Sep17 Written by:Nathan Williams
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
My favorite verses in 2 Cor. 12 are 12:9-10:
And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ my dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
But, though those are my favorite verses, I was taken by 12:1-4 today where Paul references a revelation he had at one time. Paul didn't know if it was an out-of-body experience or not, but he knew it was amazing beyond words. In fact, he saw "Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak" (12:4).
I can only imagine how this vision would encourage and motivate a man. Many times in Scripture we see God giving a man or woman some reason to continue working in the midst of great difficulty. I think of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego: God sent an angel to walk with them in the fire. I think of Elijah in the throws of depression: God sent food to him and then spoke some comforting words. I think of Elisha's servant: God opened his eyes to see fiery chariots all around in the surrounding mountains so that he might understand those on the Lord's side greatly outnumbered the invading army. And there are many others. These men could not forget those glimpses of the spiritual world. The "heavenlies," as Ephesians calls them, are completely REAL! Oh that we might have a glimpse of heaven.
We are blessed with the Scriptures which give us many glimpses of heaven. Those listed above are some of those. We are allowed to understand a little of what went on before God's throne during the time of Job. We are allowed to catch just a glimpse of Jesus sitting at the right hand of God in Revelation 4 and 5. We understand there are angels for our little children who minister before the face of the Father in heaven (Matt. 18:10).
We are blessed with good brethren who give us an idea of the type of people who will be in heaven. You may have good friends who died in Christ. Don't you look forward to being there with those great people? These are the people who TRIED hard to live like their Father in heaven. They loved God and they loved their brother as themselves. There are many who are still living with whom I cannot spend much time now on this earth, but I hope to have an eternity to spend with them! I hope each of you who read this are there.
Paul was allowed a glimpse of heaven. I would love to see what he saw...but, if I am faithful, I will see it!
Maranatha!
Nathan
Tags: