Heaven is Real!1 Corinthians 9:23
I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
Thoughts for Today:In 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, Paul wrote: "I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows. And I know that this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows--was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell." Although it cannot be confirmed, many Bible commentators consider this to be an account of Paul's own experience when he had been stoned and left for dead in the outskirts of the city of Lystra. Acts 14:19: "Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead."
Whether or not Paul had been speaking of his own experience or someone else's, I am firmly convinced the Lord had given him a glimpse of eternity. It's the reason Paul regularly let go of his own personal liberty "for the sake of the Gospel" -- he understood the bigger picture. He knew heaven was real!
Questions to Ponder:Do you live your life each day with an awareness that heaven is real? How does this perspective change your approach to the various challenges you will encounter? How can you apply this principle today?
I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
Thoughts for Today:In 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, Paul wrote: "I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows. And I know that this man--whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows--was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell." Although it cannot be confirmed, many Bible commentators consider this to be an account of Paul's own experience when he had been stoned and left for dead in the outskirts of the city of Lystra. Acts 14:19: "Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead."
Whether or not Paul had been speaking of his own experience or someone else's, I am firmly convinced the Lord had given him a glimpse of eternity. It's the reason Paul regularly let go of his own personal liberty "for the sake of the Gospel" -- he understood the bigger picture. He knew heaven was real!
Questions to Ponder:Do you live your life each day with an awareness that heaven is real? How does this perspective change your approach to the various challenges you will encounter? How can you apply this principle today?
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