Rick Warren's Blog, page 630

Living for Heaven’s Sake

Heaven changes everything about how you live today. If you’re headed to Heaven (and after yesterday’s devotional, I hope you are), then that reality should impact how you live here on Earth.

How to Get to Heaven

There is no greater destination for our lives than Heaven. The Bible says about Heaven, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9b NLT, second edition).

But the Bible also says the road to Heaven is narrow; we can only get there by trusting God. Romans 1:17 says, “This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, ‘It is through faith that a righteous person has life.’”

Unraveling the Mystery of Heaven

My family lived in Northern California when I was a little boy. One time we took a family vacation to Disneyland. As we were driving, my dad tried to explain to me what Disneyland would be like. It was a waste of time, because you can’t understand Disneyland unless you experience it.

Three Realities of Heaven

We have many misconceptions about what Heaven is like. You won’t be an angel. You won’t have wings. You’re not going to be a little chubby cherub, wear a white robe, or float on clouds.

To me, that would be Hell. I can’t think of anything more boring than being in a colorless place and having to play a harp!

Don’t Just Hope You’ll Go to Heaven

If you were to head out to a mall today and ask people if they are going to Heaven or Hell, you’ll likely hear them say, “I hope I’ll go to Heaven.”

But hope just isn’t good enough. I pray that’s not your answer. Your eternal destiny is too important not to know for sure.

Keep Your Mind on What Is Unseen

Everything you see around you is temporary. The building you’re in, the computer or phone you’re staring at, and even your body will one day disappear from existence. Yet it’s what you can’t see around you that’ll last forever.

What’s Hell Like?

In human terms, it’s tough to define Hell. It’s like trying to explain the Internet to an ant.

But Jesus actually talked more about Hell than Heaven. And to read how Jesus — and others in the Bible — described it, we don’t want to have any part of it, and we don’t want anyone we know to have any part in it.

There’s More to This Life

When you hear talk about Heaven, does it ever occur to you that God designed Heaven for you? This is such an amazing thing! God designed the earth for us so it could sustain life and we could live here. But then he also designed Heaven for us, and he wants us to live there with him forever.

Heaven or Hell: the Choice Is Yours

Recently, I was leaning back in a dentist’s chair. My mouth was wide open, and there were all kinds of dental tools in my mouth. The technician leaned over and asked, “So, what happens after I die?” I said, “It all depends on how much you hurt me!”

Then I said, “I know this: We won’t need dentists in Heaven. They may be needed in Hell, but we won’t need them in Heaven.”

Hell Exists Because Evil Exists

Some people deny the existence of evil. They believe the world is full of basically good people, humans who are fundamentally unselfish, kind, and always thinking of others.

But here’s the problem with that worldview: It doesn’t square with reality. Just turn on the television or pick up a newspaper. Our world is full of broken relationships, broken promises, rape, abuse, murder, child molestation, terrorism, and all sorts of evil. Evil is all around us.