Paradise

I’m sitting on a beach in Maui, Hawaii, taking in the grandeur of God’s amazing handiwork.  The warm, crystal-clear water is inviting me to enjoy the soothing caresses of rolling waves, while the palm and coconut trees along the shoreline welcome me to Hawaii, as they sway back and forth in the blowing trade winds.

The tropical plants and shrubbery that flourish here have many variations of green.  They are brilliant and fresh, as are the magnificent flowers that bloom.  I see every color of the rainbow in the beauty of their display.  Everything is extraordinarily beautiful and superb.

It seems as if the powder-blue sky stretches forever, as it kisses the sea far off on the horizon.  Everything expresses the wonder of God’s miraculous touch and sensitivity to exquisite detail.

The splendor of the morning sun shouts the presence of God as it peeks through the passing rain clouds; casting radiant sunrays across the heavens.  God’s creation of loveliness is everywhere I look.  It’s breathtaking!

The clean ocean breeze is like a breath of fresh air as it blows against my lotion caked face.  As I listen to it pass through the palm branches, it seems as if it’s making a statement relating to the breath of God.  My spirit is becoming one with the awe-inspiring creation of God.

The pounding surf expresses the strength and power of God’s omnipotence, and the thunder I just heard from the heavens is like hearing the marvelous voice of God.

Picking up a handful of sand and allowing the granules to fall through my fingers, I associate each grain to one year of time.  It boggles my mind to consider the number of centuries represented in just one handful.  How many handfuls of sand are in all the beaches throughout the world?  It’s incredible to think about.  If this figure were known, it would only be the beginning of eternity.

The beauty of the surrounding landscape is overwhelming.  I can only imagine what heaven is like.  God made our mortal bodies to enjoy the beauty on earth through the five senses.  What might the majesty of God’s heaven be for an immortal body to enjoy?  The paradise of heaven won’t be restricted in any way and will provide the total essence of God’s exquisiteness.    Christians will enjoy the paradise of heaven forever—time without end.

When an angel carried John the Revelator away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, the angel showed him the great city, The New Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.  Nothing that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie will enter, but only those that are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  This account is recorded in (Revelation 21:9-27).

(Revelation 21:18-21), “The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.”  vs.19 “The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones:  the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the forth emerald,” vs.20 “”the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.”  vs.21 “The twelve gates were twelve pearls:  each individual gate was of one pearl.  And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.”

(Revelation 21:23), “The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it.  The Lamb is its light.”

The human body, because of its frailties is limited to the amount of radiance it can behold.  There will be no limitations in heaven.  The footprint of God’s new heaven will be limitless and full of the splendor of God’s infinite glory.  This is the promise to all Christians.  We will inherit the paradise of heaven one day in a new and glorified body, because every Believer is joint heirs with Christ.

(Philippians 3:20-21), “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,” vs.21 “who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which he is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”

(Romans 8:16-17), “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,” vs.17 “and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

Though my visit to Hawaii is limited to seven days, I am enjoying every minute of this creation of paradise.  But the paradise of heaven is eternal.  God prepared this never ending place of enjoyment for everyone that accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.  One day I will behold the splendor of heaven and live there forever.

I’m thankful for the paradise of Hawaii and other beautiful places throughout the world, which God prepared for our enjoyment, but I thank Him more for the paradise of heaven.

Written by,

Papa Boyd