October 19, 2018 - - Psalm 89:15-17 - - Rumours of Heaven

Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!

They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance.

In Your name they rejoice all day long.

And in Your righteousness they are exalted.

For You are the glory of their strength,

And in Your favor our horn is exalted.

Psalm 89:15-17 NKJV

Yesterday I was watching a TV where one of the main characters died. During the series there was no reference to faith or any church involvement, yet when this man died his family had a minister do the funeral. Strange. My question is this: why would a family, who had no comfort in God during their life together with this husband and father, find comfort in the LORD at the time of death? This reading from Psalm 89 offers some insight to this life and eternal life.

Those who know God now--not just as a concept, or a theory, but talk to God as Father, find in Jesus their strength and salvation, and are filled with hope and song by the Spirit--will rejoice in eternity in His presence. Why would a sinner who had no use for God in this life suddenly want to be in God's heaven? Heaven is all about the glory and wonder of Who God is. Heaven is the place where the people of God rejoice in the presence of God and find their capacity to find joy in Him ever increases and ever is filled.

A man who did not find any comfort or purpose in knowing God in this life time will not find eternity a comfort. It will be hell. God's holiness will be a consuming fire that scorches the conscience and torments them. Where Christ and His blood are not interposed the sinner will feel the full effects of God's just anger against sin.

The man who in this life finds comfort and purpose in knowing and delighting in God receives these blessings because of Jesus. The Saviour, also called: our shield, stood in our place, taking the punishment of God against sin upon His Person at the cross so that all who believe in Him and rejoice in Him delight in their Father in heaven now and for eternity. The believer in Jesus hates sin more and more in this life and finds joy in knowing God. That is why eternity and heaven are such high and holy expectations for believers because sin will no longer block our view of the glories of God.

You, O God, are the King of believers and the glory of their strength!

You, O Christ, are the shield protecting and keeping us in the embrace of our Father in heaven.

You, O Spirit of Wisdom, take the precious truth of the Word and the accomplished work of Jesus and apply these to the heart, mind and life of every believer.

Blessed are You, O Living God.

Great is the joy that is ours today.

Greater and more glorious is the hope that is ours for eternity!

Blessed be the LORD, forever and ever! Amen.