Good morning:
Blossoming wildflowers carpeted the meadows amidst the mighty rock outcroppings which dominated the landscape. Simply put, the view was beautiful. In addition to the view, the songs of cardinals, flycatchers, and swallows carried across the air. At that moment, you could hardly imagine a more beautiful location. Yet each and every place on this earth has its own unique beauty. The world is so beautiful that some people spend their entire lives searching after the next breathtaking view.
Even better than beautiful scenery though, is the beauty you can find in the human heart. Compassion, love, and concern for others are beautiful traits to behold. These emotions can draw out the best that humanity has to offer, yet even the best, most selfless, loving acts of mankind cannot compare to what God’s compassion, love, and concern for humans caused Him to prepare. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:9 “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” These things which Paul writes of are everything that God has done and will do for His people. Primarily, Paul is speaking of the redemption of sinners and the sanctification of Jesus’ Church here on earth.
God did not limit Himself to these mighty acts. Jesus prepared mankind’s salvation through His death on the cross and with His resurrection prepared His people’s inheritance of heaven as well. Man could not imagine how God could use the wicked acts of unjust men to accomplish the salvation of the world through His own death on the cross. Man also cannot imagine the beautiful reality of heaven that still awaits the faithful. It will be more beautiful than anything you have ever seen, heard, or imagined. In fact, even the best imagination can only imagine so much before it runs out of ideas. How wonderful then, that God does not need to imagine a perfect heaven, for He has already created it and now waits to bring us safely there.
In Christ, Pastor Naumann
