The Power of Honor - Day 1: Pastor Ryan Shook
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“'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things,
I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.'”
Matthew 25:21 (NKJV)
For weeks we’ve been focused on The Joy Challenge, choosing joy every day. When we choose joy, we are walking by faith and not by sight. Our focus is on the Lord and not on our circumstances. As we do, we experience His joy in our lives because we are sharing that life with Him here and now that we will share with Him forever in Heaven one day! Think about that – All of this and Heaven too! In His presence, there is fullness of joy!
One of my favorite descriptions of Heaven that Jesus used is found in His Parable of The Three Servants in Matthew 25:14-30. He describes Heaven as “the joy of the Lord!” Simply put, Heaven is a place of Eternal Joy! And why wouldn’t it be? It is a place of eternal celebration! In fact, the New Living Translation renders that same verse like this, “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, My good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’” The New International Version says, “Come and share your Master’s happiness!” The Living Bible paraphrases it like this, “Begin the joyous tasks I have assigned to you.” And the New Century Version says, “Come and share My joy with Me!”
I suppose no translation can accurately describe the joy of heaven. Paul had a glimpse of it in a vision and wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT), “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” When you examine that passage in its context, he is speaking about our lives in Christ here and now as well as the glory that will be revealed in us one day in heaven! Jesus said that He was leaving to prepare a place for us. In John 14:1-3 (NLT), on the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in Me. There is more than enough room in My Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am.” Did you get that description of heaven? Jesus called heaven, “My Father’s home.”
I love that, don’t you? If you’ve ever felt out of place here in this world it’s because you’re not home yet! One day Jesus will call you home to a place prepared for you where you will experience eternal joy! But Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people. Are you prepared? Our preparation for heaven is not by merit but by mercy, not by good works but by grace! We must come to Jesus now, just as we are, warts and all! When we come to Him by faith and ask Him to save us from our sins, He lovingly forgives us and imparts His life in us! Once again, “All of this and Heaven too!” Is it any wonder, God’s people are the most joyful people on earth?