Heaven Is 1000 Times Better Than Expected
The number 1000 is a number of "completion" and "perfection" in the Bible. And what could be more perfect than paradise, right?
You literally cannot imagine how utterly incredible heaven will be for all who go there. It is impossible to comprehend without being there. Simply impossible.
Like it's impossible for a grasshopper to comprehend astrophysics. Or an infant to comprehend rocket science. Or a cat to comprehend DNA molecules. Simply impossible.
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You may think you know a little bit about heaven. You really don't, and neither do I. We understand paradise about as well as we understood college while we were still in kindergarten. It doesn't work that way.
So picture heaven in your imagination, however you think it looks and feels. Now shatter that image in your mind, and simply believe in Him who actually created paradise. Trust Him to blow your mind when you arrive there.
But I need to let you know something. You will need a special article of clothing to get into heaven. It's true.
You could go to every department store in the world, and you wouldn't find this piece of clothing in any of them. Stores don't sell it. And man cannot buy it. If he could, then just about every wealthy person would rush to the store and purchase this prized possession.
The article of clothing I am talking about cannot be purchased with cash, or even a credit card. The fact is that God already paid a huge price to make it available to you and me. The price? The life of the Messiah. Yeshua. Jesus. Immanuel, which means "God with us."
And the article of clothing? A white robe. (see Rev. 3:4 and Rev. 7:9,13,14) It's your ticket to paradise, should you choose to accept it. In John's revelation of heaven, he wrote, "These in white robes – who are they, and where did they come from?" I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Rev. 7:13,14)
In the words of the famous hymn, "What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus; What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh! Precious is the flow that makes me white as snow; No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus."
You didn't really think the Son of God was going to spill His own blood, and then not have that sacrifice become the most important event in the history of the world, did you? His death and His resurrection guarantee eternal life for everyone who is wearing a white robe.
Once again, try to picture heaven. Then shatter that image in your mind, and trust the One who shed His blood to earn a white robe for sinners like us. The whiteness of the robe represents the righteousness of Christ, which gets applied to the soul of a believer through faith, rather than through man's works and religious deeds. (see Romans 3:21-24)
The apostle Paul was given an experience from the Lord where he was actually "caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell." (2 Cor. 12:4) Paul was given a glimpse. One day, all believers will be enjoying the full reality of paradise for themselves. Will you be there?
"But Dan, why should I worry about heaven now? It is so far off." Well, no one said you should "worry" about it. But you would be wise to spend more time planning for your eternal existence than most people spend planning for their retirement. Doesn't that make sense?
The reason heaven seems "far off" is because you are still breathing. Once you stop breathing, your soul will cross that line from this world to the next. And then I assure you that it won't seem "far off." All you will care about from then on is how grateful you are to be in paradise, or how horrified you are to be in hell. God wants you in heaven. That is why He sent His only Son to die for you.
Jesus was "far off" before He came to this world. He was in the glory of heaven. But He left it all for you and for me. If that love, from our Creator no less, is not enough to get you to turn to Him, what will be enough?
Heaven is 1000 times better than expected for those who go there. Everyone else will only be able to wish they had taken it seriously before it was too late. And if you think people don't get surprised everyday by their sudden death, just watch the news today. It happens every single day of the year. And it happens to people who were considering heaven about as much as you are thinking about it.
Once you cross that line, there is no coming back. And no more opportunities to accept the free gift of eternal life. Or do you think the Son of God gave His life and shed His blood for no good reason? You are going to have the opportunity to visit with Him about it one day whether you are wearing a white robe or not. (see 1 Cor. 5:10)
So the best thing you could do today is to begin a friendship with Jesus Christ. Trust Him as your Savior. Commit your life to Him as your Lord. Follow Him as the Messiah. And live for the One who died for you. That's the best advice I could ever give you. Because I know that without Him and His forgiveness, you will hate your existence on the other side of the grave. And what good will that do anyone.
Hell is 1000 times worse than expected, and heaven is 1000 times better. Only Jesus can bring you to paradise. (see John 14:1-6) So in the words of Paul and Silas in Acts 16:31, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved."
