Paradise

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

Revelation 3:20

The ultimate Paradise has never really been a location here on earth in the truest sense. The Garden of Eden we read about in the book of Genesis was special not only because the Lord Himself planted it. The reason it was Paradise is because its there in that garden that God Himself walked with man. That is until the fall of Adam and Eve and sin entered the world.

My wife and I are in Hawaii this week celebrating our 38 anniversary and for many Hawaii is known as Paradise to many. Don’t get me wrong, Hawaii is a very nice place and the place we are staying on the island of Maui this week to many would call it, “heaven on earth” due to its location, and all the amenities that are provided. Yet, as nice as it is I am reminded a fresh this week that heaven is not so much a location as it is a person in the same way paradise for me is not Hawaii but the one I am getting to enjoy Hawaii with.  

Apart from my love for my Savior, my paradise, my “heaven on earth” is my wife. Being here with her is God’s reminder to me that Paradise is a relationship as I often share with our church family back home, “heaven is heaven because Jesus is there and hell is hell because Jesus isn’t there.” To me, Paradise is a relationship not a destination.

Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4 that one day Jesus would come through the clouds and all those who have ever loved God and longed for His appearing will be whisked away to be with the Lord forever. Thats what makes heaven, heaven. We will be with Jesus forever. You might not ever make it to Hawaii but one thing for sure is you can experience paradise the way God has always intended it to be. You can walk with God, you can talk with God, you can pour out your heart to Him and He will listen. All you need to do is open your heart to God, to find the forgiveness He provides us through His Son, and to walk with Him. Discover paradise for yourself today as you open up your heart to God and open up His Word to you and much in the same way I take my wife’s hand and walk, experience paradise today as walk with God enjoying all the sights and sounds as you share the day with Jesus! Aloha.

“Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

1 Thessalonians 4:17



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