Joy for the Journey today, because our reward is by-n-by...

In Matthew 5, Jesus spends 10 verses talking about the familiar "Beatitudes:" (blessed are the meek, merciful, pure, peacemakers, etc.), and then the next 48 verses talking about the place where that blessing will be realized--HEAVEN!

Matthew 5:12 teaches us that we can "Rejoice and be exceeding glad" here on earth "for great is your reward in heaven." Let's just look to the sky, the first and second heavens in view from this earth and take to heart the rewards of the third heaven...

Heaven is a place of great REWARD, as Jesus notes in verse 12. I like to get awards for accomplishments and rewards for work that I've done. Those who hunger after righteousness, display a meek spirit and remain pure in heart are persecuted on earth; but, the Lord reminds us in Romans 8:18, "That the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." So, reward is coming, take heart....

Heaven's Purity is "greater than that of the scribes and Pharisees." (Matt.5:20)

If heaven was "a lot like Dixie" (as the Country song used to go), I would not want to go! And, there's the problem for us, sinful man, of whom "there are none righteous, no not one." We cannot enter heaven without first becoming PURE by God's standards. Although "the wages of sin is death;" I'm so glad that "God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." By faith in Jesus Christ, we have our sins forgiven, paid-in-full and cleansed to allow us to be a part of this pure place called heaven!

A Prestigious Place, heaven is the very throne room of the God of all creation according to Matthew 5:34.

Imagine being invited to the Oval Office in the Whitehouse or to the throne room in Buckingham Palace...what an honor, a privilege. But, I am not that prestigious a person here on earth. God does honor us greatly by inviting us to not just visit, but to live, in the throne room of all the universe!

Our Perfect Home in Heaven says Matthew 5:48 awaits.

From the broken homes, the fatherless, motherless, abusive, troubled and disfunctional homes of this earth to the perfect family! That's where we're going.

Just thinking of these great aspects of heaven, gazing to the skies reminds of our glorious homecoming--so, instead of being discouraged, LOOK UP, and do as Jesus said, "Rejoice and be exceeding glad" here on earth.