You Cannot Lose In Heaven

August 26

"I have learned in all circumstances whatsoever I am, therewith to be content, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want, for I know I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:12, 13

PLOTTING THE COURSE

Life is not a straight line leading from one blessing to the next and then finally to heaven.

Life is a winding and troubled road. Switch-back after switch-back. And the point of Biblical stories like Joseph and Job and Esther and Ruth is to help us feel in our bones (not just know in our heads) that God is for us in all these strange turns.

God is not just showing up after the trouble and cleaning it up. He is plotting the course and managing the troubles with far-reaching purposes for our good and for the glory of Jesus Christ. John Piper from A Sweet and Bitter Providence...


People of faith sometimes question God’s goodness but it is most often those who do not profess to believe in Him who are likely to raise the commonly-heard question, “How could a loving God allow this to happen?”

The Bible doesn’t tell us that Joseph wondered why God had allowed him to be sold into slavery by his brothers or if Job pondered the goodness of God in permitting his children’s deaths and the loss of all his possessions as well as the total degeneration of his own health, but we can imagine that the dire ‘Why?’ hovered over their minds. Neither knew there was to be a restoration of all things to them. At the point of their loss, their besetment seemed complete.

And Paul, who converted to Christ after persecuting people of faith, set out to share the gospel with the entire known world—only to be arrested and cast into a Roman dungeon. How could he know that from the confines of those cold, stone walls while shackled with chains he would pen some of the most up-lifting literature ever written! That from his cold, dank cell would emerge words of hope that have lifted believers through the centuries.

And you, dear Reader, when you are burdened with challenges, must stand in faith as did these heroes of the faith. You must, as they did, say, “I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed to Him against that day,” II Timothy 1:12. Like them, you will either come into a rich, full place as did Joseph, or, “come forth as gold” as did Job (Job 23:10), or go with assurance as did Paul unto that crown that is waiting in glory, II Timothy 4:8, I Peter 5:4. Whatever befalls you in this life, you cannot lose in Heaven!