The Assurance of Heaven

, C.S. Lewis once said, “There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” So often when we lose a loved one, there is a shock, a grief and a weight of heaviness that it can be hard to see the goodness of the Lord and His grace in those difficult moments. When death has been near my door, this Scripture has cut through all the despair and despondency to give my soul the anchor of hope that Scripture is.

For those who have suffered the loss of a loved one, may these words of Scripture, which is eternal truth, bring hope and joy to your heart. Yes, we grieve but the Bible teaches that we do not grieve as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). I pray that you’ll find the gladness of God’s grace in this profound Scripture of 2 Corinthians 2:9. Let’s examine phrase by phrase.

It is written
There is power in the written Word of God. You need Scripture in your heart to face difficult seasons in life. During this experience with my dad, I’m glad that I don’t have to go searching for Scriptures to help me. They are already planted deeply in my heart. They are ready to minister to me and strengthen me at a moment’s notice. I’m pondering deeply Psalms 125:2, “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people. From this time forth and forever.” Yes, the Lord surrounds His people! Pondering the written Word is how God is ministering to me, “…The comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:9. I think of how exhausting this journey is. How draining it can. How do people go through these dark seasons without the light of Scripture? How do they face such heart aches without a Shepherd that can bind up the brokenhearted? “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalms 147:3

More than my mind can comprehend
I think every human heart fears the unknown of death. However, for Christians there is a confidence that is unexplainable. 1 John 5:13 says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”

When the Bible speaks of our “Hope” as believers, it doesn’t mean a hope in the way you and I would use the word today. It is not saying, “I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow”, or “I hope my favorite team wins the big game.” No! Hope in the Bible means a confident expectation. There is a confidence that Scripture brings. A reassuring of God’s truth, “By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him.” (I John 1:19).

What God has prepared
“What God has prepared,” really hits home in my heart right now. Knowing there isn’t anything I can physically do for my dad. Realizing that God is in control. How amazing is the thought that God has prepared a place for my dad! Jesus confirms this in John 14:1-2, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I to prepare a place for you?” Amazing! Christ is telling me to not let this experience, as painful as it is to trouble my heart. Why? Because God has prepared everything for my dad. If God planned the day of his birth, can the same God not also plan the day of his death? As much grace as there was at his time of birth, will there not be more grace at the time of his death? This one phrase, “What God has prepared” gives me a world of confidence in His sovereignty.

For those who love him
The Bible isn’t written to everyone. Its promises cannot be claimed by just any person. Scripture is intended for those who love God. How often do we try to comfort someone, who maybe their lives are not right with the Lord, and so we say to them, “It’s going to be okay, all things work together for good.” Isn’t that what the Bible says? Well, not exactly. Romans 8:28 is similar to 1 Corinthians 2:9. It is written to those who love God. Romans 8:28 says, “All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” If someone is living in open sin and open rebellion against God, I can’t give them this promise from Scripture. How do we show the Lord we love Him? Christ told us in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” So for those who care what God thinks about their lives. For those who repented of sins, who live in a way that God is pleased with their lives there is a great, great promise and I am standing firm on that promise, “But as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor what the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.’” 1 Corinthians 2:9.