He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21:7-8; 25-27 NASB
When my teachers would do roll call, sometimes we had to answer for someone who was ‘absent’. In heaven, there will be some people whoa re absent.
I appreciate qualities like courage, faith and righteousness. I abhor the callous treatment of life. Those who would murder are beyond my understanding. I have come to greatly disdain drug use (not because I don’t value autonomy and personal responsibility), but because it brings devastating effects into people’s lives without there awareness until its too late. It never feels good being lied to. Truth govern our communication. Those who are focused on idols here and now (fame and fortune), often trample others. All of this to say- people whom God loves, can do some pretty terrible things to themselves and others. I long for the day when that all ends.
In the heavenly city that the apostle John sees in his vision, it is without those sinful acts and hurting and hurtful people. Those who are ensnared or perpetrate those sins are now gone from God’s presence. Instead, God is there… and He treats us as His children. This reminds me how important it is to share the life-changing message of forgiveness with people, no matter what. A future with God far exceeds any earthly pleasure.
God, as this Sunday begins- I look forward to online worship with people. Please draw many to Yourself. May the body of Christ be built up in our faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. And may You continue to bless the Bible believing, Christ-centered churches in Corona. Use the scripture and sermon to prepare us all for what You’ve planned this week. And again, thank you for my wonderful 28 year old daughter. Bless her richly. When the roll is called in the heavenly city, I want to answer “here”!!!
