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All our dreams and hopes are found in Jesus. 

Revelation chapter 5 verse 9.

They were singing Him a new song with these words: "You are worthy to take the scroll and break it's seals and open it; for you were slain, and your blood has bought people from every nation as gifts for God. And you have gathered them into a kingdom and made them priests of our God; they shall reign upon the earth." 

   In 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 we read what will happen to us when Jesus returns. It says that Jesus will return with a mighty shout and with the soul-stirring cry of the arch angle and the great trumpet-call of God. And the believers who are dead will be the first to rise to meet the Lord. Then we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with Him forever. So comfort and encourage each other with this news. 

   The key word is believers. It just makes sense that if you believe in Christ then He will take you into eternity with Him. So whether you are alive or dead and with all your loved ones who have also died, you have eternal life with you because you believe the promises of God.  

   The problem is the life we have before we die. It's too short! Our bodies age, and our minds fail. It's not for us to understand why, but to realize that no matter what we do the inevitable is going to happen. Maybe some magic pill or scientific method can extend your time here a little but that does not slow down the deterioration of our bodies. We are more that just bodies that rot away, we have souls and it is in our soul that we love. 

   That we love life and God! Matthew chapter 22 verses 37-40; Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. The second most important is similar: 'Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.' All other commandments and all the demands of the prophets stem from these two laws and are fulfilled if you obey them. Keep only these and you will find that you are obeying all the others." So when the shell we have gives out, our souls are immediately with all those we have known, singing praises to Christ, in the presence of God. 

   You can believe in whatever process brings you the best peace of mind, but it is only by believing in the return of Jesus that you can have life with Him now and forever. In John chapter 14 Jesus talks about the homes He goes to prepare for all of us and that when  He is gone, He will leave us with the Comforter (the Holy Spirit). In verse 5 Thomas wonders about the things Jesus is talking about. He does not understand why Jesus has to leave and where He may be going. In verse 6 Jesus says; "I am the Way---yes, and the Truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except by means of Me. If you had known who I am, then you would have known who My Father is. From now on you know Him---and have seen Him!" 

   We all have questions and thoughts regarding the future. Revelation chapter 4 verse 8 talks about the Living Beings who continually sing; "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty---the one who was and is, and is to come." In Chapter 5 we read about Jesus, the Lamb of God, and how a new song was sung to Him by millions of angels and the Living Beings and the Elders. And everyone in heaven and earth, and from the dead beneath the earth and in the sea exclaimed exclaimed; "The blessing and the honor and the glory and the power belong to the one sitting on the throne forever and ever."

   John chapter 17 verse 1-5; When Jesus had finished saying all these things He looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the time has come. Reveal the glory of Your Son so that He can give the glory back to You. For You have given Him authority over every man and woman in all the earth. He gives eternal life to each one You have given Him. And this is the way to have eternal life---by knowing You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one You sent to earth! I brought glory to You here on earth by doing everything You told Me to. And now, Father, reveal My glory as I stand in Your presence, the glory we shared before the world began."

   It is all about you and your faith. By believing in God and by knowing Jesus as your Savior, you will live life with Him. Romans chapter 8 verse 28 and 29 says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For from the very beginning God decided that those who came to Him---and all along He knew who would---should become like His Son, so that His Son would be the First with many brothers."  

   In Ephesians chapter 4 verses 31 and 32, Paul says, "Stop being mean, bad tempered and angry. Quarrelling, harsh words and dislike of others should have no place in your lives. Instead, be kind to each other, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you because you belong to Christ."

   Our hope is in Jesus, whom God sent, so that we would know a better life. It is in our trusting God and His promises that we live a life filled with the joy of salvation. Our earthly bodies will not last forever, but our souls will join all others, meeting each other again, singing songs of praise and glory to our Savior. 

   2 Corinthians chapter 5 verses 4 and 5, Paul says; "These earthly bodies make us groan and sigh, but we wouldn't like to think of dying and having no bodies at all. We want to slip into our new bodies so that these dying bodies will, as it were, be swallowed up by everlasting life. That is what God has prepared for us and as a guarantee, He has given us His Holy Spirit."  

   Luke chapter 16 Jesus tells the story of a rich man who had abused a beggar and when he died he ended up in hell. He was so hot and thirsty and he could see the beggar in heaven, so he pleaded with Abraham to allow the beggar to give him a drink. In this story, Jesus talks about the conversation that happened between two people after death. It's sad that there was suffering, but through Jesus there is hope in God's promise of salvation. 

   Our home is the life we have with Jesus now. Salvation is the joy of living in God's presence. And by being thankful to God for His mercies and grace, everlasting life is found in Him. 

   Thank You Father for Jesus. Thank You for the joy of having life with You now. There is peace and comfort in knowing our home is with You.           

   

The lyrics to the song "I don't want to miss a thing" by Aerosmith are from the heart. Make the best of every moment, enjoy Jesus and His love for you. 

Those who have died will receive their resurrected bodies. Revelation chapter 20 verse 13.

 

Hebrews chapter 11 verse 10.

Abraham did this because he was confidently waiting for God to bring him to that strong heavenly city whose designer and builder is God. 

Philippians chapter 3 verses 20 and 21.

But our homeland is in heaven, where our savior the Lord Jesus Christ is; and we are looking forward to His return from there. When He comes back He will take these dying bodies of ours and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same mighty power that He will use to conquer all else everywhere.  

Ephesians chapter 2 verses 20-22.

What a foundation you stand on now: the apostles and the prophets; and the cornerstone of the building is Jesus Christ Himself! We who believe are carefully joined together with Christ as parts of a beautiful, constantly growing temple for God. And you also are joined with Him and with each other by the Spirit, and are part of this dwelling place of God. 

Acts chapter 20 verse 32.

Paul said to them; "And now I entrust you to God and His care and to His wonderful words which are able to build your faith and give you all the inheritance of those who are set apart for Himself."

Matthew chapter 16 verses 24-26.

Then Jesus said to the disciples, "If anyone wants to be a follower of Mine, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For anyone who keeps his life for himself shall lose it; and anyone who loses his life for Me shall find it again. What profit is there if you gain the whole world---and lose eternal life? What can be compared with the value of eternal life?"