7/23/23 A Note from Pastor Ben
First Baptist,
As the summer moves along with a rapid pace, I want to encourage you to
think deeply about heaven. Let’s face it, our daily rhythms leave little time for meditation and contemplation of eternity. However, the Bible tells us to “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Col. 3:1). The firmly rooted person is the one who meditates day and night on the Word of God (Ps. 1:1-3). Courage, tenacity, and fruitfulness is usually the product of a Christian who understands the presence of Jesus to be “far better” than even laboring for Jesus in this world (Phil. 1:23).
Some may figure that it is unhelpful to think too much about heaven. C.S. Lewis argues the opposite: “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.”
Here’s my challenge: Take a midsummer’s night, put devices down so that you can be distraction-free, and look up at the stars and consider the God of the universe who knows them all by name (Ps. 147:4). Consider the brevity of your life and the weightiness of eternity (James 4:14). But also consider that the greatest joys in this present world are not worth comparing to the surpassing joy that awaits our arrival to the Celestial City (Romans 8:18).
I love you First Baptist and I’m thankful to think deeply about heaven alongside you.
-Pastor Ben
As the summer moves along with a rapid pace, I want to encourage you to
think deeply about heaven. Let’s face it, our daily rhythms leave little time for meditation and contemplation of eternity. However, the Bible tells us to “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Col. 3:1). The firmly rooted person is the one who meditates day and night on the Word of God (Ps. 1:1-3). Courage, tenacity, and fruitfulness is usually the product of a Christian who understands the presence of Jesus to be “far better” than even laboring for Jesus in this world (Phil. 1:23).
Some may figure that it is unhelpful to think too much about heaven. C.S. Lewis argues the opposite: “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.”
Here’s my challenge: Take a midsummer’s night, put devices down so that you can be distraction-free, and look up at the stars and consider the God of the universe who knows them all by name (Ps. 147:4). Consider the brevity of your life and the weightiness of eternity (James 4:14). But also consider that the greatest joys in this present world are not worth comparing to the surpassing joy that awaits our arrival to the Celestial City (Romans 8:18).
I love you First Baptist and I’m thankful to think deeply about heaven alongside you.
-Pastor Ben
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