Clean and New

November 7

So, how will you feel when you stand face-to-face with a serial killer in heaven? Or perhaps it will be one who only stood by watching as murder was done—as the crowds described in the horrific story told some years ago of the young woman who was slain as on-lookers neglected to intervene (or perhaps it was Saul—later the Apostle Paul—standing by as Stephen was stoned) Acts 7:55-8:1?

How will you feel when you stand face-to-face with an adulterer? How will you feel when you realize the adulterer is David, one of the great heroes of the faith, the man after God’s own heart who is given the privilege of being the most-named ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ? How will you feel when you realize you are there—and you are the adulterer?

Or the tax cheat? Or the pornographer? Or the slanderer? Yet the reality is that we shall not see these sins in heaven at all, for there is no transgression there! Everyone who stands side-by-side with you will be blood-washed and free of sin. You will be blood-washed and free of sin. Because of the truth Paul proclaimed in Romans 5:17, we will all be clean and new—and fit for heaven! This is what he says:

“One man sinned so death ruled all people…but now those people who accept God’s full grace and the great gift of being made right with Him will have true life and rule eternally through the One pure Man, Jesus Christ.” Anyone, anyone, who accepts the gift of salvation purchased by the blood of the Lord, will be justified in the God’s eyes…as though he’d never sinned! The believer will be pure because Jesus is pure.