What will it be: heaven or hell?
We gave thanks for the sunshine and warmer weather as we gathered to worship Sunday morning at Mill Creek Baptist Church. David Collingsworth was celebrating a birthday, and Doug greeted the congregation. Several names were mentioned for prayer, including Marlene, Doug, Travis, and Doug.
The adult Sunday school class studied Genesis, about the story of Abraham and Lot and God’s purpose for blessing Abram through his obedience. We are reminded that we must seek God when making decisions, trust in Him through obedience and celebrate God’s faithfulness to His promises.
Linda read Exodus 20:8, “Remember the Sabbath Day to Keep it Holy,” and shared a devotional, “A Quiet Day of Rest.” It reminds us that even Jesus kept the Sabbath as a day to rest and worship.
Mitchell Lett and Tyrel Lett served as offertory ushers, and Karen and Susan led the congregational hymns. We were blessed with special praise music from Jerry, who sang “Through It All.”
Bill Bowen of Bella Vista Baptist Church filled in at the pulpit for Bro. Roger shared God’s word with us in Sunday’s message, “Touring the City.” He began by telling us that the subject of heaven is his favorite subject and usually becomes so “as you grow older and your friends pass on. We all need to be ready for Heaven. We don’t know when it will be. If you don’t believe in heaven, what do you believe in? Revelation 21 gives us a very explicit image of heaven. I will share with you from the scripture a tour of the city of heaven.”
As Bill read Revelation 21:1-7, he shared a description of heaven.
“In regard to heaven’s preparation, for more than 2,000 years, God has been preparing a place just for us. Heaven’s peace includes all of the things that God will do for us when we get to heaven. All the other things of the world that hurt us will be no more. All the major disappointments in life will be gone. There will be no death in heaven. It is eternal.”
As Bill talked about heaven’s population, he referred to verse 8, which tells us who is not going to be there, and verse 27, which gives the exceptions.
Bill said, “Those who have accepted Christ and had removal of their sins by faith in Christ. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:9: ‘But you were washed.’ Heaven can be a breath away and so is hell. Be ready.” Bill shared with us scripture about the details of the New Jerusalem.
“Jesus has prepared a place of magnificent beauty and massive size. The scripture in Genesis 21 gives us all of the beautiful descriptions of the New Jerusalem — the gold, the jewels, the pearly gates. We can’t comprehend its beauty until we see it.”
Bill also talked about the delights of the New Jerusalem according to the scripture in Genesis 21, including the River of the Water of Life and the Tree of Life.
“We can drink of the River of Life and never be thirsty again, for out of it flows eternal life, and we never have to thirst again. What makes heaven heaven? It’s not what’s there but who is there, and the first person you should be happy to see is Jesus. We need to have a hunger to see Jesus when that time comes. You just have to know Christ as your Savior and heaven is yours. Heaven or hell? It’s your choice.”
We invite you to bring your valentine to church next Sunday and worship with us. Jesus loves you and so do we. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. and worship service at 11 a.m. Bible study begins at 6:30 on Wednesday evenings. Everyone is welcome.