“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” John 17:5 (NIV)
Jesus valued returning to heaven.
The Priestly prayer of Jesus in John17 demonstrated His passion to return to heaven to be glorified in His Father’s presence. Jesus served, preached, healed, and prayed with heaven in view. In His pre-existence, Jesus was involved in creation of man. In His incarnation, Jesus provided redemption for fallen man.
- “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’” Gen 1:26 (NIV)
- “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Phil 2:5-7 (NIV)
Jesus was willing to leave the glory of heaven in order to become the only appropriate sacrifice for your sin. He endured the agony of the cross to benefit your forever. Once you come to faith in the completed work of Jesus, your life is transformed, your sins are forgiven, and your body becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit. Your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Are you ready for heaven? Have you made your reservation by grace alone through faith alone? Jesus has made heaven and eternal life available to all who trust in Him alone for salvation. Once you have solidified your eternal transaction, invest the rest of your life helping others come to faith in Christ.
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell