I went to Hell's Worst Chamber but first I came Face to Face with Jesus!
Monday, January 22, 2024
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
The Eternal Riches of Heaven
By Maria Fontaine
Download Audio (8.4MB)
We have received a lot of prophecies from the Lord about how if we’ll look ahead more, if we’ll step back and see the big picture more, if we’ll keep our eyes on heaven more, we’ll have an easier time with the difficulties of today.
It’s about perspective. If you’re only looking at what’s happening around you right now, things can seem pretty rough. That’s true for everyone. It took Thomas Edison more than a thousand experiments before he produced a practical, functioning light bulb. All those failures must have been very frustrating and rough, to say the least. But what if he had gotten his eyes off the goal when he was on failure number 998 and quit? He wouldn’t have developed the light bulb after all and would have just wasted a lot of money, time, and effort.
Paul said something that we’d do well to take note of: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”1 In other words, we have to look beyond what we’re going through today to the long term: the rewards, the happiness, the surcease from life’s battles. We have to look to the time when we will be victorious, and that will give us the strength to keep going. All of that is part of keeping the heavenly vision.
We have so much to look forward to, and we can really have a good time anticipating it! And as we do, the little day-to-day bumps in the road will be easier to bear.
Jesus says:
Keeping the heavenly vision means stepping back from the small, day-to-day tasks and to-dos and remembering the big picture of why you’re on earth. It’s remembering that you are on earth for a very short time, and that soon you will come to the place where all the struggles, difficulties, and problems won’t matter anymore, and only the eternal and lasting things will come with you.
Keeping the heavenly vision is also remembering Me, remembering My promises of love and comfort to you, and how much I have in store for you when this life is over. It’s what I was trying to impart to My first disciples when I encouraged them about the many mansions in My Father’s house, and that although I had to go away, soon they would be where I am and we would be together again.2
It is so important that you keep this perspective. Don’t lose the heavenly vision by becoming too wrapped up in the cares and trials of earth. Your present existence is such a fleeting thing; your life is but a vapor. Soon, so many of the things that seem so difficult for you are going to be wiped away, and in their place you will receive a crown of life and everlasting rewards for having bravely stayed the course and kept the faith.
But when you forget all of that, life can seem discouraging and difficult at times. I can even start to seem far away, pushed to the back of your mind, and the promise that I’m going to return again and gather you to Myself seems very distant.
When you forget the big picture, I seem small and irrelevant, and all the things of the world seem so important. That’s why you must keep your eyes on heaven and on Me. That’s why you have to remember that compared to all of the happy eternity that you will spend with Me, the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in you and to you.3
You have to remember that there is a reason, a plan, and a purpose for everything that’s happening to you. I allow it all, so that when you come to My realm, you will have gained valuable lessons, skills, and insight that you couldn’t have gotten any other way.
No one, while they were alive, had the whole picture and understood the full meaning of their existence and why they were on earth, or even why there was an earth in the first place. Although many people had some understanding, still, as My Word says, “You see through a glass darkly” right now.4 You won’t understand the larger concepts in full till the end of your time on earth, when I finally reveal it all and make My plans plain. But until then there is a lot that you do know—certainly enough to make good choices and base good decisions on.
With the information you have right now, you know that it’s important to Me that while you’re on earth you love Me and keep My commandments, that you love your neighbor as yourself and learn lessons of love, that you win others to My kingdom, and that you give your children positive training that will last for eternity. These things will last forever.
So you must stop from time to time and look at what you’re doing in relation to Me and eternity. Ask yourself if it’s eternally sound, if it’s something that you can take with you when you leave earth, or if it’s something that’s going to pass away and be lost. You’ll be happy when you discover that what you’re investing your life in is eternal and lasting, and is not only fulfilling My will, but is reaping you benefits in the world beyond that will last forever.
If you are working for that which does not fade away, that which has eternal value, you should feel happy about this! Let this fact encourage your heart that you’re using your time wisely.
You can be certain that when this life is over, you have a happy heaven full of rewards and blessings awaiting you for your faithfulness. You can know that I love you, and that as you’re working for Me and pleasing Me, and manifesting your faith that isn’t dependent upon sight or understanding—you’re learning important lessons, and it’s going to pay off in the life hereafter.
You can know that in My kingdom there is no sorrow or loneliness or hardship or sickness or worry or death or lack of love or any of the things that can be so hard on you now. With that in mind, you can more happily brave your current sorrows or troubles, knowing that soon they’ll be gone. And in the meantime, I have promised that My grace is sufficient for you, and you can determine not to let the things of earth hold you back from gaining and gleaning from your time there the things that will last.
That’s the heavenly vision—knowing that there is a much bigger world full of love, rewards, meaning, and happiness just beyond this earthly one. When you look at the heavenly vision you’re reminded of and motivated by what’s really important and what’s worth living for and caring about.
Things tend to snap into perspective when weighed against eternity. And, oh, the comfort it can bring to your heart when you remember that no matter how tough a battle may seem, your life on earth is just the tip of the iceberg in eternity.
You need to pause sometimes and think about these things. It’s so good for you to take a few minutes to stop what you’re doing and ask Me to help you to get the heavenly vision again.
Think about the things that are difficult for you and remember that one day they’ll all be gone, and in their place will be a reward for your faith. Think about whether what you’re doing in life is working toward something eternal that will still matter once you’re gone from this earth. Think about the things you love or that matter to you right now—are they going to come with you into the world beyond? Or are they temporal things of this world that are going to pass away?
As you think about this, you may find yourself wanting to change the way you live, or make adjustments to the things that are important to you, based on Me and eternity.
When you’re not keeping the heavenly vision, self becomes so much more important to you—your own happiness, your own comfort, your own fame and wealth and pride. But when you live for heaven, I become the most important one, and you remember just how fleeting it is to chase your own satisfaction in the short time that you have on earth.
In the next life, you’re truly going to be glad that you lived for Me. You’re going to shine as the stars if you’ve been wise and turned many to righteousness.5 You’re going to be eternally glad for all the times that you laid down your own will and said yes to Me. You’re going to someday count the things of this earth as dung compared to the eternal riches of heaven.6
Originally published 2006. Updated and republished May 2013.
Read by Bethany Kelly.
1 1 Corinthians 15:19.
2 John 14:2–3.
3 Romans 8:18.
4 1 Corinthians 13:12.
5 Daniel 12:3.
6 Philippians 3:8.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Keeping the Heavenly Vision
By Jesus, speaking in prophecy
Download Audio (6.7MB)
Heavenly vision is like stepping into a planetarium and looking up to see the colossal, limitless, magnified realities of outer space.
To keep the heavenly vision means to focus on Me above all. It means to put the things of the spirit before the things of the flesh. It means reminding yourself why I took on human form and suffered and died for you so that I could redeem you, understand you, and forever forgive, heal, and protect you.
It means putting My Word first in your life and believing and acting on its truth. It means stepping into the temple with Me for quality focus and spiritual feeding. It means claiming My promises no matter how you feel or what your physical surroundings are like.
It means looking to Me and refusing to give up. The best way to keep the heavenly vision is to keep your eyes stayed on Me—to look to Me. That is the essence of keeping the heavenly vision—keeping your eyes focused on Me.
*
An athlete who is training in the hopes of reaching the Olympics must keep that vision, that goal, ever before him. He has the “Olympic vision,” and this gets him through every rough and grueling workout or practice. This makes the lack of time off, the fatigue during the day, the times when he gets little sleep at night, a nonevent.—Because that goal, that vision, becomes more important than any temporary pang of today. In order to survive those years of training, that goal has to be worth it—it has to be worth everything to him. And once he decides that it is, then he needs to fight to remain focused on that goal and to keep that vision before him at all times.
Decide if My Word and My promises for the future are worth laying aside other things in order to obtain that prize. Then, once you've decided, fight to keep that focus, that vision, ever before you.
Many of you have already made those decisions; but now comes the period of tenacity and determination when you fight to not lose focus.
What are some practical things you can do to keep the heavenly vision?
—Fight for your temple time with Me. This is the most effective way to be renewed and to stay reminded of My heavenly vision.
—Obey My Word regardless of how you feel.
—Praise Me often; praise Me consistently. Praise makes My vision come alive to you. Praise opens your eyes to the heavenly vision so that reaching for it, aiming toward it, and fighting for it comes that much easier for you. The vision becomes more real to you, which makes your desire to go after it even stronger and more effective.
*
The heavenly vision, as Paul put it, means “pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God.”1 It means making My will—My high calling—your goal and purpose in life. It's what you're pressing for, eager for—fulfilling My will, to the point that you consider it the prize. Not just a prize, but the prize, everything you could ever want in life!
And just as Paul said, it's “the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Those are key words, “in Christ Jesus.” You find this high calling through Me—through looking to Me, through living in Me. This high calling is ultimately the calling to live for Me. Your aim in life is toward Me, which means you must be looking to Me. You must keep your eyes on Me in order to reach your goal—My goal—for you.
*
You keep the heavenly vision by making those choices that bring you toward Me—the finish line. It's like a runner racing around a track: The runner can only head where he's looking. If he's looking to the finish line, then that's where he'll end up. But if his eyes are focused on other paths leading off the track, then he won't reach the goal.
If you want to keep the heavenly vision in your race of life, then focus on Me, the author and finisher of your faith, of your life course. Keep the vision by staying focused on Me, making those decisions that you know will lead you to a fuller life in Me.
*
Having a strong connection with Me in spirit will help you hold that heavenly vision before you.
You can strengthen this connection through times with Me in the Word. You strengthen your spiritual focus through focusing on My power. You gain this stronger link through faithfulness, obedience, and forward movement. You keep the vision strong by becoming better acquainted with Me as your Husband.
The keys to keeping this vision are found through doing those things that bring you closer to Me; those things that enhance your faith and encourage your spirit; those things that merge you with the spiritual realm and bring the spirit more to the fore in your life. This is how you keep the vision. This is how you stay connected. This is how you will run with patience the race that is set before you—and win!2
*
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.
"He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son."—Revelation 21:1–73
Originally published 2006. Updated and republished April 2013.
Read by Jerry Paladino.
1 Philippians 3:14.
2 Hebrews 12:1.
3 NIV.
Download Audio (6.7MB)
Heavenly vision is like stepping into a planetarium and looking up to see the colossal, limitless, magnified realities of outer space.
To keep the heavenly vision means to focus on Me above all. It means to put the things of the spirit before the things of the flesh. It means reminding yourself why I took on human form and suffered and died for you so that I could redeem you, understand you, and forever forgive, heal, and protect you.
It means putting My Word first in your life and believing and acting on its truth. It means stepping into the temple with Me for quality focus and spiritual feeding. It means claiming My promises no matter how you feel or what your physical surroundings are like.
It means looking to Me and refusing to give up. The best way to keep the heavenly vision is to keep your eyes stayed on Me—to look to Me. That is the essence of keeping the heavenly vision—keeping your eyes focused on Me.
*
An athlete who is training in the hopes of reaching the Olympics must keep that vision, that goal, ever before him. He has the “Olympic vision,” and this gets him through every rough and grueling workout or practice. This makes the lack of time off, the fatigue during the day, the times when he gets little sleep at night, a nonevent.—Because that goal, that vision, becomes more important than any temporary pang of today. In order to survive those years of training, that goal has to be worth it—it has to be worth everything to him. And once he decides that it is, then he needs to fight to remain focused on that goal and to keep that vision before him at all times.
Decide if My Word and My promises for the future are worth laying aside other things in order to obtain that prize. Then, once you've decided, fight to keep that focus, that vision, ever before you.
Many of you have already made those decisions; but now comes the period of tenacity and determination when you fight to not lose focus.
What are some practical things you can do to keep the heavenly vision?
—Fight for your temple time with Me. This is the most effective way to be renewed and to stay reminded of My heavenly vision.
—Obey My Word regardless of how you feel.
—Praise Me often; praise Me consistently. Praise makes My vision come alive to you. Praise opens your eyes to the heavenly vision so that reaching for it, aiming toward it, and fighting for it comes that much easier for you. The vision becomes more real to you, which makes your desire to go after it even stronger and more effective.
*
The heavenly vision, as Paul put it, means “pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God.”1 It means making My will—My high calling—your goal and purpose in life. It's what you're pressing for, eager for—fulfilling My will, to the point that you consider it the prize. Not just a prize, but the prize, everything you could ever want in life!
And just as Paul said, it's “the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Those are key words, “in Christ Jesus.” You find this high calling through Me—through looking to Me, through living in Me. This high calling is ultimately the calling to live for Me. Your aim in life is toward Me, which means you must be looking to Me. You must keep your eyes on Me in order to reach your goal—My goal—for you.
*
You keep the heavenly vision by making those choices that bring you toward Me—the finish line. It's like a runner racing around a track: The runner can only head where he's looking. If he's looking to the finish line, then that's where he'll end up. But if his eyes are focused on other paths leading off the track, then he won't reach the goal.
If you want to keep the heavenly vision in your race of life, then focus on Me, the author and finisher of your faith, of your life course. Keep the vision by staying focused on Me, making those decisions that you know will lead you to a fuller life in Me.
*
Having a strong connection with Me in spirit will help you hold that heavenly vision before you.
You can strengthen this connection through times with Me in the Word. You strengthen your spiritual focus through focusing on My power. You gain this stronger link through faithfulness, obedience, and forward movement. You keep the vision strong by becoming better acquainted with Me as your Husband.
The keys to keeping this vision are found through doing those things that bring you closer to Me; those things that enhance your faith and encourage your spirit; those things that merge you with the spiritual realm and bring the spirit more to the fore in your life. This is how you keep the vision. This is how you stay connected. This is how you will run with patience the race that is set before you—and win!2
*
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.
"He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son."—Revelation 21:1–73
Originally published 2006. Updated and republished April 2013.
Read by Jerry Paladino.
1 Philippians 3:14.
2 Hebrews 12:1.
3 NIV.
