There Is No Place Like Heaven

I went with my brother to see the movie, "The Wizard of Oz."  This was my first time to see this movie on the big screen.  I have seen it several times on television, but there were always tons of commercials so it seemed like a much longer movie than it was.  It lasted for two hours and even though it was made a long time ago it is still a very good movie.  It is definitely a classic and one of the best movies ever made.  They just don't seem to make good movies like that anymore in my opinion.  The story flowed, the characters developed and they were likeable, and the musical score and singing was wonderfully done.

I am sure most people have seen the movie or heard the story.  Dorthy felt misunderstood by her family and friends.  A cranky woman wanted to take her dog and have it killed.  Dorthy ended up running away and wondered where she could go to find a place where she fit in.  She ended up somewhere over the rainbow and made friends and she eventually made it back home.  She learned that her family did care for her and loved her.

Sometimes we run into troubling times in our own lives and we long for a place where we feel loved and safe.  The Wizard of Oz is just a story, but we can all relate to the characters all too well.  There will be times when we just want to go home because there is no place like home.  Sometimes we need to study and learn things that truly matter so we don't have to sing like the Scarecrow, "If I only had a brain."  We all need a heart that is full of love and compassion like the Tinman, and we all need courage many times throughout our lives just like the Cowardly Lion.

The truth of the matter is that we live in a world that is growing increasingly dark and scary.  There is much anger and immorality all around us.  The hearts of many people have grown cold.  Many people are lacking wisdom while their knowledge increases ( in some cases).   Many are lacking knowledge for various reasons, but that is probably a topic for another time.  There are many people who are filled with fear and anxiety and worry.  I live in perhaps the greatest Nation on the planet (from a technological and wealth perspective at least), the United States of America, but we are also the most anxious Nation on the planet.  There is a lack of peace in people's hearts, minds, and souls.

There is something that each human being has in common and that is we know that there is no place like home.  Home is a place where we expect to find love and peace.  When we think of home we think about a wonderful place where we feel safe and comfortable.  Isn't interesting that no matter where on the planet you live you have that same longing as everyone else does?  It is almost like it has been programed into us by our Creator or something and you know what?  Is has been.

The Lord is the Creator of all things seen and unseen.  He made you and I.  We are created in His image.  The Lord placed a longing in our hearts for home in hopes that one day we would be drawn to Him and find our true Home in Heaven with Him.  Heaven is a real place.  It is not just a imaginary place somewhere over the rainbow.  Heaven is far greater that we can even imagine, but unfortunately not everyone will go there.

We have all sinned and we have all broken God's law.  There is no one that does good.  There are no amount of good works that we can do to earn our way into Heaven.  We never truly know how bad we are until we try our hardest to be good.  We have all broken the ten commandments in either thought or deed.  The Bible tells us that if we are guilty on one point found in the law then we are guilty of them all.  Everyone who breaks God's law is a sinner.  Everyone has sinned and we have all fallen short of God's high standards.  We are all deserving of being eternally separated from God and placed into a literal hell forever.

The good news is that God is a God of mercy and grace.  God made a way for you and I to find forgiveness of our sins and He made a way for us to have a Home in Heaven where we will be with Him forever.  God demonstrated His great love for each one of us by sending His one and only Son, Jesus Christ to this world to die on a Cross for our sins.  Jesus had no sin and He took the punishment that you and I so rightly deserve.  It is only by the shed blood of Jesus Christ that we can obtain forgiveness and entrance into Heaven.

The Holy Spirit will convict us of our sin and we must repent of our sins and receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  There needs to be a change in our hearts and a turning from our sin.  We need to turn towards Jesus by placing our faith in Him and in Him alone.  When we come to faith in Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit will come an indwell us.  The Holy Spirit will work on our hearts and make us more Christ like.  This work will last throughout our walk here on the earth and it won't be completed until we are taken to Heaven.

There are many people in our world today that are longing for peace in their hearts and they are longing for a place to call home where they can feel comfortable and loved.  Many are trying to find those things in the wrong places and they will end up thoroughly disappointed.  There is only one place where you and I can find peace in our very hearts and that is by placing our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus loves you and He will take care of you and He will provide a wonderful Home in Heaven just for you.

This world is not my home.  I long for my Heavenly home.  I long for that place where I have never been before, but I know it will be great because the Lord Jesus Christ will be there and that is what truly matters.  I am sinner saved by grace.  In that bight land there will be no more sin, no more death, no more sorrow, no more bills to pay, and no more tears.  There will be unspeakable joy and love for all eternity.  When we place our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we can know for sure that we are headed home to Heaven one great day.

Then we can say truly, "There is no place like Heaven!"


Lord,
Thank You for the promise of Heaven for all those who are trusting in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
I praise Your Holy Name.
Come soon O Lord.
In Jesus name we pray,
Amen.