It seems that in recent years there has been more confusion in the minds of the people about Heaven and less understanding of the Bible doctrine concerning that glorious place. For one thing, "isms" and false cults have increased to confuse the mind. Then there has been a great decrease in preaching about death, Hell, Heaven and judgment. Modernism and worldliness have discouraged the flabby, soft...-living hirelings of the pulpit in preaching about death and the things which follow death. But you cannot dismiss Hell without dismissing Heaven. You cannot ignore or evade the fate of the unrepentant sinner and teach the saints the glories that await the redeemed of God. The so-called "social gospel" lays stress upon this life, not on the next. In many quarters it is now regarded as very old-fashioned and passé to urge people to prepare to die. Social security, better housing, relief for tenant farmers, better living conditions for the poor, and the care of underprivileged children have occupied so much of the teaching and preaching of these modern days that preachers have left poor, hungry-hearted people ignorant about Heaven. - John R. Rice
Whatever we have yet of human weakness and sin after being born again will be left behind, surely, when the soul finds itself in the likeness of Christ, being carried by the angels to Heaven at death. One day we shall lose our sin and whatever remains of the carnal and sinful nature. Otherwise our personalities will be identical. The imperfect will be made perfect. The incomplete will be completed. That which is lacking will be supplied. - John R. Rice
No one of us can look at a friend and judge surely whether he lies or speaks the truth. Many a time a mother, a father, a wife or sweetheart yearns in vain to express the love that is humanly past expressing. Only in Heaven shall we really know how some people love us. Only in Heaven shall we know how deep was the penitence of others for sin and how desperately they longed to do right, though they appeared not to try. I say, here we only see through a glass darkly. Then shall we see face to face. - John R. Rice
We Christians often act like heathen. We preach that it is wonderful to be a Christian, that it is Heaven to gain and hell to shun. Then when one of our loved ones dies, we act as if it were all a lie. Our actions say that this world is better than the next, that death is a tragedy, and we ask querulously in our unbelief, Why? Why? Why? We feel that Heaven is bearable all right, when one has sucke...d dry all the pleasures of the earth. We feel that only after old age has come upon us, when life is a burden, when health has failed, when we are in the way and our children don't want us, that then perhaps we should be resigned to go to Heaven. Subconsciously we look upon Heaven as a scrapheap for the worn-out and useless, a kind of old-people's home, which is better than nothing but not as good as this world, with youth and health and prosperity. Shame on us! When we weep and lament at the death of our loved ones, we often make void our testimony, cast reflection on the Bible and irreverence on Heaven. - John R. Rice
For the Christian death is not a tragedy but a glorious promotion. It is not the sad end, but the glorious beginning. Sometimes people say how sad it is that one should die so young, but that is a deception of Satan. If a young Christian dies, it is not sad but glorious. Many of the fairest buds that ever grew on earth have blossomed in Heaven. However much we miss our loved ones when they fall asleep, let us remember that our mourning is selfish; there is rejoicing in Heaven. Not one in that blessed land would, if he could, return to the decaying form he left, to live out the life he planned, to see the happiest future he could imagine on this earth. - John R. Rice
Jacob commanded, "Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments" (Gen. 35:2). It is a good practice we have of bathing and putting on fresh garments when we go to the house of God. It does not matter so much about the other people who will be at the church. But one ought to dignify his going to the house of God, one ought to make it a high occasion. As one puts on his best clothes to go courting or to meet important visitors, so surely it is nice sometimes to dress the best we can just to honor Jesus Christ. - John R. Rice
Over four hundred years ago God had said to Abraham, "For the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full" (Gen. 15:16). Even then the idolatry, the lewdness, the devil-worship, the murderous lives of these people had grieved God years ago. But God gave them another chance. Abraham was not then allowed to take over the land. The cup of iniquity was not yet filled.
But the years have gone by. Sin has ...done its terrible work. Now God has commanded that the inhabitants of the land be driven out, be killed, and the land, which hundreds of years before was dedicated to a chosen people and for the religion of the true God and for the writing of the Bible and for the coming of the Saviour, must now become the possession of God's people. - John R. Rice
But the years have gone by. Sin has ...done its terrible work. Now God has commanded that the inhabitants of the land be driven out, be killed, and the land, which hundreds of years before was dedicated to a chosen people and for the religion of the true God and for the writing of the Bible and for the coming of the Saviour, must now become the possession of God's people. - John R. Rice
