Sunday, November 11, 2012

What a View by Ann Broughton




The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field” (Matthew 13:44 NIV).

   The kingdom of heaven is waiting for all those who love the Lord and do according to His purposes. Chapter 13 of Matthew contains many parables spoken by Jesus on what the kingdom of heaven is like. Jesus knew it would be very difficult to explain this, so he told people stories to explain what heaven is like. I would urge you to read this chapter.
What does the kingdom of heaven mean to you? According to many of these parables it is so wonderful, you would sell everything you had to have it. Revelation speaks more about heaven. “It shone with the glory of God and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal” (Rev. 21:11 NIV). “The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass” (Rev. 21:18 NIV). Now won’t that be something to behold.  What a view!
   Once my husband and I went to Holmes County and decided to climb this huge hill to see the view. Well, let’s just say, I am out of shape and it was quite difficult for me to make it up that hill. I rested a lot and by the time I got up there I was bent over gasping for breath.
Then Rick told me to look around. Well, after I got my breath back, I looked all around at the beauty of hills surrounding me and was amazed at the breathtaking view. It was worth the struggle to get there.
   You see our journey in this life can be so difficult: full of pain, grief, betrayal, persecution, and struggle. But if we prevail, trust in God, do His will, and believe in His love for us, at the end of our lives we too will behold a view that is breathtaking; the view of heaven.  It definitely is worth the struggle. “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of many witness” (1 Timothy 6:12 NIV). Heaven is for real and is at the end of the road for Christians.
Now that you know this, tell others so that they too will be able to witness this glorious view at the end of their lives.
 Dear Lord,
Sometimes life seems so difficult. Help us to remember what awaits us at the end of our lives. Heaven is worth waiting for and we know that you will always be with us along the way to help us be strong. Help us to keep our eyes on you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen                             

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