Heaven --- What A Blessed Alternative!

We have all known of folks who were seriously ill and near death, but then recovered. Recalling their experience, some say that recovering from the surgery that saved their life was extremely painful. But then they jokingly remark, “Think of the alternative!”

As Christians, even we are guilty of sometimes making that remark. Yet what does that common jest imply? Is it really better to endure the pain of this temporal world than to die and enter the eternal joys of heaven?

We know that life in the coming world will be so much better than the life we now experience in this world. Even the apostle Paul stated, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain …. To depart and be with Christ …. is far better” (Philippians 1:21,23).

As Christians, we should no doubt be thankful for the material blessings we receive from the Lord and all the meaningful relationships we experience here upon this old earth. But let’s not even jokingly agree that the option of entering heaven is less desirable than surviving on this sin-cursed earth. Rather, we should eagerly anticipate the joy of our being with our Lord Jesus Christ in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:8; 1 Peter 1:3-4).

To even contemplate the fact that in heaven there will be no more death, sorrow, crying or pain (Revelation 21:4), should give us great joy — what a blessed alternative!

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets