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prepare for heaven


1 John 5:13  NASB
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Preparing for heaven really is a big deal.  People of faith since the beginning of time have been talking about where life comes from and what happens after death.  There are many different thoughts on these topics, but I believe that what God tells us in the Bible is truth.

By taking the Bible at its word and as foundation we have to know that God intends for us to live with Him here on earth and in heaven.  He has given us truth to prepare us for our eternal home.  As the old hymn says, “this world is not my home; I’m just passing through.”  God is preparing a place for us.

John 14:2  NASB
In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

The death of my mom this past weekend has brought much my may.  I have had to spend time thinking about death, about salvation and about the after life.  One friend asked me a very hard question; do I believe what I have been preaching for the last 25 years?  The answer is overwhelming YES.

My mom was moved to a hospice home a few days before she passed away.  This home employs skilled caregivers that have the skills to help people prepare for death.  This is a difficult subject to talk about, and it is even more difficult to prepare for.

I stood in the hallway of the hospice house a day or so after arrived and began to think about the 10 people who are in the house and their families.  Each has been given a diagnosis that they have less than 30 days to live.  That is tough to hear and even tougher to prepare for.

Two days before my mom took her last breath she talked about getting on a train.  She told us she was headed to heaven on this train.  In death people have seen or experienced many different things, and this experience is similar to what others have shared.  Mom was prepared for her journey that came through death, and our family is grateful that she boarded the train for heaven through her faith in Jesus!

My question is: how do you deal with death without some kind of hope.  I believe with all that I am that God gives us real hope.  We can share our stories, our hope and our God with those we are around.  That sharing is not to be judgmental or to demonize any other thoughts.  In fact one of the best ways to share our hope is to allow other people to see how we deal with death, difficult situations and the unknown. 

When we can smile at stress, we know there is something else we are relying on.  When we can face death with peace, our hope is in something far different than human wisdom. 

Our hope is in God.  I believe in His promises.  What a blessing it is to know that my mom believed and I believe that heaven is real and prepared.  Now, we can prepare.

1 Peter 1:13  NASB
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
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