Meeting Christ at the Gate

Rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20

D.L. MOODY
A soldier, wounded during our Civil War, lay dying on his cot. Suddenly the death-like stillness of the room was broken by the cry, “Here! Here!” which burst from the lips of the dying man. Friends rushed to the spot and asked what he wanted.
“Hark” he said, “they are calling the roll of heaven, and I am answering to my name.”
In a few moments he whispered, “Here!” once more and passed into the presence of the King.

ERWIN LUTZER
All of us want to live as long as possible, but when your number strikes on God’s clock of your life, if you are a believer in Christ and have embraced His promises, He will be there to meet you. People bury our body, but they do not bury us. Our souls go into the heavenly kingdom.
Is everybody going to be in heaven? No! Jesus said, “The way to heaven is narrow” (Matthew 7:13–20). Why? It’s because we must admit our helplessness, our sinfulness, and cleave to Christ. For those of us who have trusted Christ alone as our Savior, heaven will be our destination one minute after we die. There we’ll see angels, loved ones and, best of all, Christ Himself. I’m sure you join me in looking forward to that day when we answer the roll call!

PRAYER
Father, though the curtain separating me from eternity seems thick and veiled, you have, in your grace, given me a glimpse of the other side through your Word. Thank you, Father, for those who are even now in your presence. May I live today in light of the coming eternity.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
How often do you rejoice in the truth of the Gospel, in the fact that God choose you?

How might praying for the lost to receive God help you be more like Christ?