapter of Romans was dedicated to explaining the power of God living in each and every child of God through the Holy Spirit who lives in us. He called us "more" than conquerors, implying we've been granted grace to live above our circumstances. But the fact that God selected us in advance is almost too much for a little human mind like mine to grasp.

Why would God do something like that I wonder? As Creator, He can do anything He wants with His time. Yet He chooses to use it to prepare a place for us where we can enjoy eternity in style. I can't imagine what heaven is like, but if Jesus is making it, it's really going to be something to behold.

Have you secured your place in glory? Jesus is preparing heaven for those of us who have been redeemed. If you're redeemed through the blood of the Lamb, you've got a reservation. However, not everyone who thinks they're going to heaven will be there. God is preparing us to live there by making us more and more like Jesus with every passing day.

If you're wondering how you can tell if God's preparing you for heaven, there's a way. Hebrews 6:9 tells us that certain things accompany salvation. Just saying you're a Christian doesn't mean anything Instead, the Bible says these things will be evident in your life if you're saved:

1) You're different (in a good way) than you were when you first professed faith in Jesus Christ (2Co 5:17);
2) You grieve every time you sin and have a strong urge to come clean with God (1Jo 3:9);
3) You refuse to harbor sin in your heart (Rom 6:12);
4) You look forward to reading the Bible, praying and attending church (Ps 122:1);
5) You have a strong desire to please God,

If you're still not certain, answer this question honestly:
"Do you think merely saying you're a Christian will result in spending eternity in heaven doing things you don't enjoy doing now? Your answer should be an emphatic "NO!" The bottom line is this: if God is preparing you for heaven, you'll be enjoying the things here that God is now preparing for you there.

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( 2 Ch. 14:1-16:14 Rm. 9:1-24 Ps. 19:1-14 Pr. 20:1 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society