Greetings Persevering Saints and Friends,
​As the angels stood at heaven’s gates greeting people, one angel said to another, “Charlie! What’s the hold-up!” “It’s incredible, Leon! So many people have asked Jesus to be their Savior that there is a line to get into heaven!”
​Wouldn’t that be great! The only place you will ever find a line to get into heaven is in cartoons and joke books. Even with those, the comments are usually far from accurate. On average, 163,898 people are leaving this world and entering eternity each day. While not everyone is going to heaven, the thousands who are entering heaven’s gates every day are doing so with rejoicing!
​Heaven is so certain for those who trust in Jesus as their Savior that we need not wait until we enter heaven’s gates to begin rejoicing. The apostle Paul said, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Philippians 4:4
Paul said those words while sitting in a Roman prison, for living as a Christian.
Perhaps you are living in a situation today that does not seem like a time to rejoice. The loss of a friend or mate. A time when physical abilities are limited, financial choices are few, and personal decisions are dependent on life’s circumstances – and people you may not even know. I agree with you! The apostle Paul agrees with you! More importantly, God agrees with you! More accurately, we agree with God, that things are not as they should be. But not long from now, God will make all things right. His plan from eternity past has not failed. Instead, it is on track and picking up speed as we see the truth of the Bible being lived out before us every day.
​The apostle Paul said, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”
How could Paul say that? He who had been beaten with rods, whipped to the point of bleeding, shipwrecked more than once, found floating in the Mediterranean sea with dangerous sharks around, put in jail a number of times, hunted by people who did not like him preaching the Gospel, stoned with rocks and left for dead, besides all the rest! 2 Corinthians 11 How could Paul rejoice?
​One day, perhaps while his body lay beneath that pile of stones when they tried to kill him, Paul was caught up to Paradise, the third heaven, the home of God. 2 Corinthians 12:4 He heard things and saw things that God did not allow him to share with others. Though he was not permitted to tell others about what he saw and heard in heaven, he certainly had reason to live by the words, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” God gave Paul a preview of heaven. With that in his heart, Paul traveled everywhere God sent him to share the great news that, ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life (in heaven).’ John 3:16 ​Paul endured his share of life’s hardships. His body became physically weaker, friends abandoned him, even some in the church tried to get others to turn against him. But Paul continued serving the Lord with every ounce of energy that God gave him. While he sat in prison not knowing what tomorrow would bring, he said, ‘For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.’ Philippians 1:23
Paul lived with a now-then mentality. ‘Now, I will live ‘for’ Christ – Then, I will live ‘with’ Christ.’
​That day did come, when Paul was in prison for the last time. The executioner opened his cell door and said, “C’mon Paul, let’s go!” Paul shuffled along, dragging his prisoner chains. “What’s that tune you’re humming, Paul?” “Oh, that’s just a little psalm called, Rejoice in the Lord always!”
​Perhaps you have been through many trials in your life. Maybe you are in one today. God knows – and He does care. Each person born faces one serious problem: We are separated from God by our wall of sin debt. But in His love for you, God sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the price for your sins and mine to clear the way to heaven. If you’re sorry for those words and deeds in your life that have kept you from Him, tell God from your heart: “God, I’m a sinner. I’m sorry. I know Jesus paid for my sins when He died and rose again. Help me to live every day ‘Rejoicing in You’, until I am home with You forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen”