April 2012- Christ in Heaven
Last month we looked at some of the advantages that accrue to us as believers with the Lord Jesus Christ being in heaven. They are too many to put in one article, however some of them we considered were:
1. His Person is Nearer
2. His Divinity is Clearer
3. His Salvation is Safer
This month we will consider a few more of the benefits:
4. Our Heaven is Fairer
A Heaven without our Lord Jesus Christ would not really be Heaven at all. He is and will be throughout all eternity the central focus of Heaven. From when we get there and look on His face for that first time: and as we worship, serve, and reign with Him for a never-ending eternity, we will understand that if the Lord had stayed on earth, we would have been bereft of the unending joy of being in His presence.
5. His Church is Richer
The Church came into being at Pentecost which occurred after Christ had returned to Heaven. His promise that the Holy Spirit would dwell in us individually and collectively guarantees us His presence when we meet “in His Name” (Mat 18:20). If Christ had not returned, this promise would not have been possible; and we, as we gather, if indeed we would have gathered, would have been greatly deprived.
6. His Return is Surer
Christ’s return to call those who are alive and believe in Him is well documented in verses such as John 14:3: “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”. He can only return if He went back to Heaven. We have seen from the points above that He is in Heaven, and therefore we can guarantee that He will return and take us to be with Himself there.
As we ponder this short meditation on Christ, may we enjoy Him as we serve Him here on earth, and look forward to that day when our faith will be replaced with sight and “we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).