July 27 I Monday

Psalms 43-45

Acts 27:27-44

“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”  —John 14:2

A couple months ago, my family and I were watching a documentary called, “Our Planet.” Similar to “Planet Earth,” it takes a detailed look at different forms of life and beauty around us. As I watch videos like this and see the intelligent design in creation, I wonder, “How does anyone actually believe the complexity of what we are observing and seeing just came about by accident?” There has to be a creator behind this.

In one of the programs, it highlighted this insignificant little worm that crawls on the forest floor in the Amazon Jungle. The worm does not eat plants, only insects. I think to myself, “How does this little thing that cannot move fast catch anything and survive in this harsh environment?” The show then starts to describe how this worm catches its prey: it crawls along the forest floor, then all of a sudden, it opens its mouth and these long tentacles come out and shoot glue at an insect, sticking it to the forest floor. The worm slowly goes over and devours the insect. I look at stuff like that and say, “Man, our Creator has an imagination!”

Now, think about this for a moment: We are told in Genesis 1 that God created the heavens and the earth and when it came to animal life, He created it in one day. When Jesus pledged His commitment to His Church, He said He was going to prepare a place.
If God created a worm that could shoot out glue in one day, not to mention the thousands of other kinds of animal life, what is heaven going to be like?

Revelation 21:1-2 tells us, “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” When we study the reality of heaven in Scripture, we know when Jesus returns for His bride, it will usher in a new heaven and a new earth.
Heaven is a literal place where Jesus came from and is returning to. Although heaven is hidden from our eyes now, because sin has separated heaven and earth, one day it will be restored.

Dwelling with God forever, beholding His glory, worshipping Him and doing His will throughout
the new heavens and the new earth. Jesus has spent a lot of days preparing for this place; I can’t imagine what it is going to be like!

Prayer: Almighty and powerful God, how intricate and amazing is Your creation! I cannot wait to dwell with You forever at the place You have prepared for me. Praise You!