Scars in Heaven

There was this Christian lady that had to do a lot of traveling for her business, so she did a lot of flying. Flying made her nervous, so she always took her Bible along with her to readand it helped relax her.

One time, she was sitting next to a man. When he saw her pull out her Bible, he gave a little chuckle and went back to what he was doing. After awhile, he turned to her and asked, "You don't really believe all that stuff in there do you?"

The lady replied, "Of course I do. It is the Bible." He said, "Well, what about that guy that was swallowed by that whale?"

She replied, "Oh, Jonah. Yes, I believe that, it is in the Bible." He asked, "Well, how do you suppose he survived all that time inside the whale?"

The lady said, "Well, I don't really know. I guess when I get to heaven, I will ask him." "What if he isn't in heaven?"the man asked sarcastically. "Then you can ask him" replied the lady.

Heaven – is it a real place? That Christian lady didn’t have any doubt about it!

The truth is this: Heaven is the place God has created and prepared for His children to spend eternity with Him! But you have to become His child to make it there! Romans 3:23 tells us: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” and Romans 6:23 tells us “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

And this free gift from God was made possible when Jesus was nailed had those spikes driven into His hands and feet and was pierced in His side! As 1 Corinthians 6:20 says: 20 For you have been bought with a price…. And what a price it was = Jesus shedding His blood to pay the debt you owed for your sins! 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us: 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

And because of Jesus’ finished work on the Cross on Calvary, we who believe/receive Christ now have a home in Heaven! John 14:1-3 says…

John 14:1–3 NASB95

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. “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. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

There is great joy and peace in knowing that when you leave this old sin-filled world and walk through the doorway of death as a Christian, that you go home to Heaven!

Sometimes we lose sight of this – and we need to stop and be encouraged in knowing that this old world isn’t our home – we are just pilgrims passing through – and one day the struggles of this life will be over – and we’ll be safe in our Savior’s loving Hands and care!

Casting Crowns has written a powerful song that reminds us of this – the title of the song is Scars in Heaven…(Brenda Tilley)…

Communion: Today we are thankful for what our Lord and Savior did for us on the Cross…when He paid the price each of us owed…when He gave His body on Calvary = that night as Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, He took bread and broke it and said “This is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And He took the cup and said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” And today we remember and we thank You Lord Jesus Your scars that have brought us forgiveness for our sins and salvation to our souls!

1) Be encouraged and comforted today in knowing Who’s Hands you’re in and you’re loved ones are in

2) Stay strong and fight the good fight of the Christian life and

3) Run the race set before you with endurance

4) fixing your eyes on Jesus the Author and Finisher of faith…

5) Make sure of your salvation…and one day you too will be held in the Scarred Hands of your Lord and Savior!