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The Water of Life

I recently learned that the story I was told as a boy about the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon searching for the Fountain of Youth is a MYTH! Even as a youngster, I suspected that the Fountain of Youth itself was mythical, but now to learn that Ponce de Leon never actually even searched for it… It makes me think that I’ve been drinking from a fountain of gullibility all these years!

In John 4:14, Jesus promised to give water which would become in those who drank it a “fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” Myth? Something for the gullible to believe in? One might think so, except for the real evidence that Jesus rose from the dead never to die again. Hundreds of reliable witnesses attested to His resurrection, and many were willing to die rather than alter their testimony. And then there’s that otherwise inexplicable empty tomb. So, it seems more than credible that Jesus possesses everlasting life, and it’s no stretch at all to believe that Someone who has eternal life could share it with others.

The Scriptures describe Jesus giving us eternal life as if it were as simple as Him giving us a drink of water. But this water is special — miraculous in fact. What gives it its life sustaining properties? The answer lies in the Source of the water. Revelation 22:1 reveals that “the river of the water of life, bright as crystal” was “flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.”

In Chapter 11 of “Heaven: O For a Home with God,” we wrote the following:

Before God’s throne, Jesus fulfills His promise and gives “of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts” (Rev. 21:6). “For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters” (Rev. 7:17). And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely (Rev. 22:17).

I’m getting thirsty. How about you?

“There’s a fountain free, tis for you and me
Let us haste, oh haste, to its brink”

– Steve Klein

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The Way that Leads to Life

I have written much about the glorious expectation of heaven. If you are like me, you find strength and solace in allowing your mind to dwell on the wonders of that eternal home of the soul. But in focusing on heaven, and cherishing it as the home we have been created to inhabit, we must be careful not to generate false expectations. Not everyone will make it home. In fact, most will not.

“…the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:14, ESV)

Of all of the inconvenient, unpopular truths that have ever been spoken, these few words of Jesus, uttered near the end of His sermon on the mount, may be the most troublesome for the average person.

Why is the way hard that leads to life? What makes it so hard?

The way is hard because believing can be hard. Whoever believes can receive the gift of eternal life (John 3:16), but believing isn’t easy. There are impediments! Satan makes sure of it. He veils this world in the darkness of man-made philosophy, human suffering, false teaching, and misplaced priorities. The apostle Paul describes this sad reality in these words: “If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

The way is hard because you have to obey the gospel and keep commandments. The Bible declares that God will punish “those who do not obey the gospel” with “flaming fire.” (2 Thessalonians 1:8). As we’ve said, some hear the gospel, but choose not to believe it. Others want to change or adulterate it to suit their personal preferences. And still others believe it, but choose not to obey. They may even express contempt and disdain for the very idea that one must obey to go to heaven. Yet, all over the pages of the New Testament, we see that obedience is necessary for salvation, and that failing to obey is the sure path to doom. “For those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury” (Romans 2:8).

The few who enter heaven “are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14).

The way is hard because you have to give up things – passions, pleasures, possessions, and sin. A wealthy young man came to Jesus and asked what he needed to do to have eternal life (Matthew 19:16-26). Although he’d been keeping the commandments, Jesus told the young man that he lacked one thing: He needed to give up his possessions. “Go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” “And the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

It’s strange, but just like this young man, many find it hard to give up things they cannot keep in order to gain things they could possess for all eternity. Jesus makes the point bluntly in Mark 9:43-48:

“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— where ‘their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— where ‘their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire— where ‘their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’

Yes, the way IS HARD that leads to life. But, what an adventure it is, and what a glorious end awaits! In the amazing words of an old hymn…

There are so many hills to climb upward,
I often am longing for rest,
But He who appoints me my pathway
Knows just what is needful and best.
I know in His word He hath promised
That my strength, “it shall be as my day”;
And the toils of the road will seem nothing,
When I get to the end of the way.

(When I Get to the End of the Way, Charles Tillman)

~ Steve Klein

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The Saved and the Innocent: Making Heaven Brighter

It is hard to imagine a world so bright and glorious that even the sun and moon could add nothing to its illumination. But there is such a world. For Christians, it’s the world to come, and it’s called heaven.

As John saw the heavenly city, he described it as a place that “had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it” (Revelation 21:23-24).

There is something fascinating in that description. God’s glory illuminates heaven. There is no need of sun nor moon. Yet, MORE glory and honor is brought into the city by those who inhabit it. It’s as if, unable to be made more glorious by any physical source of light, heaven is somehow beautified by the light-filled beings who enter in.

Every human being who as ever lived will inhabit eternity…somewhere. Those who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus will dwell eternally in heaven (Revelation 5:9). Other beings will be there as well. Angels to be sure, but also innocent children.

When a husband and wife, through the providence of God, conceive a child in this world, an immortal soul has its inception. If the child passes from this life in the womb, or anytime before adulthood, the Scriptures indicate that the child is safe and will enter the heavenly abode — “for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:13-14).

It is a painful and traumatic experience to lose a child; it is an experience that my wife and I have had, and that my parents also went through. But there is comfort in the hope of being with the child in the world to come. When King David’s infant son died, he said, “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23).

The desire of a loving parent to spend eternity with an innocent child who has passed on can be very powerful. In fact, it can change the entire trajectory of a person’s life. And ultimately, it changes heaven itself. In the glorious light of God’s presence, the sweet presence of innocent children will surely make heaven all the more extraordinary.

May every adult who has been touched by the loss of a child be inspired to seek the comfort that the child as found in heaven.

— Steve Klein

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Have You Noticed The Robes?

In the book of Revelation, the apostle John is given the thrill of a lifetime — the opportunity to see into heaven itself. In Revelation 7:9, he sees, “a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands.” The scene is fascinating. It’s not just one thing catches your attention. Everything does. The throne. The Lamb. The size of the numberless multitude with palm branches. And every one of them is clothed in a white robe.

But how could so many human souls have robes that are white when our own righteousness is like “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6)? John is told how. All of these people who are gathered around the throne of God in glistening white garments “have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14).

Two things about the robes must not escape our notice: First, the people in heaven had washed their robes. Did you get that? They had washed their own robes. Nobody did it for them. They had taken action. Second, the robes had been made white in the blood of the Lamb. There would have been no opportunity for anyone to wash their robes had the Lamb not provided His cleansing blood! We have access by faith into grace. God provides the blood through His grace (Ephesians 1:7). We apply it to our souls in faithful obedience to the gospel. “You have purified your souls in obeying the truth…” (1 Peter 1:22).

I long to stand before the throne of God adorned in a robe clean and white. Don’t you? The Lamb of God has provided the cleansing agent so that we might wash our robes!

So, with your mind’s eye, take a look again at what John saw. Notice the robes! All of the robes of all of the redeemed before God’s throne are white robes. None are spotted. None are stained. Wouldn’t a dirty, stained or soiled robe be out of place in such a scene? Wash your robe! No matter how filthy and grimy it has become, no matter how long the stains have set in, not matter how you’ve failed in your efforts to conceal those embarrassing black blotches, no matter what a wretched sinner you have been, be assured of this one thing:

There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins,
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains.

– Steve Klein

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Lapho Ezulwini (There in Heaven)

Heaven is not a home for me alone. It’s not just for people who look like me, live in my country and speak my language. Heaven will be home to all the redeemed of all the ages from every corner of the globe. The apostle John was privileged to view our heavenly home, and he “looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes…” (Rev. 7:9).

If you are like me, you have probably considered some aspects of this before. You may have wondered if you will see your loved ones and relatives in heaven. You’ve probably imagined getting to meet great Christians like Peter and Paul there. It will be their home too. But have you ever tried to picture all the people on earth right now, far flung all over this planet, whose culture, language, and social status are all entirely different from yours, who will also call heaven their home?

On trips to Africa in recent years, I have been privileged to sit with native brethren in Christ in huts, and block buildings, and under the shade of trees, and hear them sing hymns to my God and theirs. The Ndebele Christians of southern Zimbabwe speak a language that is both beautiful and mystifying to my ear. To hear them praise God in song from their hearts is touching even when one does not understand their language. But to have the words translated for you, and to realize that a beautiful song that they love to sing is about our mutual home in heaven, is extraordinarily moving.

Lapho Ezulwini is a song they sing over and over again. Translated into English, the words mean something like this:
There in heaven, it is my home.
There with the Lord, it is my home.
There will I rest and rejoice.
Now I remember, it is my home.

There is no stubbornness in my home.
This is a different world from my home.
We are in darkness here on earth.
They are in light, in my home.

The Savior is there in my home.
It is where I will see Him at my home.
He is its brightness. He cares about it.
Nothing frightening enters in my home.

I long to be there in my home.
I draw myself closer in my home.
Lord, quickly find me.
Let us meet in my home.

Even now, as their voices echo in my mind and resound in my heart, I am filled with a desire for heaven. O for a home with God!!

Listen to a snippet of Lapho Ezulwini as sung by a group of my brethren in Gwanda, Zimbabwe, in July of 2015.

– Steve Klein

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Winning the Triple Crown

American Pharoah. If you have followed sports and national news recently, you know the story. Misspelled though his name may be, the thoroughbred is horse racing’s first Triple Crown winner in 37 years. What an amazing feat by a marvelous creature. But it pales somewhat when I recall another horse that won that Triple Crown back in 1973. His name was Secretariat.

I am old enough to remember Secretariat well. He won all three races — The Kentucky Derby, The Preakness and the Belmont — in record times that still stand today. In his victory in the Belmont, he led by 1/16 of a mile coming down the backstretch and finished an amazing 31 lengths ahead of his nearest competitor. But his most impressive run may have been in the Kentucky Derby that year.

secretariat31lengths

In his Derby effort, Secretariat broke slow out of the gate, but still ran the first quarter mile of the race in a respectable 25¹⁄₅ seconds. The second quarter mile was faster at 24 seconds. The third quarter mile went by in 23⁴⁄₅ – he was still accelerating. The fourth quarter mile was faster still at 23²⁄₅ seconds. And the last quarter mile was run at the blistering pace of 23 seconds flat. He was still accelerating as he crossed the finish line!!!

I pray for a heart like Secretariat’s to finish strong in the spiritual race that ends at the throne of God. To be able to run harder at the end than at the beginning would be such a joy. And like the great apostle Paul, my hope is to “finish my race with joy” (Acts 20:24). Fairly late in Paul’s life he wrote, “I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven” (Phil 3:14, CEV).

No one knows exactly how far along they are in their race. But for me, I am certain that I am near the final turn — perhaps even now on the backstretch. With every stride, a voice within seems to say, “Run harder!” Let the one who holds my bridle use the whip as often as He needs to keep me moving faster and faster. “I will run the course of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart” (Psalm 119:132).

“Run harder!” Three crowns await – a heavenly triple crown!

The crown of glory. “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away” (1 Peter 5:4).
The crown of life. “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).
The crown of righteousness. “I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:7-8).

“You know that many runners enter a race,

and only one of them wins the prize.

So run to win!

Athletes work hard to win a crown that cannot last,

but we do it for a crown that will last forever.”

(1 Corinthians 9:24-25, CEV)

As you contemplate running your race, you might enjoy watching Secretariat in his 1973 efforts in the Belmont and Kentucky Derby. Run hard. Finish with joy!

– Steve Klein

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Heaven — The Ultimate Vacation Destination!

It’s vacation time! Schools are letting out for the summer across our nation. Families are looking forward to vacations in the mountains or at the beach, and a fortunate few may even visit some exotic luxurious destination in a distant land. But no vacation spot on earth can compare to the glories of heaven.

The Christian’s ultimate destination is heaven, which offers wonderful amenities and gorgeous vistas to be enjoyed with beautiful people for all eternity. While heaven is not a physical place for fleshly bodies, it is a place that the Bible describes using earthly metaphors. Imagine seeing an advertisement for a vacation spot that has these features and amenities:

You’ll stay in a mansion prepared by Jesus. In John 14:2 Jesus said, “In My Father’s house are many mansions…I go to prepare a place for you.”
Everything is new and nothing decays. The Lord promises that He will make “all things new” ( Revelation 21:5) and that nothing can destroy what we’ll possess (Matthew 6:20; Hebrews 10:34)
You feel great every day. There is no pain or sorrow! (Revelation 21:4-5)
You have a glorious body without diet and exercise! Philippians 3:20-21 promises that Christ “will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body.”
Your mansion is in a beautiful city, filled with beautiful people. The glory of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ illuminate the city, “and the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it” (Revelation 21:21-25).
And all of this can be yours at no cost to you! It is given freely for eternity! (Revelation 21:6-7)

Sounds great, doesn’t it? Do you wanna go?

The good news is that if you have been born again, your reservation has already been made by God Himself. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope…to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).

If you’ve ever had to cancel a vacation reservation at the last minute because “something came up,” you know a little about disappointment. Let’s make sure we keep our reservation in heaven. Let us make going to heaven our greatest desire, and let us pursue that desire with our most diligent effort, no matter what comes up. “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless” (2 Peter 3:13-14).

– Steve Klein

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A Day in the Courts of God

Is there somewhere you long to be more than any place else in this world? Think about it. Maybe it’s a favorite vacation spot, a cabin on the lake, a concert by your favorite entertainer, or just an easy chair in your living room surrounded by family. Most of us have that ideal place that stirs within us a wonderful mix of feelings — joy, excitement, peace and contentment.

For the Psalmist, that ideal spot was the tabernacle of God. He longed for it with every fiber of his being. “How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God” (Psalms 84:1-2). He’s a bit obsessed, isn’t he? But what a magnificent obsession! In verse ten he sounds like a kid talking about getting to go to Disney World when he says, “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.”

Heaven is God’s eternal tabernacle. Just one everlasting day in God’s presence will be better than any day you’ve ever spent on earth, even if you could live a thousand lifetimes. As the apostle John is about to be shown heaven’s splendor in the book of Revelation, he writes. “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God’ ” (Revelation 21:3).

For those who love God and long to be with Him, there could be no better place than God’s eternal tabernacle. May it be our life-long obsession.

– Steve Klein

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