For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer.** 1 Peter 3:12 (NIV)**
Scripture speaks the language of paradise particularly when it talks of joy unspeakable or a love that surpasses knowledge or a peace which passes our human understanding or the unsearchable riches of our Lord Jesus Christ. We do ourselves much disservice when we do no not meditate and think upon things above as it brings us much hope, joy, confidence and peace to these weary souls of ours in this present darkness. Indeed, Paul writes in Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV): “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Indeed, happy and secure are those who belong to Jesus and call Christ Lord!
It does us well to remember that without the Lord Jesus earth would be hell and heaven would not be heaven. Heaven is our home and earth is merely our sojourn there. Yet, we can get so caught up in what is perishing that we very often tend to neglect thoughts of the eternal and be thankful for what His mighty Hand has allowed in the here and now. Our focus becomes earthbound and askew and we become consumed with the worldly and the perishing – getting us nowhere fast. His desire is for us to “grow up” in Him Who is the Head. The day is coming when the perishing will not be beneficial to us and burn up like dry wood. Yet our praises and prayers and all we have done for the Lord Jesus’ great Name - through His power and for His glory - will make it through the fire that will test each man’s work. What a comfort and joy it will be for those who belong to Christ Jesus on that great day - all those who call upon Him as Savior and Lord! Indeed, there will come a day when earthly goods will do us no good yet our praises, prayers and all done in His Name and for His glory always will – both now and then.
All the joys of heaven await us. Albeit, earth offers comforts and joys as well from the Father’s mighty Hand, though we are not to be controlled by them. In Jesus, the uncreated Spirit is ours with all His gifts, graces, power and comforts as we walk through this life on our way home. It is He that takes us from “strength to strength”. It is He Who equips us to walk in a manner worthy of the Gospel and God is well pleased when we thank Him and are joyful over His amazing gifts of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness faithfulness and self-control – all are available for every believer in ever increasing measure as we place our trust in Him. Indeed, He has not left us as orphans. Through His death and resurrection, Christ has given to those who believe in Him access to all of God’s glorious attributes. We are His children and He loves us with an everlasting love. And the praises to Him on our lips are as music to God’s ears.
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalms 100:1-5 (NIV)