When I was a little girl, I loved bedtime stories. Especially the ones that had happy endings. I would see myself as a Princess, living my life in a grand castle. I thought that there wasn't anything that could be better than that kind of life. To live happily after, in a beautiful place, was the most wonderful thing I could think of. But as I got older, I realized that the greatest story ever told, happened once upon a time . . . two thousand years ago.
Reading the Bible takes us from the beginning of God's creations, to the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Once upon a time, God made this world whole again, through the shed blood of His Son. This beautiful story tells of us the love God had for His creations. Jesus' life was a life of love. . .love for us and love for His Father. He shows us through His words that we are here for just a little while. This world isn't our home, our home waits for us in Heaven. Heaven will be filled with all of the things that we dream about. There will be no sickness, nor sadness, and we will be in the presence of God.
Revelation 21:4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away.
The life that I dreamed about as a child, is waiting for me in Heaven.How much more wonderful is this once upon a time story, than the ones we read as children? Jesus tells us that He has gone to prepare a place for us.
John 14:2 & 3 - In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, so that where I am, there may ye be also.
My heart starts to race every time I think about the fact that Jesus is waiting for us. What a wonderful, glorious thought! Eternal life in Heaven waits for us as Christians. Every beautiful, wonderful thing that we have ever dreamed about, waits just inside Heaven's gates. Our lives truly begin once we become part of the family of God. His love sustains us through this life and carries us into the next, where we will spend the rest of eternity.
Once upon a time God, created the universe . . . One upon a time, God breathed the breath of life into all creations . . . Once upon a time Jesus came to this earth to give us eternal life . . . Once upon a time, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. . . Once upon a time . . .
Copyright 2006 by Joyce Balentine
