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A Glorious Picture

                When the writers of the New Testament wanted to talk about heaven, they frequently used one word that, interestingly, the church hardly uses anymore.   See if you can pick out the word in these passages.
                “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). 
                “Therefore, I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory” (2 Timothy 2:10). 
                “[He will bring] many sons and daughters to glory” (Hebrews 2:10).
                “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ… will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:10).
                The word they used was “glory”.  Glory is an interesting word because it does not give you any details, but you still know exactly what it means.  If I say to you, “The sunset was glorious!” you do not know the specific colours, but you know what it was like.  “We had the most glorious day” may not tell you what we did, but it does communicate the feeling of the day.  Glory is a word that encourages you to think in pictures and feelings rather than in exact details. 
                So, what is heaven like?  Imagine the best thing ever.  Maybe it is a mountain cabin by a quiet stream.  Heaven is more glorious than that!  Maybe your picture of heaven is the best golf course.  Heaven is more glorious than that!  The word glory encourages you to paint your own picture of what heaven will be like, knowing full well that it will be much better than anything you can come up with.
                The key, though, is to have a picture and something to dream about.  You do that all the time with earthly things.  You dream about new houses, new cars and new jobs, so why not dream about an eternal home.  You need a picture, even if it is incorrect, because the dream keeps you going!
                 “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

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